Helena Frye
Former NBA star Joe Smith is bringing his basketball camp to Virginia Beach, teaching basketball and life skills to boys and girls aged 8-18. Smith, who played for 12 teams in the NBA during his 16-year career, is originally from Norfolk, Virginia, and was the No. 1 NBA draft pick in 1995. Smith's basketball camp, Joe Smith Basketball Academy, aims to give back to the community and help kids find purpose and avoid pitfalls. The camp focuses on teaching fundamental basketball skills and life lessons, with a unique approach to engaging campers. While it is not clear if Joe Smith's basketball camp is still open for registration, the Joe Smith Hoops Camps website mentions a Smokin' Joe's Basketball Camp taking place from July 21 to July 24, 2025.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the camp | Joe Smith Basketball Academy |
| Founder | Joe Smith |
| Location | Virginia Beach |
| Target group | Boys and girls aged 8-18 |
| Cost | $99 |
| Sponsorships | Available |
| Sessions | July 7-11 and July 21-25 |
| Duration | Two weeks |
| Registration | On Joe Smith Basketball Academy’s website |
| Instructor | Joe Smith |
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What You'll Learn
Joe Smith's basketball camp in Virginia Beach teaches life skills
Former NBA star and No. 1 NBA draft pick, Joe Smith, is bringing his basketball camp to his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia Beach. Smith played for 12 teams in the NBA during his 16-year career and is now running drills for the next generation at his Joe Smith Basketball Academy.
The two-week summer camp will teach boys and girls aged 8-18 basketball skills and life skills. Smith believes that the real payoff of the academy is not creating future NBA stars but giving kids an appreciation of the game and a boost in life. He said, "Playing the game of basketball kind of helped me... get through some of the stuff that I went through," adding that coaching is his way of helping kids find purpose and avoid pitfalls he faced.
The academy launched last summer in Norfolk and is now coming to Virginia Beach for two weeklong camps at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. The first session will run from July 7-11 for boys and girls aged 8-12, and the second session will run from July 21-25 for teens aged 13-18. Spots for both sessions are still open, and children of all skill levels are welcome. Each camp costs $99, but sponsorships are available.
Virginia Beach City Councilmember Cash Jackson-Green, who helped bring the academy to the city, said the partnership is about keeping kids safe and helping them grow. He sees the camp as part of a larger effort to keep youth engaged and surrounded by positive role models.
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The camp is for boys and girls aged 8-18
Former NBA star Joe Smith is bringing his basketball camp to Virginia Beach, offering a two-week summer programme teaching basketball and life skills to boys and girls aged 8-18. The Joe Smith Basketball Academy is Smith's way of giving back to the community that raised him. The Norfolk native and former No. 1 NBA draft pick is excited to bring his knowledge and experience to the next generation of basketball players.
The focus of the camp is not only on basketball skills but also on life lessons, with Smith aiming to help kids find purpose and direction, and avoid some of the pitfalls he may have faced in his own life. The Virginia Beach City Councilman, Cash Jackson-Green, supports this initiative, believing it is a way to keep kids safe and help them grow, opening their hearts through sports and then using educational tools to retrain their minds.
Smith's own experience as a player, combined with his passion for helping kids, makes his basketball camp a unique and valuable opportunity for young people. With over 20 years of experience working and directing basketball camps, Smith has honed his ability to engage campers in learning the fundamentals of the game, improving their skills, and fostering a competitive spirit.
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Joe Smith is a former NBA player
Joseph Leynard Smith, born on July 26, 1975, is an American former professional basketball player. Known by the pseudonym 'Joe Beast', Smith played as a power forward for 12 teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during his 16-year career.
Smith was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, and played for the University of Maryland Terrapins during his college years. In 1995, he was named the College Player of the Year and was the No. 1 pick in the 1995 NBA draft, selected by the Golden State Warriors. He was named to the 1995-96 All-Rookie team.
Smith was traded multiple times throughout his career, making him one of the most-traded players in league history. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In 1999, Smith was involved in a salary cap-evading scandal with the Timberwolves, which resulted in the team facing severe punishments from the NBA. Smith was released by the Timberwolves and signed with the Detroit Pistons for the 2000-01 season.
Following his retirement, Smith has continued to be involved in basketball. He has worked as a coach with the private coaching service, CoachUp, and has launched the Joe Smith Basketball Academy, a two-week summer camp in Virginia Beach that teaches basketball and life skills to boys and girls aged 8-18.
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The cost of the camp is $99, with sponsorships available
Joe Smith, a former NBA star, is bringing his basketball camp to Virginia Beach, teaching basketball and life skills to boys and girls aged 8-18. Smith, who played for 12 teams in the NBA during his 16-year career, is no stranger to basketball camps, having worked his first one at age 16 and continuing to do so every summer since.
The Joe Smith Basketball Academy launched last summer in Norfolk. This summer, Smith is teaming up with the City of Virginia Beach for a pair of weeklong camps at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. The sessions will run from July 7-11 for boys and girls aged 8 to 12, and from July 21-25 for teens aged 13 to 18.
The camp will cover a range of topics, from basketball fundamentals and gameplay to life skills and confidence-building. With Smith's experience and expertise, the camp promises to be a valuable and enjoyable experience for all participants. For those interested in registering, more details and information can be found on the Joe Smith Basketball Academy’s website.
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Joe Smith has been running basketball camps for over 20 years
Joe Smith, a former NBA star, has been running basketball camps for over 20 years. He played for 12 teams in the NBA during his 16-year career and is now passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation.
Smith's basketball journey began at Hoover High School, where he was a standout player. He then signed a scholarship to attend the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he graduated with honours with an MIS/Business degree. While starting his professional basketball career, Smith also founded J Smith Hoops Inc., a family business that would involve his entire family and help the community.
Smith has been working basketball camps since he was 16 years old and has continued to do so every summer since. J Smith Hoops Inc. combines his experiences working camps, coaching, developing players, and teaching his younger siblings. The company offers basketball camps, private lessons, coaching development, player development, basketball career development, and basketball camp consulting.
The Smith Family has been a staple in the Birmingham/Hoover community for over 30 years, with each of the five siblings playing competitive basketball and receiving full basketball scholarships. The family's experience and knowledge have helped improve basketball players in the city of Birmingham for over 20 years.
In addition to his camps, Smith has also brought his basketball academy to his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, and Virginia Beach, where he teaches boys and girls ages 8-18 both basketball and life skills. Smith's academy focuses on giving back to the community and helping kids find purpose and direction through the game of basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Joe Smith Basketball Camp is still open for registration. The camp is open to boys and girls of all skill levels.
The Joe Smith Basketball Camp will be held from July 21st to July 24th, 2025.
The camp costs \$99, but sponsorships are available.
Joseph Leynard Smith, born on July 26, 1975, is an American former professional basketball player. He played for 12 teams in the NBA during his 16-year career.
