North Carolina's Harrison Barnes Lends Helping Hand to Hometown Basketball Camp

On the Saturday of July 30, UNC sophomore forward Harrison Barnes returned to his hometown to assist his former Ames High School coach Vance Downs with the Ames Parks and Recreation’s youth basketball camp at the City Hall gymnasium.

There were roughly 100 campers who attended the camp, ranging from third graders to sophomores in high school. 

Current Ames basketball players also helped out with the camp.

The camp consisted of Barnes and the rest of the camp counselors conducting ball-handling, shooting and scrimmage drills for the youngsters.  Barnes began the sessions by coaching the campers on the correct way to conduct themselves on and off the court—something Barnes has exemplified since he first arrived in Chapel Hill.

“Harrison did a great job giving the kids a talk at the beginning of camp about responsibility, and all of those positive character traits that have allowed him to be successful,” Downs said in a phone interview with the Ames Tribune.

After the camp, Barnes stuck around to take pictures and sign autographs for each camper.

Long-time fan of Barnes' and current Ames High School freshman Sam Straub said he was impressed with Barnes’ eagerness to teach others, and could also see how much it meant to the kids who used to watch him from the bleachers of the Ames High gymnasium.

“I know, from my standpoint, it was great that he came back,” Straub said. “It was an unbelievably nice thing and a great experience for the kids. I know they all enjoyed it.”

Barnes finished his Ames High career by winning his final 53 games