Newell back again for Big Man Camp

Advertiser Staff

Pete Newell will run his 25th annual Big Man Camp at Kamehameha's Kekuhaupi'o Gym, Aug. 12-16. Associated Press

The camp — which could be the last for Newell — will feature four of the top five picks from the 2001 NBA draft and two of the top five selections from this year's draft.

Last year's NBA rookies that will attend are Kwame Brown (No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Wizards), Tyson Chandler (No. 2, Chicago Bulls), Eddy Curry (No. 4, Bulls) and Jason Richardson (No. 5, Golden State Warriors).

Other participants include recent draftee Mike Dunleavy Jr. (No. 3, Golden State) and NBA veteran Antawn Jamison (fifth year, Golden State).

Newell started the camp with one player 25 years ago. By the time the camp moved to Hawai'i nine years ago, it had become a weeklong session that is the standard for teaching front-court play.

According to a BasketballTimes.com report, Newell said the invitation-only event might be his last.

"I'm about 99 percent sure that this will be my last NBA camp," Newell, 86, said in the report. "It started without any fanfare, and possibly it will go out with none. Any other way, I'd be surprised."

A Hall of Fame inductee in 1978, Newell was the first to coach a team to NIT, NCAA and Olympic titles. (Dean Smith and Bobby Knight later accomplished the feat.)

Newell led teams to the National Invitation Tournament title (San Francisco) in 1949, the NCAA title (California) in 1959 and Olympic gold in 1960.

Practices will be from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. for professional players and from 1 to 4 p.m. for college players.