While preparing for his second season as the head coach of the Rockmart Lady Jackets’ varsity basketball team, Levi Wigley wanted to reach out to a younger generation.

He did that by putting on the Lady Jackets Basketball Summer Camp from June 27-29 at Rockmart High School.

Designed for girls ages 5-12-years-old, the camp exposed players to the fundamental skills needed to develop as basketball players.

“We had a good camp,” Wigley said. “We had more there than I was expecting so I was pretty excited about it.”

A group of 27 girls trained with Wigley as well as assistant coaches and Rockmart varsity basketball players for two hours each day as they focused on shooting, passing and defense.

“I hope they had fun and had a good experience,” Wigley said. “That was our main goal.”

Wigley, a 2000 graduate of Rockmart High School, has worked with the Rockmart Recreation Department in trying to develop girls basketball teams on the youth level.

Last season, the recreation department was able to have girls-only teams instead of having them play on co-ed teams.

“I think it shows that there is starting to be some interest in our program that hasn’t been there in recent years,” Wigley said of the camp numbers.

“I think it’s a good sign for the future. Any time you can get them started early it will make a difference when they get to middle school and high school.”

Wigley was also excited about the skill level of many of the camp participants.

“We had some pretty good ball players out there so the future looks bright,” he said.