By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell Sports Editor
SLIDELL — The New Orleans Hornets Jason Smith, who is seven-feet tall, is used to little kids asking him questions about his height.
Smith is ready to answer those same questions from Slidell kids and he comes to the SYBA gym next week to hold a basketball camp.
“The first thing I always hear is, ‘How tall are you?’ Then it leads to, ‘What size shoe do you wear?’ and ‘Can you dunk?’ It’s fun talking to the kids because they are so curious,” Smith said.
The Jason Smith Summer Camp will be held June 25-29 to boys and girls ages seven to 16 at the SYBA gym. The cost is $275 per camper.
“Having the camp in Slidell gives a wide variety to the area of New Orleans Hornets fans,” Smith said. “It’s good to give back to the community and meet with the kids.”
Each camp includes camp instruction from Monday through Friday, a free Hornets 2012-2013 game ticket, Hornets camp T-shirt, basketball and wristband. Each camp will feature expert instruction, special Hornets guests, live games of three-on-three and five-on-five, contests, giveaways and prizes, with an awards ceremony concluding the week’s activities.
“Hopefully we’ll get a good turnout. I know we’ll put on the best camp we can for them,” Smith said, who had been part of several camps while he played with the Philadelphia 76ers. “With me being from a small town, I can tell my story about working hard and being determined.”
Smith is from Greeley, Colo., and is 26 years old. He was drafted by Miami in 2007 in the first round. He has played three years in the NBA and most recently signed a three-year contract with the Hornets.
Smith believes the Hornets are on the right track to becoming a better team.
“We got the first pick and number 10 pick of the draft (for this year). I think that’ll help a lot for our team. I’m assuming Anthony Davis will probably be our No. 1 pick, and to get a guy like him, you can only hope and imagine he’ll bring a lot to the team. We’ve got a lot of good things going on,” Smith said.
For more information or to register for the Jason Smith Summer Camp, visit hornets.com or www.thebasketballacademy.com or call 504-593-4929. The SYBA gym is located at 568 Rama Street.
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