Girls’ summer basketball camp under retired NBA, college coach’s guidance

The deadline is fast approaching for girls from area schools in grades 5-8 to sign up for Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart’s unique summer basketball camp experience. Participants will get expert advice on improving their basketball skills while having some fun on Woodlands Academy’s 41-acre campus at 760 E. Westleigh Road in Lake Forest. This one-week event takes place July 8-12 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The camp is under the direction of Larry Farmer, Woodlands Academy’s head basketball coach. As a college player, Farmer was a member of the three-time NCAA national champion UCLA Bruins basketball team coached by the legendary John Wooden in the early 1970s. Next, he was drafted by the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers and the ABA (at the time) Denver Nuggets before concluding his professional playing career in Germany. There, he transitioned to the sidelines, setting the stage for a nearly 40-year coaching career at both the NBA (Golden State Warriors assistant) and collegiate levels.

Farmer returned to his alma mater, UCLA, as its head basketball coach. He also served as head coach at Weber State and Loyola University/Chicago and assistant coach at the University of Hawaii, North Carolina State and Western Michigan University.

When Farmer decided to retire to spend more time with family, his lifelong dream of coaching high school basketball remained unfulfilled. That dream finally came true when he assumed leadership of the Woodlands Academy basketball program in 2022.

Joining Farmer in working with participating middle school girl basketball players will be a Woodlands assistant coach and possibly some members of the all-girls college-preparatory high school’s varsity basketball team.

There is a fee of $150 for this summer basketball experience, and the registration deadline is Monday, July 1. To register, visit woodlandsacademy.org/summer-basketball.