By DREW GRANTHUM / Sports Writer

For the fourth straight year, the Bobby Madison All-Star Basketball Camp is coming to Columbiana.

The camp, which will be June 25-28, is held at Charles Dickinson Gymnasium at Shelby County High School and offers kids age 6-17 the opportunity to learn more about the game, as well as receive instruction from some local stars.

Camp founder Bobby Madison said the camp’s origin stemmed from his own experiences playing basketball in college at Western Michigan and professionally in Europe.

“It came from having the opportunity to go to different camps,” he said. “I was blessed through basketball.”

Madison said he wanted to be able to give campers access to the opportunities basketball gave him, such as seeing the world and being able to pursue a passion.

“When I was playing in Europe, I had a teammate that had worked at camps,” he said. “I started asking him questions about it. I talked to my family, and they started asking if people would help (with sponsorships).”

While Madison was still playing in Europe, he would relay ideas about getting the camp together to his family, and they helped organize it.

Madison said his family’s support is what has made the camp such a big event.

“I was expecting 30-40 kids (the first year),” he said. “We had about 100 come out.”

The camp itself will be divided into to two groups: kids from ages 6-11 will attend from 8 a.m. to noon, and those from ages 12-17 will attend from 1-5 p.m.

In years past, Madison brought people in from all across the country to speak; this year, speakers have been limited to those with a local connection. Speakers and instructors include SCHS alumni Brandon McKinney, Sasha Lilly, Kenny Butler and Tyler Madison, Bobby Madison’s younger brother.

The cost is $85 per child, and is open to any and all children wishing to learn about the game. For more information, contact Madison at (205)-669-3322.