Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/856465
A few weeks after winning their second NBA championship title in three years, Golden State Warriors point guard Shaun Livingston and center Zaza Pachulia headed down to Monterey to spend a long weekend with some basketball-loving boys and girls. At CSU Monterey Bay's Otter Spor ts Center, 140 youth aged 9-16 practice ball han- dling drills with coaches while outfitted in T- shir ts with either the number 34 (Pachulia) or 27 (Livingston). The Warriors are in the midst of it, high-fiv- ing kids, par ticipating in shootouts and signing endless jerseys, basketballs, caps and maga- zines. Their gracious demeanor, friendliness and accessibility are obvious, and the kids appear thrilled. Jeff Addiego is senior director of youth bas- ketball for the Golden State Warriors and runs 2 8 camps in Northern California with different players headlining them. The Monterey County camp is the only overnight one, due to the dis- tance the players must travel. In years past, the camp was held at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach and award-wining players Stephen Curry and Draymond Green made appearances. "The players draw everyone in with their high character," Addiego says. "The guys on the team care about each other and you don't have to twist their arms to get them to be involved. We want to give the kids the opportunity to enjoy the game and the many life lessons that accompany it." More than 40,000 kids have enjoyed Warriors camps in the Bay Area, Santa Cruz, and Monterey County over the past 17 years. There are also clinics for younger children and parent/child camps. The overnight camp includes accommodations, meals, jerseys and more for four days and three nights. Despite the steep price—$1100 for the overnight option and $900 for four extended days at CSUMB— camps sell out in minutes. Bay Area day camps Photos: Warriors.com Warriors give back. (Top) Power Forward Draymond Green and (below) Point Guard Stephen Curry have participated in prior Monterey County youth camps. C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 7 281