ATLANTA, Ga. - Alabama A&M men's basketball was well represented at the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 50 Basketball camp this past weekend, an event that was co-hosted by Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
 
The camp took place on the campuses of Morehouse and Clark Atlanta after taking a two year break due to the coronavirus. The group featured the top 50 players from the SWAC and the SIAC, each of who were able to receive coaching from current and retired NBA players while participating in leadership and development exercises.
 
The Bulldogs were represented by junior guard Garrett Hicks (Madison, Ala.), junior guard Cameron Tucker (Birmingham, Ala.) and sophomore guard Dailin Smith (Colorado Springs, Co.). AAMU was only one of five programs from the SWAC that were represented by three or more players, joining Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4), Mississippi Valley State (3), Alabama State (3) and Grambling (3).
 
During the camp players were given the opportunity to showcase their talent against one another through highly competitive scrimmages.
 
"To be in a position to pick the mind of ex professional players and former coaches was extremely useful," said Tucker. "We also competed against top level players from other HBCU's at the same time and it was an opportunity I definitely took advantage of."
 
The camp also allowed retired NBA players interested in pursuing a career in coaching to have an opportunity to coach on court activities and give advice.
 
"It was great to connect with the best of the best from HBCU's," said Hicks. "To learn from NBA players and staff, I'll always be grateful for the opportunity."
 
Over the two-day period players also gained crucial information and a perspective about being a professional athlete and the steps involved in making it to the NBA from those that have done so.
 
"One of the lessons that stuck out the most was just learning what it's like to become a pro," said Smith. "We got deep inside knowledge of what it takes to reach to that level."
 
All three Bulldogs will reunite with their entire team and share all the valuable lessons they have learnt as they prepare for the 2022-23 season.