Run by Tamworth Thunderbolts head coach John Ireland sessions were split into two age groups: seven to 12 and 13 to 18 year olds.

Ireland had some help from Thunderbolts’ newest recruit Rashanti Harris and Armidale’s Scott McGann.

Harris hails from Mississippi and has played in Europe and Asia before making the move to Tamworth this season.

Meanwhile, McGann has returned from his time playing with Lake Land College in Illinois.

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McGann has been in the US playing for the Lakers in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) basketball competition.

Ireland said the idea around hosting a clinic in Inverell was to promote basketball in the region and help some of the smaller centres grow.

“It also exposes the smaller clubs to a higher level of basketball. We want to show these local kids that overtime they can achieve what they want to in sport.

“Having guys like Rashanti from the United States of America and Scott who is at junior college in the states but home on summer break shows these local kids what they can achieve,” he said.

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Ireland said it was possible for any passionate basketballer to go on to bigger and better things in the sport if they were willing to work hard for it.

Held in the indoor basketball stadium, the clinics focused on fundamental skills of basketball.

“We touched on ball handling, dribbling, shooting, passing and defensive game. They’re all skills required during a game of basketball,” Ireland said. 

Numbers were fairly small for both clinics, however all participants had a fun time learning from and getting to know Harris and McGann.

“We were hoping to get a few more here in Inverell but I know we have some good number for the Glen Innes clinics with at least 20-odd in each session.”