HOLLISTON — One of the MetroWest area’s longest-running summer basketball traditions is set to tip off once again as the Superstar Basketball Clinic returns to Holliston High School beginning next week.
Now entering its 35th year, the clinic will welcome high school players July 13-16 before middle school athletes in grades 5-8 take the court July 20-23. Each session runs Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to noon, giving young athletes four mornings of skill development, competition, and instruction from experienced local coaches.
The camp traces its roots back to the 1980s when it was founded by John Jackson and the late Dave Gibbs. Today, the tradition is carried on by co-directors Shane Jackson, head coach of the Medway High School boys basketball team, Chris Venesian, head coach at Holliston High School, and Evan Moon, head coach at Medfield High School.
Jackson said preserving the clinic’s tradition while continuing to grow the game has become one of the program’s biggest priorities.
“I went there as a camper and I’ve been coaching at it since I was about 19 years old,” Jackson said. “When my father and Dave Gibbs retired, we wanted to continue what they built and keep that tradition alive.”
While basketball fundamentals remain at the center of the clinic, Jackson says its impact extends well beyond the court.
Rather than focusing solely on improving shooting, ball handling, and game situations, the clinic brings together players from communities across the region, allowing them to compete alongside—and learn from—players they would normally only see as opponents during the high school season.
“The goal is to get kids from the surrounding towns to work together, build their skills and build relationships,” Jackson said. “When they play each other during the season, there’s a mutual respect because they’ve spent time together. They’re not just opponents—they’re other kids who love basketball just like they do.”
That atmosphere is reinforced by the coaching staff’s unique philosophy. Instead of coaching players from their own schools, the directors spend the week working with athletes from neighboring communities, exposing campers to different coaching styles and perspectives.
Jackson says watching those relationships develop has become one of the most rewarding parts of the clinic.
“You get to see kids rooting for players from other towns during competitions,” he said. “Then when they see each other during the regular season, they go over and say hello during warmups. I think that’s something that’s been lost in sports, and this camp helps bring it back.”
The clinic has also become a place where coaches can watch young athletes grow over several years. Jackson recalled seeing players who attended as fifth graders eventually become standout varsity performers, including league MVPs, after years of dedication and hard work.
“As a coach and educator, you want to see kids succeed,” Jackson said. “Even if they don’t play for your program, when I’m not playing them, I’m rooting for them to do well.”
The coaching staff is made up primarily of experienced high school varsity and junior varsity coaches from across the area. Campers receive individualized instruction, daily competitions, awards, and a complimentary camp T-shirt.
Registration remains open for both weeks, although Jackson encourages families to sign up as soon as possible so organizers can balance teams and prepare staffing.
“We’re still accepting registrations, and there are opportunities for walk-ins,” Jackson said. “But we like to have as many players registered ahead of time as possible so we can organize competitive teams and make sure everything is ready when camp begins.”
More information and online registration are available at www.superstarbasketballschool.com.
