By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
When Heart of America National Basketball Camp director Troy Thrasher met with his coaches before this year’s camps, he had just three words to share.
We. Are. Back.
Thrasher, whose involvement with Heart of America stems back 44 years to his time as a camper, has seen firsthand the impact this event has had on young hoopers across the Midwest and has been proud to continue that tradition despite the challenges of recent years.
Heart of America is the third longest-running overnight basketball camp in the US and has been a staple of summers in Salina for over 50 years, drawing young athletes from all across the nation's heartland.
Several hardwood legends have come to Heart of America to hone their skills over the years, including University of Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, women’s basketball superstar Jackie Stiles, and a slew of future college athletes on both the men’s and women’s sides.
While much has changed over the last half-century, the values instilled into the campers have not, and that tradition remains a core part of what the Heart of America camps are all about today.
“The fundamentals are important to us, and this is a skills-based camp,” Thrasher said. “But this is also an intense camp and we want these kids to come out of this a little bit tougher and to be ultra-competitive in everything they do. We’re a blue-collar camp, and I think that’s why parents want to send their kids here.”
That blue-collar mentality was tested by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent renovations to Kansas Wesleyan’s campus, but the Salina community pulled together to ensure that one of the longest-running camps in the nation could not only survive but continue to thrive.
“When you have the tradition of keeping this camp going for so long, you really do risk losing that if you shut it down for a year,” Thrasher said. “Alyssa Wendel and her entire staff at K-State Salina came through in the clutch for us and allowed us to use their facilities. They were a fantastic host, and it was amazing to see Salina take care of a us again in that way.”
Even with a slight change to the venue, the Heart of America camp continues to regain steam as the pandemic fades into the past, with over 300 campers this summer. Total historical attendance is expected to reach 100,000 campers next summer.
Ultimately, despite the success stories of the Heart of America, both large and small, this camp has been built on tradition, trust, and deep ties to the Salina community.
“We’ve had some really great people and some big names come through this camp,” Thrasher said. “But now we’re to the point where we’ve got parents and grandparents who came to this camp as kids come to watch their kids and grandkids and that’s been a great thing to see.”
While this year’s camp is in the books, you can get more information and look ahead to next year’s camp by visiting hoasportscamps.com.