November 2024 Brings Rising Stars Basketball Clinics Back Home

When Rising Stars founder Paul Savramis is asked what has significantly impacted Rising Stars' evolution over the past 28 years, one word immediately comes to mind: clinics.

Talking further with Paul Savramis, he emphasizes that clinics weren't just a part of Rising Stars; they defined its beginnings and recognition.

As Paul Savramis explains, Rising Stars started as a series of one-day and weekend instructional basketball clinics sponsored by Nike and Wilson Sports in the 90’s. These clinics evolved into yearly programs featuring camps, travel teams, and overall training.

"Rising Stars was originally referred to as the 'Rising Stars Basketball Clinics,'" continued Paul Savramis. "They were unique in that the concept of one clinician with one ball talking to a group was replaced by everyone in that group having a ball and learning by doing along with the clinicians. Multiple coaches would move throughout the group during the clinics, demonstrating skills rather than just explaining them."

At the time, Paul Savramis points out, this simple concept was truly innovative and gained traction. This clinic model and teaching style helped Rising Stars develop a reputation as a basketball school rather than just a camp.

And that, Paul Savramis continued, was something that caught on so much so that European programs brought Savramis and his staff to showcase this style for their players.

Paul Savramis explained, "Our concept of 'show vs. tell' needed no translation. We were being put there as part of everything being done to reach kids and promote basketball. Most of what we did, the groups did with us. It was fun, and it worked."

Europe was the beginning as the Rising Stars clinic model began being featured at NBA camps like Michael Jordan, Eddie Jones, and other national name camps across the country.

When asked about the impact of conducting clinics in so many different places, Paul Savramis's answer is always the same, "life-changing."

"Basketball clinics have always been a passport for Rising Stars," said Savramis, "but we began to do fewer of them as Rising Stars introduced different things to reach more kids."

One reason for this, Paul Savramis explains, was that Rising Stars grew too quickly and couldn't find the time or staff to keep traveling throughout the country.

Now, this November, Savramis is excited to announce that clinics are back to stay.

"Opening the Rising Stars Athletic Complex was the key," said Paul Savramis. "We can now utilize a newer style of clinic that offers the same model we began with in 1996 but adapted to a newer generation. That generation now begins with K-3, and we are able to do everything under one roof."