CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith returned home to the Lowcountry this weekend for the third year of his Sharpshooter youth basketball camp.
The camp was held at Nesmith’s alma mater, Porter-Gaud School.
“I love being able to give back to the community, spend time with kids and share inspiration,” Nesmith said.
It comes just two weeks after fellow Cyclones player Khris Middleton kicked off a new year of his youth camp at the school.
Nesmith is coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in the NBA playoffs. The Pacers won the first round of the playoffs against Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks. Nesmith weighed in on some of the conversations between the two Charleston natives during that series.
“It’s going to be a moment that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Nesmith said. “Growing up, I looked up to him for so long and then finally getting to the NBA, playing against him, and not only playing against him, but playing against him at the highest level in the playoffs and winning. That’s something I can hold onto forever about him now.”
Nesmith gets bragging rights for next year, but joking aside, he has the utmost respect for Middleton and the path he helped pave for him.
“He taught me so much,” Nesmith said. “I can’t be more grateful to him than I already am.”
Nesmith added Saturday that he hopes the kids attending his camp will be inspired by his career and passion for the sport.
“Work hard, do well in school and take care of the little things,” he said.
The 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina says he’s now comfortable in his role with the Pacers and hopes kids in the area can learn from his style of play, too.
“The role I play on my team is not always appreciated by everyone,” Nesmith said. “It’s not always glamorous, but it helps teams win and I hope I can get the message out that not everything is going to be easy, not everything is going to be the way you want it to be, but somebody’s got to do it and do it right.”
The 24-year-old is preparing for his fifth season in the NBA next year.
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