Brooklyn Nets center Mason Plumlee hosts basketball camp

WHIPPANY – Kyle Herman is a big Duke basketball fan. The 13-year-old eighth grader from Denville also follows the Brooklyn Nets.

So you could imagine Herman's excitement when he found out that Mason Plumlee was hosting a basketball camp at Hoop Heaven, close to Herman's home.

"I was really excited, because I saw him play at Duke and knew he was a really good player," said Herman, who was one of approximately 100 youngsters ages 7-to-16 who attended a week-long camp with the Brooklyn Nets' standout center. "I was excited to be here with him."

So were other Morris County teenagers who got to spend the week with Plumlee, who was named to the All-NBA Rookie Team last season.

"He's one of my favorite Nets," said fellow Denville resident Bryce Mott.

Mott was one of the truly fortunate campers. He had the chance to play Plumlee one-on-one for a chance to win a free pair of sneakers.

"But he beat me, 3-2," said the 14-year-old Mott, headed to Morris Knolls in the fall. "He blocked one of my shots."

Mott shouldn't feel bad about getting rejected by the Nets' second-year center. After all, the 6-foot-11 Plumlee blocked a shot on Lebron James at the buzzer to secure a Brooklyn victory last season.

The 24-year-old Plumlee always wanted to host a basketball camp, considering he was a camper many times as a kid growing up.

"I was fortunate that my mom always sent me to camp," said Plumlee, who has an older brother, Miles, who plays with the Phoenix Suns, and a younger brother Marshall who will be a junior at Duke in the fall. "That's the biggest reason why I wanted to do something like this, because I had so much fun going to camp when I was a kid."

Camp director Bill Maranz has coordinated other camps involving Nets players in the past like Nenad Krstic, Brian Scalabrine, Jason Collins, MarShon Brooks and earlier this year Brook Lopez, was pleased to be able to get Plumlee to come to Hoop Heaven.

"He's been great with the kids," Maranz said. "He offers instruction. He shows the kids things and helped coach some of the games. He's been here all week and has been very hands on, talking to the kids, to their parents. He's also stressed the importance of having a good education. He's a good guy, a good player, who's good to have around."

Plumlee has had a lot of fun working with the youngsters.

"It's been a blast," said Plumlee, who headlined a camp for the first time. "I see a lot of kids at games, but this was different, because I got the chance to be on the court with them and be with them up close. I let them ask questions and interacted with them."

Plumlee said that he had a message to give to each camper.

"I encouraged them all to play with each other," Plumlee said. "I encouraged each kid to meet someone new, to make a new friend. Going to a camp is a lot more than playing basketball. There's a chance for interaction, to cheer for the next guy."

Plumlee said that he did get a good education at Duke and stressed education with the campers.

"It's a privilege to play basketball in school," Plumlee said. "That's only if you get your school work done. Parents who send their kids here knew I had to go to school to play."

Mott said that he enjoyed receiving instruction from one of the NBA's top rookies a year ago.

"He was very encouraging," Mott said. "He was enthusiastic."

Andrew Behrendt of Rockaway, headed to Morris Hills in the fall, was thrilled about the chance to work with Plumlee.

"I skipped my family vacation for it," said the 14-year-old Behrendt, whose family was in Stone Harbor on the Jersey Shore for the week. "I would rather be here than at the beach."

Behrendt was asked what he learned at the camp.

"I learned to play hard and never give up," Behrendt said. "It was a great week. He was good and fun."

"I learned about ball handling," Herman said. "I learned drills I can do at home."

Calvin White of Rockaway didn't know about Plumlee's days at Duke, but he certainly learned a lot about Plumlee as soon as he was drafted by Nets in the first round (22nd overall) last year.

"I like the Nets, so I was very excited that he was going to be here," the 13-year-old White said. "I learned from him this week and I know I can be a better player. I had a lot of fun here. I made friends here. This encourages me to play basketball more."

White is headed to Morris Hills in the fall. He met some of his future classmates for the first time at the camp.

David McCoy of Whippany is headed to Whippany Park in September. He had attended one of the previous Hoop Heaven camps that featured former Net Brooks, now with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Mason worked with everybody," McCoy said. "I think it's great what he does and he gets a chance to play in the NBA. It's great. He helped me learn to shoot better. He was kind and fun to be around."

Plumlee was impressed with the kids.

"They're extremely knowledgeable," Plumlee said. "A lot of these kids knew all my stats, knew what games I did what. They've been to some of our games. I never had a chance like this. I didn't meet an NBA player until I was in college and that was a thrill for me. This was a thrill for me, just seeing them having fun. They make a shot and want to make sure that I saw it. The game is so pure at this level. There are no contracts. No one is being recruited. They're all enjoying basketball. It's a game that they can play for a long, long time."

Plumlee is hoping to build on a highly successful rookie season, where he averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

"I want to carry the momentum that I gained from this year," Plumlee said. "I don't want to miss a step. I worked hard to show what I can do and be a better player than I was. Everyone likes being recognized (as an All-Rookie Team honoree). It was very cool and I'm very proud."

Just like the youngsters of Morris County were meeting and playing basketball with an actual NBA player this week.

----

SEE MORE SPORTS: https://www.dailyrecord.com/sports/