Young athletes spent some time recently polishing up their basketball skills at St. Aloysius Church, Bennetts Mill Road, Jackson.

Alyssa Laguerta, 13, works on her shooting skills during a basketball camp held at St. Aloysius Church, Jackson. DAVE BENJAMIN Evelyn Maldonado, the founder of D.E. Basketball Skills and Training, said children between the ages of 9 and 18 received instruction in offensive and defensive aspects of the sport.

Two organizations, the Rip Tides and the Jersey Sting, sent almost their entire team to the basketball camp, she said.

Don Hampton helped to provide the instruction to the participants.

“Between Don Hampton, our head trainer, who trains our national team, and myself, we have about 40 years of experience,” said Maldonado. “I have been coaching for about 18 years and have been coaching for 20-plus years with girls and boys.”

At one point during a recent workout, Hampton was working with the players on their footwork.

“Footwork affects your shot and your ball handling, as well as setting up your defender with the ball and making entry passes,” he said. “We are not just here playing games. This is for players who want to get better.”

Hampton said Kevin Eastman, a former head coach at Washington State University and an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics, offered instruction to the participants.

“He was able to take some of the things on the NBA level and bring them down to the grassroots,” Hampton said.

Alyssa Laguerta, 13, said she just graduated from St. Aloysius School and will be going to Monsignor Donovan High School in Toms River where she hopes to play basketball.

“Mr. Hampton is my coach and he really teaches you the fundamentals of the game,” Alyssa said. “I’m really working hard at it, especially my skills. He emphasizes defense, because defense is essentially what wins games. I love playing for my school and for the Jersey Sting, and hopefully I can continue playing basketball in the future.”

Annie Taylor, 13, said she played basketball for three years at St. Aloysius and has played with Jersey Sting for two years.

“I like basketball camp because it’s very interactive and it’s not awkward, because they separate you into groups that are on the same level,” Annie said. “Coach Evelyn, my coach, has a lot of patience. She teaches me to play better defense and to shoot better.”

More information about the basketball camp can be found at the Internet website www.JerseyStingBasketball.com or call 732-580-0648.