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Bilas enjoying a few moments with the campers. (Photo via Centerfold Agency)
*Centerfold Agency is a Proud Partner of Front Office Sports
Jay Bilas and Under Armour have become quite the on-court tandem.
Every June, the popular ESPN analyst humbly hosts his basketball skills camp for high school players, up-and-coming coaches, and recruits in Charlotte, N.C. The camp — marked by a positive, underlying mission of team and individual development — has undergone a new, elegant rebrand of its design, thanks in part to a partnership with Centerfold Agency, and Under Armour, the mega footwear, sports, and apparel company.
Unlike any other summer basketball camp, the Jay Bilas Skills Camp stands out in one main way: instruction.
“We believe that the thing that sets us apart is our instruction,” said John Searby, Jay Bilas Skills Camp director. “This isn’t an ‘exposure camp.’”
With assertion from Bilas and Paul Biancardi, among many other prominent basketball figures, it receives well-deserved attention and proves to be a legitimate testing ground of talent and character for college basketball hopefuls.
“Our mission is about educating young men both on and off the court,” Searby said. “Basketball has given Jay and me way more than we can ever give back and most of it is through relationships and life lessons. We want to make kids better players. We want them to become aware of their weaknesses and work to improve, and we want them to understand their strengths and play to them.”
Another benefactor of success is the Coaches Development Programs that the camp features. Searby notes the 12 head coaches have all achieved success in collegiate and professional levels, winning championships, and now give back to the campers, while bolstering their own resume. With a 3-to-1 camper to coach ratio, the camp is able to hone in on the individuals, giving each coach valued experience.
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Along with the experience and networking did at the camp, none of it could be possible without a consistent brand recognition.
Bilas is a self-proclaimed believer in Under Armour’s mission and products, and it’s through his personal partnership with the brand that gear and branding opportunities come alive.
“Under Armour has been helping players at all levels since the company was founded,” said Bilas. “As long as I am running this camp, Under Armour is going to be my choice; it’s been nothing but beneficial.”
Under Armour has been the brand sponsor of the camp since 2016, and players and coaches alike bask in the rewards of the brand with uniforms, shoes, shirts, socks, gear bags upon more.
“What [they] get in gear, almost equals the cost of the camp — and that is just gear, not mentioning instruction and staying at the camp,” Bilas said. “The truth is, the money that is saved by Under Armour gearing the camp up allows us to have more staff.”
As a believer and brand ambassador, Bilas knows the true testament and dedication performance brands like Under Armour make in designing their product, leaving buyers satisfied and comfortable.
“When I wore the best shoes and performance gear, I felt better as a player,” Bilas said. “I can tell through watching and talking to the players, they feel empowered to perform when they are wearing the gear Under Armour has provided.”
*Centerfold Agency is a Proud Partner of Front Office Sports
