Fakanauna Apolo, left, Bill Jones, Tyrell Tupara, Ana Te Kani, Koston Pohatu, Rawiei Wharepapa at Gisborne YMCA, where NBA star Steven Adams is hosting a basketball camp this week. Photo/ Leonie Sheehan

A chance to shoot hoops with NBA star Steven Adams had Gisborne kids bouncing around the court today as his basketball camp made its first-ever stop in the city.

More than 400 kids are expected to attend the free two-day camp at the YMCA, where they will learn basketball skills,get a signed ball and T-shirt, and a bag of kai for their family.

Kids from Te Kura o Pātutahi were over the moon to have met the 2.13m Houston Rockets centre, including Bill Jones, who said it was “the best birthday present I’d ever had”.

When asked what skills he learnt, he said “a three-pointer shot on Steven”.

Koston Pohatu said Adams was his favourite basketball player.

Pātutahi principal Ana Te Kani brought five kids from her school. One was Fakanauna Apolo, from South Pacific island nation Tuvalu, who has a “real love for shooting the ball, and that’s his safe space”.

Te Kani said the camp exposed them to opportunities they might not get at home.

The kids had connected with Adams through the “growth mindset” and were excited when they realised others from East Coast schools were attending the camp.

“Nowhere will you hear of an opportunity for our tamariki on the coast to come and have a session with Steven Adams.”

Steven Adams Pathways Trust chairman Spencer Webster said it was about connecting and giving back to the community.

“Coming to Gisborne, the East Coast seemed like a good place to do that given all that’s been happening with recent weather events.”

The camp is in its 11th year, but this is the first time it has been held in Gisborne.

Most other locations have larger court facilities. Gisborne’s YMCA has only the one basketball court.

“We’ve been from eight court facilities down to this.”

Webster said basketball could be a pathway to better education and life outcomes.

“He [Adam’s] is an example of that. Trying to get people into the game at this younger age and later on, we provide opportunities for the older students to go into programmes.”

Webster said they had tours to the US to get exposure to colleges there, and look at scholarships.

“It’s not just about being good at basketball; it’s actually using that to further your life.”