Why Five Star NBPA Basketball Camp is Worth It – My Honest Review
I just finished the Five Star NBPA Basketball Camp in New York, and honestly? It was way better than I expected. I’ve been to a few basketball camps before, but this one hits different. Here’s my real review of what it’s actually like.
Five Star Basketball Camp History and Reputation
First off, this camp has serious history. Like, they’ve been running Five Star camps for decades and tons of NBA players went through this exact program. You can feel that legacy when you’re there – it’s not just some random summer camp, it’s the real deal.
NBA Players at Five Star NBPA Camp
The coolest part was definitely the NBA players showing up. We had Ace Bailey, Eddie Curry, and Mitchell Robinson come through during my week. They weren’t just there for photos either – they actually worked with us, gave advice, and talked about what it takes to make it. Mitchell Robinson was explaining post moves and I’m thinking “this dude is guarding Joel Embiid in real games.” That was insane.
Basketball Skills and Coaching at Five Star Camp
The coaching was solid. They really focus on fundamentals, which I know sounds boring but it’s not. These coaches know what they’re talking about and they’ll call you out if your footwork is trash or if you’re taking bad shots. They teach you the right way to do everything – shooting form, defense, ball handling, all of it.
Competition Level at Five Star NBPA Basketball Camp
The games were crazy competitive. Like, 200+ kids from all over, different ages (I think youngest was maybe 10, oldest was 17 or 18). Everyone’s trying to prove they’re the best player there, so you’ve got lots of dudes trying to show off with unnecessary dunks and fancy handles. But that just makes you play harder and smarter.
The Best Part: Real Player Evaluations
Here’s what makes Five Star different from other basketball camps – at the end, they give you an actual evaluation, if you didn’t go check out the Hoopwrld player assessment. Not some participation trophy feedback where they tell everyone they’re great. They tell you exactly what you’re good at and what you need to work on. Mine said I need to get stronger and work on my weak hand, but that my court vision and basketball IQ were above average. That kind of honest feedback is gold because now I know exactly what to focus on.
Five Star Basketball Camp Daily Experience
Since it’s a day camp (not overnight), you go hard all day then go home. Perfect setup honestly. You get that intense basketball experience without having to deal with camp food and weird roommates. The energy was amazing every single day.
Is Five Star NBPA Basketball Camp Worth the Money?
Look, it’s not cheap. But if you’re serious about basketball and want to get better, it’s worth it. The coaching, competition, and that final evaluation alone make it worth the cost. Plus getting to learn from actual NBA players? You can’t put a price on that.
Five Star Basketball Camp Review: Final Thoughts
I’d definitely go back next year. The combination of real basketball instruction, crazy good competition, and that honest evaluation at the end makes this camp special. If you’re a young player looking to improve and you can handle real feedback (not just people telling you what you want to hear), Five Star NBPA Basketball Camp is definitely worth checking out.
The history, the NBA connections, the competition level – everything about this camp pushes you to get better. Just be ready to work and don’t expect to be the best player there, because everyone can ball.
Five Star NBPA Basketball Camp Details
- Location: New York
- Format: Day camp (non-residential)
- Size: 200+ campers
- Ages: Wide range (approximately 10-18 years old)
- Focus: Fundamentals, competition, honest player development
IG – NBPA
