Tatum state champs lead young hoopers at summer camp

Published 8:01 pm Thursday, July 10, 2025

TATUM — Tatum Eagles Hoops held a three-day youth camp this week led by new Head Coach Jayme Bradley and assisted by players from the reigning Class 3A Division I state championship team.

Approximately 40 campers from grades 2-9 filled the Eagle Coliseum gym for three hours a day, Monday to Wednesday, for a deep dive in basketball fundamentals, everything from good balance and passing on offense, being aggressive on defense and having the right attitude on the court to be a good team player.

“We got the kids showing up. They’re excited. They’re getting after it,” said Bradley after wrapping up day two on Tuesday. “They’re very challenging and competitive. We’ve just got to tune some things up, sharpen up the skills. I think they’re going to be fun to watch as they grow up and play.”

Bradley officially took over Tatum Hoops after the retirement of coaching legend Brett Carr. Before that, Bradley was assistant coach at Tatum for three years.

One of the highlights for the campers was getting coaching tips and demonstrations from state champs like JaCorie Bradley, Luke Sigler, Cayden Tatum, Jordan Chambers, Cooper Whiteus and DaMarion Tolbert and also playing them on the court.

“It’s been awesome having those guys around that went through a state championship run and took care of business,” said Coach Bradley. “And to have them come back and pour into these kids, try to keep them entertained and encourage them… It’s been a blessing. There’s nothing like having guys that played and won a state championship to get back to the young kids.”

Sigler, Bradley, C. Tatum and Chambers all graduated in the spring. Whiteus will be a senior this season and Tolbert a sophomore. This isn’t the first time they’ve volunteered their time for Tatum’s summer camps and they agreed on the importance of encouraging the next generation of Eagles to keep the strong basketball tradition going.

“The camp means a lot for us because we’re teaching all the kids everything we used to do and what it takes to win a championship,” said C. Tatum.

“This is the future of Tatum basketball. We just want them to come in and work hard, play angry how we play, and just believe in themselves,” added Chambers.

“We just really want to give him a touch of our culture because they’re all new to this,” said Sigler. “They’ve got to play it our way and see how it is, so they can be just like us. And hopefully hang another banner.”

“Just show them the right way to play basketball and how to be like us,” added Bradley.

“I was at the point that they were,” said Tolbert. “I just want to teach them how to play basketball.”