The Teague brothers, Marquis and Jeff, provided a high level free basketball camp for boys grades 4-8 this past Saturday, June 7 at their Indianapolis Pike High School alma mater. Coming from the inner city, Jeff and Marquis Teague have banded together to provide an elite basketball instruction camp that will not only help the youngsters with their skills, but — perhaps more importantly — help kids grasp the concept of basketball as a tool to reach college and improve their future.
[RELATED: Dime Q&A: Jeff Teague on his 5,000 sneakers, underdog status against Indy and more]
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Dime caught up with the Teague brothers to discuss their upcoming camp, their respective past seasons and how their offseason has been going.
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Dime: How are you guys doing? How has the offseason been treating both of you guys with training and everything?
Jeff Teague: Everything has been good, I’m actually in Indiana getting my conditioning up and getting my feet under me. This is actually the first summer that My brother and I are working out together so it’s been great. We both have been pushing each other to be better.
Marquis Teague: Yea, offseason been great. We just trying to stay in shape and just get better.
Dime: That’s cool, there is definitely nobody who can push you more than your brother. You know Jeff, you guys had a pretty good run in the playoffs. How is the outlook for the future of the Atlanta Hawks?
JT: Well, we had a good run and to be honest we should have won that series. We have a lot of great players and pieces not to mention we have a lot of people returning so we should be set to have a great year next season.
Dime: What about you Marquis? How was the first year with the Brooklyn Nets and playing alongside a bunch of vets in Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett?
MT: Man it was great. It’s been great just learning from the vets. You know, Paul Pierce would play me one on one to help take my game to another level while KG would lay advice on me. So it has been an unbelievable experience.
Dime: Getting coached by a vet and arguably the greatest point guard to ever play the game in Jason Kidd was another great moment. How has that been?
MT: It’s been real good. I mean he is best pg to play the game and he’s my coach. So it is cool to pick his brain every day and learn from him.
Dime: Most definitely. Now you both were in good draft classes. Who is one player in this draft you believe will turn out to be a pretty good pro?
JT: I can answer that, and I would have to say Jabari Parker. He has a lot of the tools so I can see him being a pretty good player. Beside that I don’t really watch too many other players, but Jabari Parker for sure.
Click to hear about the Teague’s inner-city camp for the youth of Indianapolis…
Dime: Ok, on the spot. Who is better in a game of H.O.R.S.E?
JT: (laughs) Has to be me, I’m a better shooter.
MT: Honestly, I feel that I can beat him (laughs).
Dime: Let’s dive into the subject at hand. You guys are holding a basketball clinic along with the Gym Rats, so how did that come about?
JT: Honestly, along with me and my brother we just wanted to do something for our city man. We grew up in camps so it was only right we give back.
MT: Like he said, we just want to give back to the city and keep kids off these streets.
Dime: Why now? Why the urge to implement this basketball clinic for your town?
JT: Well, its for the kids of Indianapolis. We just wanted to show the younger kids there is a way out. There have been a lot of killings and robberies going on here. So I wanted to show them that there was more to life and better things you can do.
MT: Yea, this is home. People don’t know it’s rough out here. We just want to give people something to look forward too. A lot of people don’t make it out of here so we just to want give light and show there is a way out.
Dime: How has the reception been?
JT: It’s been great. All of our fans and the people that have been loyal to us have been responding. It was only right we do something for them. This is just the beginning.
MT: Yea, it’s been great everybody has been showing love to us.
Dime: You guys are involved in multiple charities among your respected organizations. What makes this particular event special and different than the others?
JT: This is special because basketball is big here in Indianapolis. Just coming back to do a camp and showing these kids we went through the same things they went through is what it is all about. Our big thing is college. We want to show these kids that you can use basketball as a tool to get into college to succeed.
Dime: So for the people that are attending the camp tomorrow, what are some surprises they can expect?
JT: Well for the people attending we have a lot of guys that are skilled that know the game and played Division I and Division II ball. Some of the people are Rodney Smith who played at Purdue, Chris Thomas who went to Notre Dame and a few others. They will also participate in the alumni game.
Dime: So my last question is with you both being coaches for the Alumni game, whose team is taking it?
JT: My squad is going to win (laughs).
MT: Imma go ahead and say my team is taking it. I haven’t seen the roster but knowing my brother he probably picked the roster.
Dime: Clearly he’s trying to get first dibs on an elite squad.
MT: Yea no worries though. I have faith that we are taking it though (laughs).
What do you think?
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