Scholarships to be awarded for NBA star Quincy Pondexter’s Clovis hoops camp

Former Memorial High star Quincy Pondexter, now a standout with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, will host his annual basketball camp in June.

New this year are scholarships that will pay the $150 fee for those in kindergarten to 12th grades. Twenty youths will receive the scholarships, which are being awarded with the help of the Bautista Foundation and Fresno professional boxer Jose Ramirez.

Scholarship applicants should post on Instagram and tag @bautistafoundation and @jcramirez2012 about their love for basketball and why exercise, as part of a healthy lifestyle, is important.

“I’ve always been a fan of Quincy, and although I have never met him, I’m a graduate from Memorial and played football at Fresno State,” said Dr. Juan Bautista, chairman of the Fresno nonprofit that promotes health care, education and community service. “Jose Ramirez and Rick Mirigian were at my office and I told them how I wanted to give 10 scholarships to kids for the camp. I sponsor several local talents and athletes but wanted to give a couple of kids the opportunity to meet an NBA player and be exposed to such a nice camp.

“Just as I’m a preceptor to (Health Careers Opportunity Program) students for Fresno State and the doctors academy at Sunnyside High School for kids interested in health careers, I believe all kids deserve exposure to such things.”

Turned out it was an easy sell with Ramirez and Mirigian, the fighter’s manager.

“Rick and Jose loved the idea … they knew Quincy and called him directly. Quincy was nice enough to not only agree to my 10 scholarships but add another 10 to equal 20. We decided to give these scholarships with the easy response of why exercise and health are important and why they love basketball.”

Selections will be announced the second week of June, with the camp running from June 27-30 at Buchanan High.

Details: quincypondexterbasketballcamp.com/

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Scholarships to be awarded for NBA star Quincy Pondexter’s Clovis hoops camp."