The Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA will host a basketball camp for 10 to 17 year olds Monday, July 14, through Thursday, July 17.

Bainbridge High School Bearcats award-winning head basketball coach Rickey McCullough will host the camp.

In the 2009-10 season, McCullough led the Bearcats to the Region 1-AAAA championship, the State Class AAAA Final Four and was Region 1-AAAA Coach of the Year.

On Tuesday, Jan. 14, in Colquitt, McCullough’s Bearcats defeated the Miller County High School Pirates 72-58 for his 800th career victory.

McCullough coached 31 years in Florida before coming to Bainbridge eight years ago. He coached one year at Cottondale High School, three years at Liberty County High School in Bristol and 27 years at Chipley High School.

He led the Chipley boys to four Final Fours and the Chipley girls to one Final Four. On May 15, 2010, in Orlando, McCullough was inducted into the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches (FABC) 2010, Court of Legends Florida Circle of Champions Hall of Fame.

During his career, McCullough has averaged 21 victories a season and between 30 and 40 of his players earned college basketball scholarships.

At McCullough’s YMCA camp, he will instruct the youngsters on the basic basketball fundamentals of ball handling, dribbling, passing and shooting. During daily camp competitions and games, McCullough will help youngsters improve their play so they can make their school teams or play better on their YMCA teams.

He will emphasize personal discipline, respect and sportsmanship in trying to teach young campers some life lessons.

“It’s not all about basketball,” McCullough said. “We are also trying to teach the kids life skills and Christian values.”

He will also talk about the importance of getting along with others, playing together as a team and being responsible for your actions, all of which will help the campers be better players for their school and YMCA teams and more successful in life.