Darting trains international basketball players at Shawnee Heights
TECUMSEH, KS. (KSNT) - School isn't in session, and basketball season hasn't quite arrived, but the gym at Shawnee Heights High School is far from quiet.
Kerry Darting, who's father is high school coaching legend Ken Darting, is accustomed to training elite basketball talent through his Darting Basketball Academy. This summer, though, he's doing something new.
"We brought kids in from all over the world to train with us for the past three weeks," Darting said. "They work out with us and they go play in AAU tournaments on the weekends."
A collection of basketball players ages 15-17 from 12 different countries, all coming to Topeka to play basketball.
Darting is connected with local basketball talent, and through his time coaching DI basketball, he has friends who are connected with international basketball talent. Now, he has a handful of local athletes and international athletes competing and training alongside each other.
It's three weeks of three practices a day, being what Darting calls a "basketball intensive" schedule. Though, the American style of play is much different than what many of the players are used to.
"In America, everyone can shoot," Timon Persin, of Slovenia, said. "In Europe, only points guards, shooting guards can shoot."
Other players, including Pavle Tadic from Montenegro and Matija Jevic from Serbia, commented the American game is quicker and pacier.
"I feel like I've improved since I came here, a lot," Stefan Lazic, of Serbia, said. "And I've gotten to work a lot on what I do best."
Dusan Kovacevic, who also comes from Serbia, helped Darting organize the three-week training session. Kovacevic played collegiate hoops for Davidson, and spent time working for the Charlotte Hornets and Serbian national team.
The goal of coming to the States, Kovacevic says, is to put the participating players in front of college scouts and coaches at the next level. The same can be said for increasing visibility for participating local kids too.
"These kids don't get much opportunity back home to be seen," Kovacevic said. "These kids dream of playing the U.S. ... Having kids come together from all over the world, seeing them become best friends in just a couple of days, that's something they're going to remember for their whole lives."