Fall League Skill Sessions with Will Avery

The 2013 version of The Fall League may appear totally different than last year's.  After all, the number of teams participating (nearly 50 this during year's first Saturday compared to 5 last Fall), the range of age groups involved, and the number of gyms being used give the league a completely different look.  But one thing that hasn't changed is the presence of the Free Skill Sessions conducted by former NBA lottery pick Will Avery and a host of current and former professional and college players from the area.

Avery, who also starred at Duke and led the Blue Devils to the championship game of the 1999 NCAA Final Four, was joined Saturday by fellow NBA alum Garret Siler.  Siler still plays professionally after playing recently for the Phoenix Suns and Augusta State University.  Other instructors include former ASU standouts Adam Miller and Keith Harrison, as well as volunteers and parents from the GAIS Eagles basketball program.

The group of highly capable volunteers led over 40 high school and middle school aged boys and girls through individual skill training for 90 minutes.  The training emphasized offensive skills like shooting, ball handling, passing, and scoring.  The next session is Saturday, August 24, at 8AM at Evans High School.  Fall League play (see preview here) will begin immediately after the skill session at 10AM and last throughout the day.  League games will also be played at Grovetown High School and Evans Middle School.

The benefit to young players of consistently attending workouts conducted by Avery are obvious.  He is very effective at giving young players clear and useful guidance.  In the video above, Greenbrier High School senior Kayshawn Marshall does a fine job of explaining the specific skill that he most enjoyed practicing at this year's first session.