Local Basketball Stars Bring Clinics to New Brunswick

John Celestand, a Piscataway High School basketball standout and NBA Champion with the LA Lakers from 1999 to 2000 believes in hard work and determination and learning how to work as a team, especially at a young age.

"The goal is to teach (kids) life skills through basketball," Celestand said.

Celestand and partner Mars Mellish, a former St. Peter's High School, Manhattan College and NJIT basketball star, are bringing their skills to New Brunswick this fall in a series of basketball clinics for elementary through high school age kids.

All-State Basketball is a brand new endeavor, Celestand said, but the response has been positive.

Earlier this year, they held their first clinic, and would have been happy with 30 participants, Celestand said.

50 kids showed up, one of which came from as far away as Maryland. 

Celestand said the staff of All-State Basketball are professional and knowledgeable players, but the purpose of the clinics is not to churn out NBA all-stars.

"It doesn't matter what your skill level is when you come to our camp," he said.

Participants are grouped by skill level and broken into small groups for more intimate instruction, he said. No child will be turned away because they do not play well, and the camp instructors can work with anybody, he said. 

The only clinic that requires previous skill is the Fall High School Showdown, which is an advanced level clinic for middle and high school players already playing on their school teams.

All-State Basketball will hold clinics on the following dates:

• Elementary Skills Clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 8 at Lord Stirling Elementary School, 101 Redmond St. This clinic is open to boys and girls ages 6 through 9, and costs $75.
• The New Brunswick Fall Basketball Clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 23 and 24 at New Brunswick Middle School, 1125 Livingston Ave. This clinic is open to boys and girls ages 9 to 14 and currently costs $80 if registered by Oct. 1 as part of an early bird special.
• The Piscataway Fall Hoops Clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 10 and 11 at Piscataway Theodore Schor Middle School, 243 N. Randolphville Road in Piscataway. This clinic is open to boys and girls ages 9 through 14, and costs $95.
• The Fall High School Showdown will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 19 and 20 at New Brunswick Middle School, 1125 Livingston Ave. It is open to boys in grades 9 through 12 who are current or prospective players for their high school teams, and costs $110.

For more information on All-State Basketball, including online registration for clinics, visit all-statebasketball.com.