Mike Hart’s chest swells with pride every time he talks about the St. Andrew’s School Summer Basketball Camp. 

Better known as “Hoops with Hart,” this informative, instructional two-week camp is about to begin its 23rd year of operation, something Coach Hart is pretty proud of.

“We’ve come a long way since we started this camp, and it keeps getting bigger and better each year,” said the coach, who also serves as St. Andrew’s director of athletics.”

This year’s camp sessions will run June 25-29, and again from Aug. 13-17, from 9 a.m.  to 3 p.m. each day. The camp ends at noon on Friday. The cost is $275 for each boy and girl camper ages 8-18.

“Things are going well so far,” said Coach Hart, a man whose basketball identity is known far and wide. “We expect 100 kids each week. We focus in on how to teach the kids to play correctly…both offensively and defensively.”

As is the case each summer, Coach Hart will be joined by good friend and colleague John O’Shea, who also coaches the St. Andrew’s Prep basketball team. They will be joined by veteran coaches Mike Reed of Johnson & Wales University, who has 20 years basketball experience under his belt; Jim McGovern, a former Division I assistant coach, and Ryan Alescio, who also has great hoop credentials as the St. Andrew’s varsity hoop coach.

“We’ll also have current and former players who will come in and help the kids improve their game,” said Coach Hart.

The Hoops with Hart Camp teaches kids valuable life skills and offers them the opportunity to make new friends while having fun throughout the course of the camp. They also receive awards and prizes upon completion.

“We have many kids from the East Bay area who come to this camp,” said Coach Hart. “We’ve been serving many of them for a long time.”

The camp has also featured many college and pro basketball stars, past and present, including former St. Andrew’s star Bonzie Colson of the University of Notre Dame, Demetris Nichols, Rakim Sanders, Tony Robertson, Michael Carter-Williams, and Ricky Ledo.

“This summer camp is a great learning experience for those youngsters who wish to improve their game,” said Coach Hart. “And, they’ll have a lot of fun doing it.”