HILO, Hawai`i--It took the return of some legendary names of old to bring out nearly 200 of the island's young this week for the Vulcan Basketball Camp, featuring Coach Jimmy Yagi.

The Hall of Fame coach is joined this year by another former successful Vulcan head coach, Bob Wilson. One of Yagi's standout guards, Bill O'Rear is also back, along with many local high school coaches and current UHH men's and women's head coaches GE Coleman and David Kaneshiro. O'Rear was on Yagi's first two District championship teams (1977 and 1978) and is the retired sports editor of the Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. Wilson succeeded Yagi as head coach in 1986 and led the program successfully through the 1995 season.

199 basketball players ages eight through 17 arrived at UH Hilo on Monday for the first day of camp. A little less than half of those players will train at Pana`ewa through Thursday, while the rest of the campers will be at the UHH gymnasium. In addition to receiving great teaching from the coaches named above and local leaders like Paul Lee and Nelson Wong, the keiki will also receive a free basketball, camp t-shirt, camp team photo and lunch each day. Additionally, currently Vulcan players, both men and women, will also be involved in the teaching.

"We could not be happier with the turnout of this Vulcan Summer Basketball Camp," said UHH athletic director Patrick Guillen. "We exceeded our goals and have nearly 200 campers.  They will learn from the best of the best that the Big Island has to offer.  We are grateful that so many area coaches came out to support and to also have Coach Jimmy Yagi, Bob Wilson and Bill O'Rear here too is amazing."

The camp has been a part of Hilo summers for nearly 40 years, run most recently by the Hawai`i Department of Parks and Recreation.

"I also want to thank the County of Hawai`i for organizing and hosting this camp for the past five years," Guillen added. "They did a great job but we are very happy to be able to have it back and host it again.  This camp is a part of UH Hilo history and it is fitting for it to be back in our control and care."

The camp will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Thursday (July 24-27).