Kyonna Kelly to Host Free Girls Basketball Camp Saturday at Kinston High
Kyonna Kelly to Host Free Girls Basketball Camp Saturday at Kinston High
KINSTON — Former Kinston High School standout Kyonna Kelly is once again using the game she loves to empower the next generation.
This Saturday, June 21, Kelly will host a free girls basketball camp from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kinston High School(2601 North Queen Street). The event is open to girls ages 7 to 15, with a focus on fundamentals, fun and community. Parents can register their children by texting or calling 252-361-9534.
Kelly, who first launched her camp as a senior at KHS in 2023, has remained committed to leveling the playing field for young female athletes in her hometown.
“Girls in Kinston that play basketball don’t get as many chances as boys and we get overlooked,” Kelly said at the time. “I want to be the person that can give girls that opportunity.”
Now, she’s doubling down on that mission. The camp will feature appearances and hands-on help from former Kinston High players Carmin Davis, Dezoria Sutton, and Keasia Shepherd, along with Katherine Thompson, a former standout at South Lenoir. Coach Bradshaw and several KHS teachers will also be in attendance to support the event.
“This is about focusing on the development part of basketball — giving little girls the platform to learn the fundamentals of the game while also having fun,” Kelly said. “And doing it without their parents having to pay money that could be used for other things.”
Kelly said her love for working with kids, especially young girls, is what continues to drive her.
“I want to put back into the community that poured so much into me and made me who I am today,” she said. “I want to make sure the young girls here have something to look forward to every year that will not just build skill, but also bring joy.”
And she has no plans to stop.
“I want to make this an annual thing — for it to be bigger and better each year,” she said. “That’s exactly what has happened for the past three years.”
