Darrin Horn Ladies Clinic teaches fundamentals

The second Annual Darrin Horn Ladies Clinic was Saturday morning at the Gamecock Basketball practice facility.

From 9 to 11:30 a.m., women of all ages came out to attend the event. All the ladies that attended were given exclusive Ladies Clinic Underarmour shirts, lunch and a tour of the facilities added to the building. The women toured throughout sections like the Coliseum, underneath the stadium, the film and medical room.

The women were able to meet the coaches and to learn the basics of basketball.

 “It’s a ladies clinic to teach the fundamental skills of basketball,” said Darrin Horn, head coach of the men’s basketball team.

“I think it’s a great idea. It has been a big turnout and a lot of fun,” said Caroline DeHaven, a second-year business student. DeHaven helped promote the Ladies Clinic by doing public relations with the Carolina Agency.

“Getting to see what all really goes into our basketball program is what it is all about,” she said.

The clinic wasn’t held just for the purpose of teaching basketball, for it had charitable aspirations as well.

“This will raise money and awareness for breast cancer,” said Horn.

The earnings will be donated to the V Foundation for Cancer Research for the fight against breast cancer, which was founded by ESPN and Jim Valvano 15 years ago, and has raised over $90 million since then.

The women learned dribbling and shooting techniques. The coaches talked about the rules of passing the ball from the baseline and defense and showed them first-hand with quick drills that began and ended with loud whistles. The women would rotate around the basketball court in different groups as they learned different things. Horn said that they learned about offense and defense and about nutrition.

Members of the Garnet Army and even Cocky made an appearance to discuss the dynamics of school spirit for Carolina basketball games. The men’s basketball team also came out and introduced themselves, while wearing their new home and away jerseys. Everyone was thrilled to see them as well. Horn said much of the event was aimed at getting the participants involved.

“We wanted to make it interactive,” said Horn. “We didn’t just want them to just sit around on stands and watch the whole time.”