How A Prestigious Basketball Camp Paved The Way for Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, And Other NBA Legends

From relative obscurity to superstardom, one basketball camp became the first big stage for some legends of the game

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Collegiate basketball is one of the most-watched sports in the United States. The stars that dominate the NBA get their start in the collegiate circuit, especially since the advent of athletic scholarships. While the process today is very meticulous, this wasn't always the case. In the 60s and 70s, basketball camps were just coming up as a method for college coaches and athletic directors to recruit high school prodigies. And one summer basketball camp ended up becoming the elite - Five Star.

In a recent story by The Athletic, we got a glimpse into the inner workings of the camp. Five Star Basketball Camp became the breeding ground for some of the best high school ballplayers in the country. Names like Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin have taken part in these camps. During that time, renowned high school prospects from all over the country would make their way to Pennsylvania to show what they can do. But little did they know that they would house one of the greatest to ever play this game - as a skinny 17-year-old.

The camp was not a luxurious experience. Players would have to pay for their stay by bussing tables, and would often have bare-minimum lodging facilities. But all of that was worth it to them in order to get a chance to impress some scouts and coaches and get a shot at the collegiate ball. And according to Patrick Ewing, the players who were doing the menial work were often the best players at these camps.

“Grief? Who was going to give us grief?...The ones who were the waiters, we were the best players.’" (H/T The Athletic)

 In the summer of 1980, a young Michael Jordan got an invite to North Carolina State University's camp. At the camp, Jordan caught the eye of Roy Williams, then an assistant coach to Dean Smith. While others had their doubts, Williams vouched for Jordan. During the camp, Williams was amazed by Jordan's ability and even told another assistant coach that Jordan is the greatest player of his size. While the comment initially didn't garner belief, Jordan began to turn heads at the camp.

What came next was an opportunity that Roy got for MJ. Williams was able to convince Tom Konchalski, a well-respected recruiting analyst with ties to Five Star to take a chance on MJ and get him an invite to Five Star. At the camp, future NBA head coach Brendan Malone asked Konchalski to select his pick in a draft as he was away on personal business. 

But Malone was in for a surprise when he returned, as Konchalski was blown away by Michael Jordan after watching him play. He ended up selecting MJ, much to the chagrin of Malone, who remarked "Who the f--- is Michael Jordan?". His outrage would quickly turn into excitement, as Jordan took the whole camp by storm. While there isn't an account of what he did to amaze everyone there, Roy Williams noted that Michael Jordan ended up winning all the accolades that were offered across his week there.

Collegiate recruiting has changed significantly since then. With the greater investment into athletic programs of big schools, scouts are able to travel across the country on behalf of universities to get them some of the best opportunities in the world. And while this process has brought the NBA some of the best players in the world, one can hardly argue that this process doesn't work. The quality of players to come out of Five Star basketball camp was on full display in the NBA during arguably its greatest period. 

Ewing went on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history. He joined the New York Knicks as the first overall pick in 1985, after a successful stint in Georgetown. Despite his excellent play in the NBA, Ewing was never able to win an NBA championship. His only mistake was that he played in an era where Michael Jordan was dominating the NBA.

For Jordan, while he impressed at the camp, it wasn't the vehicle for his success. His exploits earlier in the summer at North Carolina basketball camp got him a scholarship at the university. At North Carolina State, Jordan was a pivotal figure in their success, even leading them to a historic national championship. His performances in college garnered a lot of national interest. Jordan eventually declared for the NBA Draft in 1984, and went third overall in the draft. The rest as they say, is history.