Bobcat coaches are coaching it all

Campers not just going through the motions

By Tyler Mayforth

San Marcos — There’s no rest for high school athletes who want a chance at a college scholarship.

Once their season ends, the dream pushes them into endless hours on the field, in the gym and into summer skill camps.

While some college coaches prefer to just go through the motions with their camps, Texas State’s make the kids work.

From agility drills to wind springs and passing to shooting, the Bobcats’ coaching staff puts the campers through the wringer.

“Ours are pretty intense,” Texas State head men’s basketball coach Doug Davalos said. “A lot of elite camps just play 5-on-5, we do a lot of skill work and development. We want to show them what it’s like to be a Texas State Bobcat. We want them to know if they shy away from that, it’s probably not going to be a good fit down the road.”

Friday’s “Elite Camp” was the fourth of its kind put on by Davalos at Texas State.

This year, more than 40 incoming high school freshman through seniors attended the camp. Attendance has increased each year and most of it because word-of-mouth.

“I’ve had many people comment that it’s one of the best camps from the standpoint of getting players better and giving them a real insight to what it’s like to be a college basketball player,” Davalos said. “I don’t think we do that enough. When these kids are seniors in high school, they’re used to playing 1,000 AAU games and sometimes the skill development and intensity of training gets diminished in that.”

While Davalos welcomes prospective athletes to Strahan Coliseum, the Texas State football team goes out to get them.

The Bobcats began travel camps this season, like many Football Bowl Subdivision teams have previously. Texas State ventured to Rosenberg and Grand Prairie to teach, but more importantly, to scout.

Countless college football superstars come from the Metroplex and Houston area, so the Bobcats want to get their name into the mix.

“We want to expose the Texas State name and our coaching staff to them, because some might not have the opportunity to bring it to us,” Texas State tight ends coach Mike Barela said. “You are at a recruiting disadvantage if you don’t do these camps.”

The Bobcats are the only Football Championship Subdivision school in Texas doing travel camps.

Like the basketball team, the football coaches put the athletes through many of the same drills the college players do.

Whether it’s footwork, hitting the sled or circuit training, the high schoolers are getting a taste of what it takes to play for Texas State.

The Bobcats’ coaching staff was pleased with the turn out at all their camps. Texas State had 145 athletes show up in Rosenberg, while 80 attended the Metroplex camp.

“What’s funny about the Dallas camp was that half of the schools in the Metroplex were still in session,” Barela said. “It was also the state track and field meet weekend, so we had a couple of things fighting against us.

“It’s just good to know the Texas State name is out there alive and well.”

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