Long Beach State sophomore basketball player Lauren Cummings is hosting a free basketball camp for girls grades 1-6 at the Salvation Army Gym in Long Beach on July 19.
Through her nonprofit Lauren Cummings (LC) Elite Basketball, Girls Be Ballers 2 aims to spark the next generation of female athletes. Cummings is looking to mentor and advocate for young women pursuing sports, allowing them to gain confidence, leadership and teamwork skills.
“I want every girl to know she’s capable of greatness,” Cummings said in a public statement. “This camp is about showing them they belong—on the court, in leadership, and in life.”
Before playing as a guard for Cal State Long Beach, Cummings was a multi-sport high school athlete in Billings, Montana, becoming the first female to play quarterback at an AA school in Montana and the first female to play American Legion Baseball in the state. Cummings returned to her hometown for a successful camp in June and now will be taking her camp to Long Beach.
The Long Beach camp will be split into sessions for girls grades 1-3 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and grades 4-6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with each session limited to 40 girls. The camp will include high-energy drills and skill-building activities within an inspirational program, with a focus on mental health awareness and instilling confidence.
Cummings is covering the $3,000 cost of Girls Be Ballers 2 through her Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and community partnerships with Southland Credit Union, Legends Sports Bar, Raising Canes, Movita and Naples Ribs. Donations from community and local businesses to LC Elite Basketball help ensure more camps can be organized in the future.
“Every girl deserves the chance to dribble, shoot, and dream big,” Cummings said in a public statement. “This camp is my way of opening that door.”
To register for the Girls Be Ballers 2 camp on July 19 or to learn more about LC Elite Basketball, visit www.1laurencummings.com/nonprofit.
