SMUS Alumni Pass the Torch at First Overnight Basketball Camp

When athletes arrived on campus this summer for the SMUS Overnight Basketball Camp, they stepped into something more than a week of drills and scrimmages. They were entering a program powered by a legacy of SMUS basketball — guided by alumni who had once walked the same halls, played on the same courts, and now returned to share their experience at the highest levels of the game.

Alumni and Lifers Lead the Way

The coaching team was not only experienced but also steeped in SMUS tradition. Coach Jamie Yorath ’10, his brother Mark Yorath ’13, and Graeme Hyde-Lay ’15 all grew up at the school, each spending their entire Kindergarten to Grade12 years as “Lifers” before going on to play and coach at higher levels.

That shared history brought a strong sense of continuity and pride to the camp.

“All three of us lifers played at the school, coached at the school, and now we’re back here giving back,” coach Yorath explained. “Even our helpers are either alumni or current students. It’s fully run through the school community, which is nice.”

The coaching team was complemented by Jason Scully ’15 — a former UVic Vikes standout who played professionally in Spain — who added a wealth of on-court knowledge. But the biggest presence was legendary former SMUS coach and teacher Ian Hyde-Lay, whose name graces the school's gym court and whose decades of coaching basketball and rugby at SMUS have made him a mentor to generations of athletes.

“Coach Ian Hyde-Lay is a world-class coach — kids want to play hard for him,” Yorath said. “The level of concentration and effort goes up as soon as he steps in. It’s another level for these athletes.

What set the camp apart was its emphasis on team concepts, especially defence and communication.

“A lot of camps push individual skills,” Yorath said. “But basketball is a team game. We want players to understand how to work together — even when they’ve just met.”

With athletes arriving from across B.C., Quebec, and as far as China, the camp’s diversity turned every drill into an opportunity to collaborate, problem solve, and adapt. That mix of backgrounds and experiences became one of the camp’s greatest strengths, creating an environment where players learned from each other as well as from the coaches.

Working with athletes aged 13 to 17 meant balancing a wide range of skills, physicality, and even language levels. To meet those challenges, Yorath and the other coaches broke players into smaller groups, encouraged them to experiment and learn from one another, and used the overnight format to build connections off the court. That extra time together, he noted, helped players gel as a team, which in turn made the training sessions more focused and intense.

Voices from the Court

"I thought it might feel less organized with so many kids, but it's been amazing, said camper Wyatt Cohen, who travelled from Quebec and has multi-generational ties to SMUS.  “The guest coaches are incredible. I know for sure I’ll go home a stronger player — and I’ve also learned lessons about confidence that apply to life, not just basketball.”

First-time roommates Elena Veilleun of Port Alberni and Zoë Bisaro of Comox agreed that the overnight setting amplified the whole experience. “The skills we’re learning are more advanced, but the camp itself is also just more fun,” said Zoë. “We get evening activities, time with friends, and you get more independent.” Elena added, “It’s challenging, but in a good way — you’re learning a lot, and you meet people from everywhere.”

“Having players from the big leagues helping us has been amazing.” continued Zoë. “Everyone starts at a different level and it doesn’t matter. The coaches are really nice and their help makes you a better player for sure.”

The Overnight Experience

The week struck a balance between high-intensity basketball and the social energy of shared meals, dorm life, and evening outings. With other camps running at the same time, players expanded their circles by joining activities with students from Rising Leaders — an overnight SMUS program that draws teens from around the world. Together they went to a baseball game, played capture the flag, and explored downtown Victoria.

Training sessions tested athletes’ skills and stamina, but the camp also offered lessons in independence. Players learned to organize their downtime, adapt to group living, and support one another in the routines and challenges of the week.

Lessons That Last

“The lessons you learn on a team — how to communicate, problem-solve, and support one another — those are life skills. Hopefully that’s what stays with them,” summarized Yorath.

In that spirit, the camp became more than just an introduction to high-level basketball. It was an exchange across generations: alumni giving back, students leaning in, and together creating an experience of growth and connection that will echo far beyond a single summer.