When Curley "Boo" Johnson brings his annual Skills for Life basketball camp back to the Peoria area this summer, he won't be doing it alone. The former Harlem Globetrotter has assembled an impressive roster of 98 high school basketball players to serve as coaches, creating a mentorship experience that's as much about life skills as it is about hoops.
This marks the second year the camp will be held in Washington, Illinois, following a successful move from Dunlap. "I remember wondering, 'We're kind of taken out of our comfort zone. What the response was going to be like?'" Johnson told the Journal Star. "It couldn't have been better. The numbers went up." And the growth hasn't stopped—the camp now welcomes participants from 130 Illinois towns and surrounding states, including new communities like Bloomington and Normal.
Running from August 3-7, the camp will utilize nine courts across three Washington locations: Washington Middle School, Central Middle School, and the Washington Park District. The boys camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the girls camp from 2-6 p.m., both open to players ages 9-14. Registration is still open at $200 per camper.
The coaching staff reads like a who's who of Illinois high school basketball excellence. Among the 18 Journal Star all-area players from the 2025-2026 season taking on camp coaching roles, the boys side features reigning player of the year Amarion Smith-Holley (Richwoods), along with standouts like Cole DuBois (East Peoria), Quinton Kitt (East Peoria), Brady Jones (Metamora), Anfernee Moore (Richwoods), Nigel Moore (Peoria High), Sivante Stokes (Canton), and Tahj Tolliver (Manual).
The girls' coaching staff is equally stacked, with small-school all-area players Rianna Foster (Illinois Valley Central), Kennedy Quinn (Abingdon-Avon), Emerson Eeten (Illini Bluffs), Mya Edwards (Eureka), and Anna McGlasson (Midland) joining large-school all-area selections to round out a team that's ready to inspire the next generation.
For young players looking to learn from those who've already made their mark on the court—and from a Harlem Globetrotter legend who knows a thing or two about the game and life—this camp is shaping up to be the summer's can't-miss basketball event.