Andalusia native Courtney Ward has a deep passion for basketball.

Ward will be sharing her passion and experience at her basketball camp for boys and girls ages 7-13 from April 13-15 at Andalusia Middle School.

Ward spent her childhood in Andalusia before moving to Montgomery, where she sent to Jefferson Davis High School. She graduated high school in 2007, and received a full scholarship to play ball at Florida State.

Upon graduation last April, Ward now plays professional basketball for Pozzuoli in Italy, under the European Basketball League. Additionally, she played in the WNBA in Seattle, Wash.

But Ward, the camp director, has been coaching basketball camps since she was at FSU, she said.

“Andalusia is where I came from, and I want to start my own basketball camp,” she said by Skype call from Italy. “This is an opportunity for kids that don’t have a chance to go to a big time college camp. It’s something for them to do, really.”

At the camp, skills that will be stressed are shooting, passing, ball-handling, rebounding, defense, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Two Florida State basketball players in Alexa Deluszzio and Chastity Clayton will be guest speakers at the camp, along with a Division 1 coach that will remain a surprise for camp attendees, Ward said.

Cost to attend the camp is $65 before March 1, and $80 after.

Money orders can be made payable and sent to Courtney Ward, P.O. Box 20271, Montgomery, AL 36120. Payments are non-refundable after March 1.

When it comes down to it, Ward said this is what she loves to do and has aspirations to be a coach after her career.

“I love the passion of the game, and I love coaching kids,” Ward said. “Hopefully, when I finish playing, I’ll have the opportunity to coach. Teaching the kids fundamentals of the game — it’s just something I like to do.”

For more information about the camp, call 334-300-7957, or email Ward at cdw07c@ymail.com.