Star International boys’ varsity basketball head coach Ibrahim Baydoun, gray, breaks down a huddle to wrap up day three of a free youth basketball clinic at the local Dearborn Heights school on June 26, 2024. (MADISON HOOL — For MediaNews Group)
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — One would be hard-pressed to find a figure in the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area more entrenched in the world of basketball than Ibrahim Baydoun.
The man the call “Juice” has made a consistent concerted effort to share his passion for the sport throughout his life. That includes an annual youth basketball clinic designed to teach and promote the game to the younger generation in the local area.
While it now has a new home, the traditions and goals of the week-long remain the same for Baydoun.
“It’s incredible, I truly enjoy it. It’s such a blessing to reach out to the kids and give back to the community. They bring back memories of a lifetime.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Day 3 of youth basketball clinic at Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights
Wednesday marked day three of Baydoun’s four-day basketball clinic at Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights. Each day of the clinic is split up into two sessions, one reserved for kids in grades 3-5 while the latter group houses grades 6-8.
Each session has about a dozen participants, each of whom get a free complementary T-shirt and basketball to take home.
Much like the trajectory of his own playing and coaching career, growth and development at Baydoun’s clinic is the central focus for the youngsters. It is what the veteran coach takes the most pride in for those three hours each day.
“It’s seeing the kids grow and develop,” Baydoun said. “Starting with the basics, they continue to improve and get better and better each day. And we have fun, we want to put smiles on the kids’ faces. That’s the blessing in disguise.”
Campers during their time each day with Baydoun work on several basketball skills. On display are the fundamentals like dribbling and shooting while also nailing down some of the more conditioning and footwork techniques.
As the week progresses, the practicing of the basics turn into contests, which Baydoun says the players have taken a real liking to over the years. It will result in hardware being handed out by the end of the camp on Thursday.
“I bought trophies for them,” Baydoun said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, I know they always look forward to that.”
Those series of drills eventually culminate in scrimmages between the participants. It starts with abbreviated 3-on-3 contests before building up to the more traditional 5-on-5 setting.
“We start with the basics on days one and two,” Baydoun said. “And then here on day three, we start doing things like working with two basketballs, things that are a little bit more challenging.
“That’s what we want to do is challenge the kids to get better each and every day.”
While it has been a “first come, first serve” sign-up basis, the participation for the free clinic has been good this week thus far. On Wednesday alone, each session sound around a dozen or so players.
Having the camp available to anyone and everyone has been a big priority for Baydoun over the years as well.
“It’s very nice to see,” Baydoun said of the turnout. “The kids appreciate it, they like and enjoy it. To give back to the community, it means the world to me. I know a lot of families are struggling financially so we make it free.
“I enjoy it, I really do.”
Star International is the new home of Baydoun’s once-a-year youth camp after being situated at nearby Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn for the previous 19 iterations. Edsel Ford is also where he served as the boys’ varsity basketball head coach for nearly three decades prior and still remains on staff as a counselor.
Shortly after the two sides parted ways following the 2022-23 school year, Baydoun was tabbed to begin his new coaching journey with the Falcons. He has not only embraced bringing some juice to the Star program, “Juice” has been grateful for the opportunities he has been given by the school.
Continuing his basketball clinic for the kids is high on that list.
“They are some of the nicest people on the face of the earth,” Baydoun said of the administration and faculty at Star. “They basically gave me the keys to the building so I can come and go, use the gymnasium if I ever need to at my disposal. And that helps me work with the kids and train them.”
Fortunately, Baydoun is not alone in directing traffic at the clinic. In fact, it is something of a family business with his sons Jalal, Hadi, and Jihad as well as Jihad’s wife Cassie helping run the clinic and coach the kids through drills.
The younger Baydouns all played for the elder statesman at Edsel Ford in years past and currently serve as assistant coaches for the boys’ program at Star. The youth clinic is simply the latest example for the family to share their basketball acumen in the local area.
“My sons have been helping me for years,” Baydoun said. “They know what I’m all about and what I teach. They’re accustomed to it. They pass along my knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation. And the kids here get along with my kids really well.”
While it is busiest during the dead of winter with the high school season, basketball is very much a year-round commitment.
Even though we’re four-plus months out from being able to formally hold practices and tryouts, teams already begin working out and gearing up well in advance of the upcoming school campaign. Baydoun is no different as he sprinkes in time to work his Star varsity players.
But days like Wednesday are a reminder to detach from the near daily grind on the hardwood. That includes someone like Baydoun, who says weeks like this week help “keep him young.”
“I’ve been blessed throughout my years, to play high school basketball and college basketball,” Baydoun said. “This (clinic) is what keeps it fun. It’s gratifying and stress-free. To see them improve every single day and put smiles on their faces, it’s worth a million dollars.”