Carlos Boozer returning home to Juneau for basketball camp

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Carlos Boozer is returning to his hometown of Juneau, Alaska to host his Carlos Boozer Basketball Camp.

The former NBA player will be hosting the five-day camp July 31 to Aug. 4 at his alma mater, Juneau-Douglas High School, The Juneau Empire reported (http://bit.ly/2uM9dE3 ). The camp is returning after a seven-year absence. It's for boys and girls ages 5-18 and costs $150.

A portion of the camp proceeds will go toward sickle cell disease research. Boozer's oldest son was stricken with the disease before he was cured through a bone marrow transplant.

Boozer last came to town in May 2016 to celebrate Juneau-Douglas High School's boys' basketball state championship.

"Listen, I'm 35, and most of those kids to them I'm like a fairy tale like I never really existed because they never really seen me before, because I usually sneak into town," Boozer said. "That was one of those moments that made it even more emphasized how much I missed being home, being in the basketball community in Juneau."

Boozer played in the Chinese Basketball Association last year. He was in the NBA for 13 years before playing in China.

"I've been very fortunate to have a great group of people that have supported me along my path," Boozer said. "And for me, it started in Juneau, whether me and my dad wanted to go out to shoot outside or get in the high school to get up some extra shots, Coach Houston would open the door for us. Or if I needed one of my friends to come rebound for me, they would come rebound for me."

Boozer wants to make his camp an annual event again, he said.

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Information from: Juneau (Alaska) Empire, http://www.juneauempire.com