Ben Gordon working with kids in suburbs

Ask Ben Gordon what it takes to compete in the NBA and he's likely to give you a list: ball handling, defense, free throws and three-pointers.

The guard believes those are the skills Chicago Bulls officials were looking for when the team drafted him in the first round in 2004, and that those are the skills that helped him become the team's leading scorer last season.

They're also the skills young players need to take their game to the highest levels.

Gordon worked on the fundamentals with young athletes Monday at the Bulls Players Camp at the Bulls/Sox Training Academy in Lisle. He kicked off a week of star-studded basketball instruction that also will feature Aaron Gray, Bob Love, Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose.

Gordon also spent time with aspiring players last week at the academy in his Ben Gordon Summer Camp for ages 6 to 17. He worked with training academy coaches to build a curriculum around those core elements of basketball.

Gordon opened the camp, talking with participants on the first day, demonstrating skills and offering pointers. He visited again throughout the week.

This was the first year the training academy offered a Ben Gordon Summer Camp.