Aurora native, NCAA National Champion returns home to inspire next generation

Aurora's biggest name in basketball returned home to inspire the next generation of student-athletes as they prepare to return to school.

Maximizing his off-season time from playing professional basketball in another country, Aurora native Ryan Boatright, 30, convened friends and colleagues to pay it forward as coaches during his inaugural basketball camp at Waubonsee Community College.

Elementary, middle, and high school student-athletes from Aurora and surrounding cities attended the two-day where they learned new basketball techniques from one of the most talented players from the area.

Named Mr. Basketball Illinois 2011, Ryan Boatright was the standout star of the East Aurora Tomcats for all four years of his high school year.

He continued blazing his trail of excellence at the University of Connecticut, where he helped the UConn Huskies clinch the 2014 NCAA National Championship.

After a brief stint in the NBA, he has traveled the world playing professionally in Turkey, Spain, and France, and currently plays in Russia.

There are already plans to turn the inaugural camp into an annual summer experience, with a larger rollout next year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Boatright's national championship win with the University of Connecticut.