Basketball camp teaches layups, leadership skills with help of young coaches

LEHI — There is a whole lot more to basketball than layups, defensive shuffles and free throws.

Liv Harness, 14, would know. Along with playing on her local basketball teams, dribbling with the Harlem Globetrotters and being on national teams that have won championships, she has learned leadership skills are necessary to win.

Leadership and a positive attitude can go a long way.

This is the message she spreads through her brand "Liv Your Legend" and as a coach at basketball camps — most recently on Thursday with young children in the Utah foster care system.

"Basketball can bring the community together," said the young point and shooting guard from South Jordan. "I want to give all the kids that might not have the opportunities others have a chance to experience a sport, to find a passion, learn new things, lead and just have fun."

Nearly 100 young people between 8 and 13 met Liv and the other basketball coaches not much older than they were on Thursday. They ran across the gym, chasing after each other in between lessons on defensive stances and chest passes.

They also heard from Liv how important they are, how smart they are and how great they are.

Local foster care leaders were excited for basketball fans to have the chance to be themselves and play around at the camp. They do not always have the chance to be a kid, they said, so being at the Karl Malone Training Center in Lehi was a big experience and opportunity.

These youth have been through difficult times. At the camp, they could laugh, run, throw balls and learn that they, too, can be leaders in their community.

"Kids of all ages need to see their peers step up, lead, and show and share their strengths with the community," said Lindsay Kaeding from Raise the Future, an agency that provides services for foster care youth in Utah. "Liv can be an amazing example for these kids. I mean, every kid just wants to be a part of a group, be part of a community and these kids don't always have that chance through sports. It's important they are here."

Liv Harness, her little sister Lili Harness, 8, fellow basketball player McKinley Jackman, 11, and D.J. Kaiser, 19, worked the camp by listening to each young person and also presenting themselves as people who know what they're doing.

When asked to be a part of the camp, Kaiser jumped at the chance to share his love of basketball. On Thursday, he realized this was not going to be like the camps he attended in high school where you run and play and shoot. Everyone here would learn more than the game.

"I've learned how important it is to be positive and helpful and so forth," Kaiser, of South Jordan, said. "And all these kids have been super respectful, so far, and that has been awesome to see. With Liv, I've seen the work that she puts in, so I just think that's amazing. She's worked so hard with the brand and everything. I look up to her and want to live that way."

Liv's eyes lit up when asked about the significance of "Liv Your Legend." It is about being the best person you can be every day, she said — something she tries to do, even with 100,000 social media followers.

Lili, Liv's little sister, wanted to be a part of the camp because the family is there, but she wanted to be a coach because her big sister is there, showing her the way. McKinley is helping because she wanted to see other kids work hard to achieve something. Giving back really is a lot of fun, she says.

That's the message Liv tries to share out loud and through her actions.

Her mom and dad were on hand Thursday to help at the camp, but also to watch their daughters and other young people shine — and they witnessed both.

"It means everything," said Mike Harness, Liv and Lili's dad. "We love that our daughters are confident enough to lead others and at the same time make an impact. We want to tell the kids here that they are all important and that they have a voice. In our case, we teach that by using the game of basketball. It's a lot of fun."

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