Jay Damron, founder of Character Sports
Two seasons ago, Kallie Housley and Darcie Anderson were a pair of veteran leaders on the Corbin High School girls basketball team. Helping lead the Lady Hounds to 13th Region tournament appearances their sophomore, junior and senior years, and a state tournament berth in 2022, they played a huge role in raising the bar for success within the program.
After high school, both Housley and Anderson have gone on to continue their athletic careers at the next level. Anderson made the short trip to Williamsburg where she is currently a member of the University of the Cumberlands women’s basketball team, while Housley moved just across the state line to Harrogate, Tenn. to suit up for the Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters.
This summer, both former Lady Hounds are back in town to assist Jay Damron and Character Sports with a series of youth camps designed to not only help youngsters develop their skills on the court, but also to teach them some valuable life lessons in the process.
Damron has been a coach with the Corbin school system for the past few years. He explained that, after receiving several inquiries from parents about offseason training opportunities, he made the decision to begin exploring options for providing a new space that would allow for that.
“The ultimate goal is to have a facility where that can happen,” Damron said. “To get to that point, I am offering training camp opportunities to raise money and awareness.”
Damron said that it didn’t take long after beginning to offer these training camps for him to recognize that something was missing when it came to youth development. “I realized that there is more than just teaching the technical skills,” he explained. “A lot of the time, the things that kids need to be learning through sports aren’t getting focused on.”
In order to make sure that the boys and girls who attend Character Sports camps are getting a truly holistic experience, Damron said that he puts an emphasis on things like resiliency, accountability, responsibility, gratitude, and treating people with respect. He believes that if these concepts are taught first and foremost, then being able to put marks in the win column will naturally follow.
“I came up with the name Character Sports, because character is really the first thing that I want to focus on,” Damron said.
When it comes to displaying strong character, you would be hard pressed to find two better examples than with Anderson and Housley. Both of these student-athletes have experienced their fair share of ups and downs in the sport of basketball, but they are living proof that hard work and dedication absolutely does pay off in the end.
“Being a college athlete is not easy,” Anderson said of her experiences so far at UC. “It is a little more challenging physically, but mentally it is so different. It’s like a job, and if you’re not doing that job, they’re going to let you know about it. The mental part of it can be really challenging.”
Unfortunately, Anderson was not able to be out on the court for much of her first season as a Patriot. She underwent knee surgery to correct some lingering issues stemming from injuries sustained in high school, but now that she is back to 100 percent, she is looking forward to what the future has to offer.
“My first year was crazy, and a big adjustment, but I am grateful for it because I feel like I grew as a person and a player,” Anderson said. “I love the community [at UC]. They say it’s ‘One Big Family,’ and it really is. It is a good environment, and I feel like I have grown a lot in my faith since I have been there. I am excited for next year. I should have a completely different role.”
As for getting to assist with the Character Sports youth training program this summer, Anderson said, “I want to make an impact on the kids. It’s cool to be able to help teach, as it gives you a new perspective on things. I want to help them to love the game like I do.”
Housley said that she has enjoyed her time on campus at LMU so far, and agreed with Anderson that the world of college basketball is vastly different when compared to high school. “It is definitely a different pace,” she shared. “It really helps your game to grow playing against people who are at that level. It makes you grow as a person and a player, and teaches you how to balance your life. It’s a lot, but my first year was good.”
Housley said that, considering she now knows what to expect coming into the new season, she is hoping to become a regular contributor on the court for the Railsplitters. “I know my role on the team now, and I should be able to work on what I need to work on this summer in order to be ready,” she said.
Housley also said that she is excited about getting the opportunity to work with younger players this summer, and she looks forward to seeing how they grow and develop in the weeks ahead.
The first session of the Character Sports youth basketball training program took place this past Monday evening at Corbin Elementary School. Damron said that the program is more than just showing up for an hour for some instruction and then heading home. Instead, he is encouraging participants to work on things at home, and learn the importance of staying dedicated to improving even when you’re not physically in the gym.
“That’s where a lot of the growth happens,” Damron said. “When they’re at home and nobody is watching, it’s up to them.”
In order to learn more about Character Sports, including upcoming camps and opportunities for partnerships, visit www.charactersportsky.com.
Character Sports can also be found on Facebook, and Damron can be reached by calling (606) 765-2020 or by e-mailing jay@charactersportsky.com.
For more on the University of the Cumberlands women’s basketball team, visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com.
For more on the LMU Railsplitters, visit www.lmurailsplitters.com.
