I am heading down to Florida on Sunday, August 3 - Saturday August 9th.   No, not for what someone might instantly think, the beach or night life, but it will be for basketball.   I will work with a shooting coach, Marvin Harvey, otherwise known as “The Teacher” for a week.  Yes, it sounds like I am going back to school.  Marvin is well known among both NBA and WNBA players for his ability to develop great shooters.  I had worked with him 4 years ago and felt that he really helped my game.

You can check out his “Shooter’s Touch Academy” at: http://na4tb.com

Also, view the link “All Pro” on the left hand side of the website for pictures of the professional players that he has worked with over the years.

I can not tell you how excited I am to play my first Euroleague season! It is where I have wanted to be since I started playing in Europe 6 years ago. I started at the bottom and worked my way up, with nothing being handed to me- a great feeling. Of course, however, now that I will be given this opportunity, there is still a lot left to get done!

A few days ago, FIBA Europe had its draw for the Euroleague teams, including my new team Lotos Gdynia. We will play in Group C with 5 other teams, including Ros Casares (Spain), USK Prague (Czech Republic), Union Halnaut Basket (France), UMMC Ekterinburg (Russia) and JBS Sibenik (Croatia).

I checked out the rosters from various teams and it looks like the whole WNBA is coming to play in Europe again. Of course, my team Lotos Gdynia signed some big names such as Alana Beard, who is among the top scorers in this year’s WNBA season with 18.3 points/game for the Washington Mystics. Also, there is a rumor that our team is after Tamika Catchings as well.

Lotos Gdynia also announced the hiring of its new head coach- Jacek Winnicki. Sounds like it will be an exciting season!  You can check out our teams website for up to date information at:  http://lotospkobp.pl/

It is that time of year again! ….summer camp time that is! After a long season, this year I had asked myself, do I really need to work this summer? Well, not really to be honest! But, the truth is, I really enjoy working with young basketball players and developing talent. There is no better emotional reward for me than helping a young player enhance their game and seeing results.

Of course, I also would like do something again in my hometown, Williamstown, New Jersey. It would be a chance to give back to my community that has given so much to me. However, that is a little complicated right now, and I chalk it up to the idea that there is a time for everything.

Therefore, for the 2nd year in a row, I will work at the Philadelphia 76ers summer basketball camp. The camp is held up in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, which are located in Stoudsburg, Pennsylvania. I had really enjoyed doing this camp last summer and wanted to be a part of it again.

I will help coordinate the girls’ program, which lasts for 2 weeks, from June 29th - July 12th. It is the chance to work with players who come from over 40 countries and also great staff, lead by camp director, Todd Landrey. He runs a great show.

Throughout the week, appearances are made by NBA players, who give motivational speeches for the campers… and the staff too!

Go Sixers! For more information, go to sixerscamps.com

Michelle still follows closely what her old basketball club in Germany, TSV Wasserburg is doing. Besides many injuries this year, the club at the river in, in the deep south of Germany, has managed not to lose one single league game this year.

Wasserburg actually just won the second game against Freiburg to close out the semi final series 2-0. With only six! professional players and one youth player, Gusti Reiser, the team won 72-80 in Freiburg with 5 players scoring in double digits. Amongst them, Australian national player Kathrina Hibbert who finished with 16 points.

Wasserburg will meet long time rival TV Saarlouis in the final now who also won their series 2-0 against NB Oberhausen.

Of course it will be great to follow this series, since both teams have shown throughout the season that they deserve to be in the final. It remains to see, if Wasserburg will still be able to win the German championship again, with only six professional players - and of course without their rebound machine Wanda Guyton, who stopped her career last season and works with Hansi Brei as assistant coach for TSV Wasserburg.