Craig Hodges established a solid reputation as one of the game's great jump shooters. These days he is more interested in providing a jump start for others.

The host coach of the inaugural Whitney Basketball Clinic was providing fresh evidence on Monday afternoon why he is one of those rare athletes who makes an even bigger impact away from big-league arenas than in them.

Hodges works tirelessly in the community and the soft-spoken athlete was showing exactly how it should be done, while wearing a gleaming white tee-shirt with the words, "We can play'', and shouting "Let's go, let's go'', to the gleeful crowd of eight to 12-year-old boys and girls amid the bullet-like staccato of basketballs dropping on the Whitney gym floor.

But explaining the intricate ways of ball handling, defensive slides and triple threat position -- the ability to pass, shoot or draw baskets -- which was on the programme early this week, is only part of the message of this camp.

"This is a lot of fun, when you spend time reaching out to others,'' he said.

"I know that Bermuda looks at basketball as a spectator sport and we hope to change all that this week. Instead, we want people to participate.'' If the first couple few days of the camp is any indication, then Hodges is off to a flying start.

As a guard for the Bulls he was the most active team member in community projects along with Horace Grant, John Paxson and B.J. Armstrong.

Even though he failed to latch on to another team after being released by Chicago prior to the start of last season, Hodges still goes a step beyond his numerous appearances at schools and community groups.

Several cities in the US now have a programme called Operation Unite -- Save The Youth, which he formed two years ago in the Chicago area. The programme develops exchange programmes among schools and the formation of student leadership counsels to deal with the problems of youth and recruiting stars to help deliver the message to youngsters.

The goal is to establish chapters in as many cities as possible -- including Bermuda -- staffed by students to deal with students' problems, like drugs, teen pregnancy, depression and suicide.

"I call it `Operation' because that's what you have when there's a dire problem,'' said Hodges. "We need to aim at the students. They are really a lost generation and it's our job to save them.

"We must galvanise our focus on young people because they're the leadership of the future. Children have a lot of answers, even to our questions. I think it's time we started listening to them.'' For Hodges, the people who took time for him were his uncles and grandfather and then a stint at a basketball camp headed by Bobby Weiss and Jerry Sloan showed him how athletes can make a commitment to others. The camp was a respite from the hot nights and even hotter boulevards of Chicago.

"I studied African American history and it opened my eyes,'' he said.

"Understanding and knowing what happened in the past made me ready to deal with the future. I want to be able to educate kids to the opportunities and how important life is.

"I saw a lot of things growing up and learned a lot, and I felt if I stayed on course with my education, I could use basketball instead of it using me.'' His pro career began when he was drafted by the San Diego Clippers in the third round of the 1982 draft and he played for 10 seasons -- also with Milwaukee, Phoenix and Chicago -- developing along the way into the consummate long-range shooting specialist, averaging almost 10 points a game.

He said the highlights of his career were the two championships he won with Chicago (the 1990-91 and 1991-92 championship rings are kept at home) and being the three-time winner of the NBA's three-point shooting contest at the All Star Weekends in 1985-86, 1987-88 and 1991-92. He showed those skills to wide-eyed eight year olds on Monday afternoon under a sky that was like a wide open oven door.

But it was playing with Michael Jordan that brought the most pleasant memories to the 32-year-old and rekindles a burning desire to return to the NBA.

"To have a chance to play with the best player in the world, ever, is a great experience,'' he said. "To experience playing with him every night, and to have 20,000 people cheering him on got us all going.

"I guarded him every night (in training) so I got to know him well. He's perceived as being `standoffish' but he's nothing like that at all.'' Hodges expects to be at a pro camp this fall and is currently looking at offers from Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers.

"My career is not over yet,'' he said. "Seeing how the three-point man is so integral, especially during the play-offs this year, proved to me that I can play for someone.'' HODGES ON MICHAEL JORDAN -- "To have a chance to play with the best player in the world, ever, is a great experience.'' FOLLOW THE LEADER -- These lucky students at the Whitney Basketball Clinic, above, were all ears as professional basketball player Craig Hodges goes over some basic fundamentals. Moments later, below, everyone's eyes were riveted on Hodges as he shows the eager youngsters how to shoot a basketball from three-point range.