Five-Star Mission

To be the leaders in basketball education providing guidance, mentorship and opportunities to coaches, parents and players.

Philosophy

Our goal is to consistently provide a focused, structured learning environment while instilling passion, work ethic and skill to our basketball community. We will do this through all that we do including all facets of our instruction: at camp, at our events and our products.

History

Five-Star Basketball was founded in 1966 by Howard Garfinkel and Will Klein at Camp Orin Sekwa, NY. The idea behind the camp was to give high school players an outlet to improve their skills before the season and gain a leg up on their competition. Hubie Brown and Chuck Daly were two of the first coaches at Five-Star. Bob Knight invented the concept of “stations” which we still use today.

Word began to spread about the camp, and players from all over the country were making their way to the New York camp site to improve their skills from top coaches, and play against the nation’s top talent. It also became a hap haven for young coaches trying to perfect their craft and learn from elite teachers such as Brown and Daly. Coaches like Mike Fratello, Bobby Knight, Rick Pitino, John Calipari, and many more, used Five-Star as a way to enhance their knowledge of the game.

No organization has had a bigger impact on the sport. Five-Star has more graduates playing college or pro ball than any other organization out there.

More than 400 Five-Star participants have played in the NBA, this includes Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Vince Carter, Alonzo Mourning, Grant Hill, Elton Brand, Rip Hamilton, Ron Artest, Patrick Ewing, Moses Malone, Ben Gordon, JR Smith, Kevin Martin, Chris Paul, Raymond Felton, David West, Jarrett Jack, Steve Blake, David Lee,Kevin Durant as well as countless current players and projected NBA draft picks.

Five-Star is most proud of the opportunity to work with players and raise their game to their highest level. This has enabled tens of thousands of Five-Star participants to play basketball in college and beyond.

 

What Others Say About the Camp

"The camp changed how I felt about basketball and my future. It was the turning point in my life."Michael Jordan

"I want to thank Howie Garfinkel and Willie Klein. I have an association with Five-Star Basketball Camp. I was fortunate enough to be one of the camp’s original six coaches. I hired 11 of my 13 assistant coaches from the camp." September 2005 " - 2005 Hall of Fame Inductee, Hubie Brown

"To basketball insiders, people involved with the game, for years this camp has been one of the showcases for outstanding players of the future. Over the years, many of the greats have come through Super Garf's doors -- names like Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, LeBron James and on and on. They have worn the famed orange Five-Star shirts." - Dick Vitale (ESPN)