Mr. Urquidi goes to Oklahoma City

DECATUR -- With his senior year about to begin and the dream of playing Division I ball looming on the horizon, Decatur basketball star Mario Urquidi made a trip to Oklahoma City to attend a four-day basketball camp July 22-26. Urquidi attended the camp with the hope of becoming a better player both on and off the court.

The Point Guard College, hosted by Oklahoma City University, is a national accredited program for college players, dedicated high school players and mature freshmen who are interested in improving "their basketball IQ, understanding the subtleties that most coaches don't have time to teach and being the kind of team leader that people want to follow" (Point Guard College press release).

For Urquidi, the four-day camp taught him to play more intelligently, lead effectively, get his team to work together and overcome adversity, all traits that make for an outstanding and more efficient player. One lesson Urquidi learned during the camp he already possessed, but the coaches at the Point Guard College worked to bring it to the surface.

"There were a lot of great coaches there and I learned a lot from them," Urquidi said. "But the one thing they taught me was how to become a leader."

Last season, Urquidi, along with brother Victor, led the Bulldogs to the 2A 4 West District championship in April. It was at this game that his leadership abilities began to surface.

"They showed me how to be positive and what to say to my teammates," Urquidi stated. "They would put us into teams and make us lead the team and help us out by pointing out what we did right and what we did wrong."

Besides the leadership role, Urquidi's experience in the basketball camp helped him to improve his scoring abilities, raise his shooting percentages and hit more free throws.

But Urquidi is quick to point out one detail in his high school career often overlooked during and after the Bulldog games.

"I couldn't do the things I do without my teammates," Urquidi said. "They are the key to my success."

With the Point Guard College Camp under his belt, Urquidi has shown that he is serious about the game of basketball. His dedication to the game and his desire to win play a vital and key role in his drive towards the next level, Division I basketball.

In three short months a new chapter will begin in the story of Mario Urquidi's quest for the pros. Then we will know.