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Home of: J.R. Camel Posted: Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 - 09:56:32 am PDT By Sasha Goldstein
RONAN — Once a name synonymous with boxing on the Flathead Indian Reservation, the Camel surname and it’s many progeny have found a new sport to excel at — basketball. Leading the charge may be 35 year old J.R. Camel, the next generation of a family with a storied history in the Mission Valley. J.R. was raised in Idaho, using boxing to break through cultural and social barriers. When the family moved to St. Ignatius about 25 years ago, J.R. found a new passion in basketball. His passion transformed into obsession which transformed into a knack for the game that carried him to a successful Division I college basketball career.“I started playing at St. Ignatius High School, but I signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Montana so I transferred to Missoula Hellgate,” Camel said. “We went undefeated and won the state championship, so that was a lot of fun.” In college, Camel played two seasons for the Grizzlies and had impressive stats to show for it. In 56 total games, he averaged 26 minutes, five assists and nearly three steals a game in the late 1990s. More importantly, Camel met his wife, Malia Kipp-Camel, a standout player on the Lady Griz basketball team and the first Native American female from Montana to play Division I basketball. The couple has three daughters who Camel hopes can continue the legacy of basketball greatness.
“I’m very excited about the Polson High School opportunity and to be coaching with [new varsity coach] Brad Pluff,” Camel said. “I have lots of nephews and nieces coming up in Polson so I’m excited to watch them up close.” Camel got an opportunity of his own to play some ball competitively when a group of Streetball Legends came to Pablo last week to play a group of Flathead Legends, Camel included. The Streetballers were composed of former players on the And1 Mixtape Tour, and have been touring reservations around the western United States, playing against the best each area could offer. “It was all fun, but there was a lot of intensity because I had seen these guys on TV, and I’d always thought ‘How would we play them?’ and it was great to get the opportunity,” Camel said. The intensity between the teams was there throughout the game, as the Flathead Legends held their own against the Streetball Legends, going point for point with them in the first half. Camel said it was difficult for the team, composed of the SKC basketball team and other locals, to get used to the Streetball rules that included three points for dunks and unlimited fouls for each player. Still, the Flathead players kept it close, losing 160-136 in a game with lots of offense and little defense. The Streetball players said that the closest a team had come to beating them during their undefeated tour of reservations was 70 points, a difference demolished by the Flathead players that only lost by 24 points. “I try to teach our guys not to back down,” Camel said of the intensity. “It’s all part of the game and it was a lot of fun.” Camel will have another chance to stay in touch with basketball when he unveils the Polson JV team later this fall. “We’re going to try a new strategy this year by pushing the ball and playing high tempo basketball,” Camel said. “We want the games to be fun for the kids and the crowd.”
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