XU's Jackson directs Hornets summer clinics again
July 10, 2009

     NEW ORLEANS — Dannton Jackson, men's basketball head coach at Xavier University of Louisiana, is the director of the New Orleans Hornets Summer Hoops Clinics for the second consecutive year.
     The NBA team is sponsoring 10 three-hour clinics in July in south Louisiana for boys and girls age 7-14. The third of 10 clinics will be Monday in Thibodaux, followed by sessions in Westwego, Metairie, Mandeville, Chalmette, Hammond, Lafayette and Slidell.
     "The Hornets have a great community outreach program that helps a lot of kids in the summer," Jackson said. "It's a fun teaching environment that involves the Hornets' players and staff with local coaches and players. In addition to the basketball instruction, we distribute NBA Read to Achieve materials to the kids.
     "I get thank-you e-mails all the time from parents saying how grateful they are for these clinics."
     The Hornets' clinics are part of a busy summer for Jackson, who is 134-62 with four appearances in the NAIA Division I National Championship in six seasons as coach of the Gold Rush. The Super Elite Summer League for high school boys — sponsored by Xavier and O. Perry Walker High School — concluded Wednesday. Jackson also will be involved the first week of August with two free camps directed by Charlotte Bobcats guard DJ Augustin, a native New Orleanian who Jackson coached for four years on amateur summer traveling teams. Augustin was an NBA All-Rookie second-team selection this past season.
     Augustin's second camp, an invitation-only session for top point guards around the country, will be Aug. 6-8 at The Barn on Xavier's campus.