What We Learned at the Steph Curry SC30 Select Camp: 3 Lessons for Every Youth Basketball Player

By Brendan Winters | Co-Founder of Pro Skills Basketball

Every summer, the Stephen Curry Under Armour SC30 Select Camp brings together 30 of the top high school guards and 10 of the best college guards for three days of elite basketball development alongside Steph himself. This camp isn’t just about basketball drills—it’s about mindset, growth, and character.

Earlier this summer, my Pro Skills Basketball co-founder, Logan Kosmalski, and I traveled to California to attend the SC30 Select Camp. We got to watch top players like Michael Porter Jr., Josh Jackson, and Jack Gibbs train with world-class coaches like Fran Fraschilla and Tim Legler. We even had the chance to reconnect with our fellow Davidson alum, Steph Curry.

While the competition and coaching were elite, the biggest impact came from the values Steph Curry lives by—values that every youth basketball player should embrace.

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1. Humility: No Matter How Big You Get, Stay Grounded

Steph Curry is arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He’s won multiple NBA championships, MVPs, and changed the game with his shooting. And yet—he’s the same easygoing, grounded person we remember from our days at Davidson College.

When Steph saw us at camp (we hadn’t seen or spoken to him in 3 years), he gave us a big dap and genuinely seemed happy to catch up. No ego. No standoffishness. Just Steph.

That moment reminded us—and should remind all young players—that humility is non-negotiable. If Steph Curry can stay humble with all of his success, then so can every youth athlete.

🟡 Key lesson:

Stay grounded, no matter how many points you score, teams you make, or followers you get. Humility keeps you coachable and respected.

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2. Constant Self-Improvement: It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

When Steph first came to Davidson, he was a scrawny kid with a nice jumper, but he was easy to push around. But every year, he got better—stronger, smarter, more skilled. Each summer I came back from playing professionally, I saw him evolve. Eventually, I couldn’t keep up with him anymore. The same thing has happened in the NBA. He didn’t come in as a superstar—he became one through relentless self-improvement.

This mindset is something we preach at Pro Skills Basketball: development takes time, and improvement is earned, not gifted.

🟡 Key lesson:

You don’t need to be the best player today. You just need to be better than you were yesterday. Focus on small gains over time and trust the process.

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3. Focus on What You Can Control: Attitude & Effort

After losing Game 7 of the NBA Finals that year, Steph was under immense scrutiny from fans, media, and critics. But just two weeks later, he showed up to SC30 Camp smiling, coaching, and completely locked in on the players.

Why? Because Steph knows to control what he can control: his attitude and effort.

In today’s world of rankings, social media, and highlight culture, young players often get caught up in the noise:

• “Why am I not ranked?”

• “What college is recruiting me?”

• “Why isn’t my highlight video going viral?”

These are all distractions.

🟡 Key lesson:

Focus on your effort in workouts. Show up with a positive attitude. Everything else will take care of itself.

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Final Thoughts: What Young Players Can Take from Steph Curry

There are so many lessons for youth basketball players to learn from Steph Curry’s journey, but the three that stood out the most from the SC30 Select Camp are:

1. Stay humble no matter your success.

2. Commit to self-improvement over the long haul.

3. Control what you can: attitude and effort.

If players can apply just those three things, they’ll not only become better basketball players, but also better teammates, leaders, and people.

At Pro Skills Basketball, our mission is to instill these kinds of values in young athletes. We believe that character is just as important as skill—and Steph Curry is a powerful example of both.

Ready to take the next step in your child’s basketball journey?

Pro Skills Basketball offers Club Teams, Camps, Clinics, and Academies in 25+ cities across the U.S.
👉 Find your city and sign up today to join a program focused on real development, experienced coaches, and a culture that puts players first.

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