Giving back: Former Mr. Basketball teaches kids sport he loves

The brainstorm predates the 40-foot heave, state championship celebration and initial trying on of the coveted Mr. Basketball jersey by at least eight years.

Even as a 10-year-old, Luke Zeller’s large-for-his-age hands pawed at more than air as he attempted to grasp the future.

“All of those years of traveling to AAU games, we would talk to Luke, and he’s always wanted to run camps that teach character along with basketball skills,” said Lorri Zeller, Luke’s mother and matriarch of a family that would break ground with three Indiana Mr. Basketball winners: Luke (2005), Tyler (2008) and Cody (2011).

“The most satisfying thing is the feedback we get after camp,” Lorri Zeller said. “The emails we get from parents, to have kids realize there are more important things than basketball.”

Over the past 24 months, the summer DistinXion camps conducted by the most famous family in Washington, Ind., have observed the manner of growth spurt that only a Zeller could truly appreciate.

DistinXion’s undivided motivation since Wednesday has been Johnson County, as 58 kids ranging from second to eighth grade have shot, dribbled and defended their way toward betterment at the Emmanuel Church of Greenwood.

Today marks the final day of the three-day camp.

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