Craig Smith had a reputation in the NBA for being the hardest-working player on the floor. He played for the Utah Jazz, the San Antonio Spurs, and the New Orleans Hornets, and every stop in his career was built on the same thing: a relentless approach to the fundamentals that most players gloss over.

He’s the guest coach for IE Rain Basketball’s summer camps. And if you know anything about how Craig played, you’ll have a good idea of what camp week feels like for the kids who show up.

What Craig Smith teaches

The biggest thing parents notice at IE camp is how much Craig focuses on the stuff that doesn’t show up on a highlight reel. Defensive footwork. Setting screens correctly. Finishing through contact. Knowing where to be before the play develops.

Those are the skills that separate players who plateau from players who keep improving. Craig knows exactly where most youth athletes cut corners because he spent years building those habits himself at the pro level.

Where Inland Empire camp is held

IE Rain Basketball summer camps are held at Lighthouse Baptist Church in La Verne, a central location for families across the Inland Empire. Families from Claremont, San Dimas, Glendora, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Pomona, and Chino Hills regularly participate. Five week-long sessions run June through July.

Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Ages 6 through 16. All skill levels.

The Inland Empire basketball community

One of the things that stands out about IE camp every summer is the range of athletes who show up. Kids from competitive travel programs share the court with kids who are picking up a basketball seriously for the first time. The coaching staff works both. Every camper gets pushed at the right level.

By Friday, kids who didn’t know each other on Monday are running plays together. Parents from Rancho Cucamonga and parents from Claremont who never would have crossed paths are exchanging numbers. That community piece is real and it’s part of what brings families back year after year.

Spots go fast in the Inland Empire

Every coach on the floor at IE Rain Basketball summer camp holds USA Basketball Gold licensure, the highest certification level in youth basketball coaching. The staff averages 12-plus years of coaching experience. The depth of coaching doesn’t drop off when Craig steps back.

2026 summer camp registration is open now. 

Spots fill early every year. OC Rain Basketball summer camp registration is open now. Full week and multi-week packages are available, with savings built into multi-week registrations.

Rain Basketball Inland Empire summer camps are co-hosted by former NBA player Craig Smith. Week-long sessions run June through July at Lighthouse Baptist Church in La Verne. Register at rainbasketballusa.com.

Choose your location below to lock in your spot today before spots are gone.