For third through seventh graders, we will be offering three separate one-week summer sessions. The camps focus on fundamentals and fun, and will run Monday through Friday from 1-3 p.m. in June 11.
Two high school sessions, for advanced middle school players plus incoming freshmen, will also run Monday through Friday in June and will go from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Players can sign up for one, two or three sessions, and there is definitely value in doing more than one.
Our camps are conducted under the watchful eye of Clay Kallam (Bentley High School), Kelly Sopak (Miramonte High School), Raul Reyes (Miramonte High School) and Elgin Leslie (Campolindo High School). In addition, the camps are also assisted by former high school and college players from the area.
These kinds of camps are tremendously important for the development of young basketball players, as they reinforce the fundamentals of the camp in a non-competitive setting where playing the game the right way is the emphasis. Though there will be scrimmages during the camps, there are no set teams and no formal games.
Coach Sopak founded the Cal Stars in 2006 and has been serving as the club's Director and Elite head coach since that time. Sopak arrived in California in 2000 and has since made his positive impact on the girls' basketball scene here in
Read BioCoach Sopak founded the Cal Stars in 2006 and has been serving as the club's Director and Elite head coach since that time. Sopak arrived in California in 2000 and has since made his positive impact on the girls' basketball scene here in the Bay Area and around the country. Kelly has coached teams of all ages, from second grade to high school varsity, and at all levels.
Since founding the Cal Stars in 2000 and growing the Stars into a National brand Kelly has expanded the brand and now is the Director for several divisions of the Stars throughout the western United States, including the Northwest Stars (SW Washington & Portland Metro Area), Alaska Stars (Anchorage, AK), Cal Stars Ultimate (Walnut Creek, Ca), and Cal Stars Valley (Southern California).
Under Coach Sopak's guidance, the Cal Stars have produced more than 150 college basketball players and all collegiate levels. During this time, the Cal Stars program has grown from a one-team program in 2006 to a 16+-team nearly 300 player program today. As the head coach of of the Stars Signature team "Nike Elite" coach Sopak has help guide them from the little known Orinda club to a national power they are today. The Nike Elite team have won over 400 games in TEN years including several top finishes at the most prestigious national tournaments on the travel circuit.
Known nationally as a players coach with strong development skills Sopak has has produced several All Americans and USA Basketball players. In the last five years coach Sopak has produced six McDonald Americans and over ten of his former players have worn the red white and blue for USA Basketball. In addition to sending players to USA Basketball and McDonald's All American Games coach Sopak's players have been know to produce immediate results at the colligiant level earning All League and various other National Awards.
Currently, Coach Sopak is the head varsity coach at Miramonte High School in Orinda. Kelly just completed his 11th year as a varsity head coach in the area and 6th at Miramonte (Northgate 2005-2009 and Miramonte 2009- present). During that time, Coach Sopak's record stands at 289 wins and 46 Losses, including a 195-26 record since taking over at Miramonte.
Coach Sopak took the Miramonte position in June of 2009. Since Coach Sopak took over at Miramonte, the Matadors quickly returned to regional dominance, winning 195 games and counting in the past SEVEN seasons, including FIVE STRAIGHT undefeated DFAL Championships and FIVE consecutive North Coast Section Division III appearances, WINNING THREE straight. The Mats won the 2014, 2015 & 2016 Section Championships. In addition, Matadors reached the CIF Northern California PLAYOFF ALL SEVEN YEARS, including a CIF Division III and a CIF Northern California OPEN Division Championship Runner Up following the 2011-12, 2013-14 & 2014-2015 seasons respectively. The Matadors won the 2016 Open Division CIF Northern California Championship.
Coach Sopak helped guide the Matadors to their winningest season in school history with a mark of 32 wins and 1 loss during the 2015-2016 season. Coach Sopak earned the prestigious Contra Costa Times East Bay Coach of the Year award following the 2012 season and was selected as Nor Cal Preps Division 3 coach of the year following the 2011-2012, 2012-2013 season and again following the 2013-2014 & 2015-2016 season. Kelly also earned the Cal Hi Sports Division 3 Coach of the Year. Most recently Coach Sopak was named the North Coast Section Honor Coach of the Year, the most respected and sought after award in area.
Prior to Miramonte, he spent four outstanding seasons at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. During his tenure at Northgate, the Broncos rolled off more wins in any four- year period in the school's history (94). In addition, the Broncos won two league titles (DFAL 2006 and DVAL 2009) during that span. The last two seasons, the Broncos made back-to-back North Coast Section Championship and CIF Nor Cal Regional appearances.
Coach Sopak also runs his own business as a State Farm Insurance Agent in Albany California. Sopak has been with State Farm since 1994.
