With almost every sport in the Yukon showing consistent improvement on a monthly basis, and local athletes continuing to garner hardware Outside, Basketball Yukon isn't about to be left behind.

Living in a small community like Whitehorse has always made national success challenging for the athletes, as they deal with a lack of competition, travel costs and a smaller pool of talent. And for team sports, it's arguably somewhat tougher.

Those who chose to compete in individual sports have their club mates to face off against on a daily basis, while those involved in sports such as volleyball, basketball and hockey don't always have other teams to measure themselves against at least not at the same level.

A lot of that has started to change over the past few years, with teams making more trips Outside and hosting more events in the territory. But one of the keys to success remains good, strong coaching. And while the Yukon certainly has its own share of strong coaches, with more up-and-comers waiting in the wings, sometimes, you need a new face to stir the pot and inspire the players.

Cue Andrew Mavis, a former Canadian Olympian and professional basketball player who was once a teammate of 2005 NBA MVP and Canadian athlete of the year, Steve Nash.

Mavis is in the territory this week for several basketball camps with elementary and high school kids. It's his second trip to the territory he was also here in the summer of 2004.

'Basketball Yukon has been trying to do something on a monthly basis for player development,' explained Tim Brady, the association's president. 'This was part of out annual plan, and we wanted to try and do it with more of an elementary-aged group this time, just to expose them to the game.'

Basketball Yukon named this week Minor Basketball Week in the territory, with a focus at the elementary school level. Mavis also made trips to Teslin and Watson Lake earlier this week to work with students in those communities.

'It's a great way to expose the sport to the kids,' said Brady. 'He brings a lot of stories and insights he can share with kids of all ages. We're delighted we could get him and we're hoping at some point in the future we can bring him back.'

Mavis, who hails from the Vancouver area, played ball at Northern Arizona University, where he was integral part of back-to-back conference championships. In 1997, he was conference New Comer of the Year and in 1998, he was conference Player of the Year, breaking the single-season three-point record and finishing top-10 in three-point percentage in the NCAA.

After university, he played four years of professional basketball in England, competing for the Newcastle Eagles and Chester Jets. He also played for the Canadian basketball team in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia along side Nash where he posted a double-double against the U.S. Olympic team.

He retired in 2003 and set up a basketball academy in Richmond with his friends. He spends a lot of time touring B.C. and now the Yukon, conducting basketball clinics.

'I got tired of living overseas,' he explained in an interview at Jack Hulland Elementary School, where he was working with Grade 7 students Tuesday. 'I was just ready to come back home.'

Mavis, who does a lot of work with first nation communities in B.C., said clinics like the ones he's helping with this week are important in developing players' skills, especially in small towns. One of the reasons Canadian basketball can't stack up to a lot of other countries is our athletes start training late, he said.

'It's good to start at a younger age. That's something we're trying to do now, get their basic skill set when they're young and continue on from there.'

A lot of the stuff he teaches at the elementary level could be taught by coaches the kids already have, Mavis said, but it's good for kids to hear it from someone different.

'I just try to relay some of my personal experiences as well, because I played at such a high level. I think it's good for them to hear it from the horse's mouth.'

As long as the kids are working hard and having fun, Mavis feels his clinics are successful. He applies a similar sentiment to any level of basketball, including the pros.

'If you're not having fun, you shouldn't be there. You work hard every time you're in the gym or on the court, but also, you have to make sure you're having fun.'

On Tuesday, at least, the mission seemed accomplished. Most of the youngsters were keen to learn new tricks and especially eager to work with Mavis. Their eyes were as wide as saucers when he told them about the Olympics, and when he began shooting free throws as far back as half court, choruses of 'Sweet!' rang through the gym.

'He makes it seem like a lot of fun and not so serious,' said Stephanie Pike, a Grade 7 student at Jack Hulland, who also plays on one of the school's basketball teams (they have two teams of girls and two teams of boys). 'It's cool to have someone from the Olympics come to our school.'

Pike said she learned a lot of things Tuesday afternoon, but mainly that you can't take a shot from far away without perfecting it up close first.

'I learned how to control the ball better and how to warm up before shooting,' added David Stephens, who also plays on one of the school teams.

For those like Pike and Stephens, who may decide to take basketball to a higher level in the next few years, it's important not to get complacent, said Mavis. They need to continually play better people whenever possible even if that means the high school team taking on a team from men's league on a regular basis.

'You have to realize that it's going to be difficult,' he said. 'It's never easy. That's the main thing I learned at a young age. You have to continually improve by yourself as well.'

Brady said those are things Basketball Yukon realizes, and is now working hard to improve. Over the next year, the association plans to run several camps for all levels of players, as well as a spring league for kids in Grade 8.

Two teams, one girls' and one boys', will be attending the Arctic Winter Games in the Kenai Peninsula next month. And in the first week of August, the Yukon will be sending midget boys' and juvenile boys' squads to the national championships in Vancouver.

There also hoping to have a juvenile girls team head to the national event in Sherbrooke, Quebec that same month.

Before nationals, there will be a high-performance camp for 30 of the best players in the Yukon aged 14-17, where they will be exposed to what Brady called 'a very high level of instructing.' And once again this summer, there will be two Yukon athletes attending the Canada/Nike basketball camps.

'I could go on and on,' said Brady. 'There's some really good stuff happening.

'We're also hoping to take part in a national sport initiative called Small Ball North, for communities in the North. Basketball Canada received funding from the federal government to run this program. It's for kids aged five to eight, a fun introductory program designed to introduce kids to basketball at a young age.'

Coaching materials and equipment for the program are supplied for Basketball Canada. Brady said three Yukon communities have expressed interest in the program and are currently going through the process to make it happen.

Meanwhile, as part of Minor Basketball Week, the Arctic Winter Games boys' and girls' basketball teams are hosting the Glacier Bears from Haines, Alaska this weekend, in a four-game series.

It all kicks today at 6 p.m. with the girls' match-up, followed by the boys at 8 p.m. On Saturday, the girls play at 2 p.m. while the final game will be the boys at 4 p.m.