August 4, 2025 | Articles Homepage News Philanthropy
Tom Gores-sponsored Pistons-themed camps helping potential Detroit-area collegiate athletes navigate recruiting process
WARREN, Mich. – Layla Unger, a Warren Woods Tower senior, recently listened attentively as Coach Dante Sarmiento gave advice on college basketball recruitment and professionalism at the high school located roughly 25 minutes east of Detroit.
Unger was one of the 10 girls who participated in the first high school upperclassmen basketball camp sponsored by Detroit Pisons Owner Tom Gores.
For the fifth consecutive year, Gores has co-sponsored the summer camps with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan. Warren Woods Tower was the site for one of five Detroit-area camps. The other camps were held in Eastpointe, Detroit, Highland Park and the final one will be held in Van Buren Township later this month. A camp was also held in Los Angeles for the second consecutive year.
Gores, through his Be Impactful initiative, started the camps years ago to provide a place to develop basketball skills and other recreational opportunities for Detroit-area youth during the summer months.
Sarmiento, who runs the camps, says the decision to hold camps specifically for athletes seeking to play collegiately was made after consulting with coaches. The goal is to help promising college athletes who lack resources with the recruiting process. The boys’ two-day camp was the first half of the week while the girls followed afterward.
According to some, the recent introduction of the transfer portal to college sports has impacted high school recruitment since colleges now prioritize transfers, which could create fewer opportunities for high school athletes. The transfer portal is an online database for college athletes to transfer from one NCAA school to another.
“So now, the strategy at the high school level has to change, and part of the camp is explaining how it’s changed and to start identifying viable strategies to be proactive and give these athletes a better chance to be recruited and further play basketball,” Sarmiento said.
Unger, who aspires to play college basketball, found the seminar helpful.
“Coach Sarmiento explained how it can be difficult to get recruited but that’s not going to stop me,” Unger said. “I’m going to still try.”
The camp also focused on skill development exercises and scrimmages.
“It’s definitely interesting being able to work with a different coach than working with our high school coach because he works with different people and knows other things so it’s cool to see that and experience what he has to offer us,” Warren Woods Tower senior Dani May said.
Sarmiento said he hopes to see the camps grow.
“At some point I hope we become this all-encompassing program that we’re teaching and building the community through basketball even more,” he said.
Basketball for All
The camps have grown every year since its start in 2020. This year, more than 500 campers signed up for the six camps.
“We’ve been able to provide the game of basketball to thousands of youths over several different counties in Michigan with the help of the Gores family,” Boys & Girls Clubs Vice President Chris Kyles said.
The other camps are open to children aged 5-15 with the focus on skill building. There are also speakers and games throughout the week. Campers wear Pistons jerseys with the words “Be Impactful” inscribed on the back. It’s a saying Gores is fond of using as a motivational tool.
“From teaching discipline, camaraderie, work ethic, to showing support, those words are probably why Tom and (wife) Holly do this,” Gores’ brother-in-law and family representative Duncan Murdock said. “They’re giving back, and they love to do that.”