SAN ANTONIO – Some kids in San Antonio are growing up a little more responsible and a little better at basketball thanks to Elijah Johns.
Johns has received national recognition from former President Barack Obama and Prudential for volunteer work in his community.
Johns, a senior at Johnson High School, has been conducting basketball camps for kids since his freshman year.
"I love teaching, it is a passion of mine, I love basketball it's my favorite sports and putting those two things together made for a really fun opportunity and I actually had a lot of fun doing it," Johns said.
When Johns first started he had to reach out to companies in the community for help in the way of snacks and drinks and even basketballs.
"Their response was, they didn't answer for a while, it took a couple of e-mails to get them to respond," Johns said.
He finally got a positive response. Even got basketballs from the San Antonio Stars of the WNBA.
Johns worked with about 150 kids over three summers. It turned out to be more than just teaching basketball skills.
"Trying to teach them not only basketball skills but responsibility for themselves and for others, to play nice with others," Johns said.
As he heads off the college he will be leaving this kids behind.
"For three years we had the same kids come every year and they loved it," said Johns," it was sad seeing them maybe for the last time last summer, it was really an emotional experience."
But it may not be the last time Johns works with kids, even though he is headed off to Texas A&M to study computer science, kids may be in his future.
"It's really pulling me, maybe I want to do some teaching," Johns said," because I really like working with kids."
When he was asked about coaching, "maybe," was his response.