The Spark Change Boys’ Basketball Camps will utilize successful coaching staff to teach fundamental technical skills but, more importantly, will also utilize the Lakota/Dakota culture to teach fundamental values to help make players successful on and off the court.

• All camps are free of charge and open to boys entering the grades indicated.
• Camps will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.
• T-shirts, as well as breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided for all camp participants.
• Camp participants will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the camps.

Darius Sparks grew up on the Standing Rock Reservation, with a single mother, and his younger sister, Devona. He attended a variety of schools and was in and out of the foster care system. Darius found solace, peace, comfort, and passion on the basketball court. As he entered high school, Darius became successful on the field (in football) and on the court. A three-year starter and a two-time captain, Darius earned second team all-state honors after leading his team to a runner-up finish in the N.D. Class A State Boys’ Basketball tournament and a record of 20-5 in 2014. In football, Darius also earned second-team all-state honors at linebacker as a senior and helped lead his team to a State Class A Boys’ Football championship in 2013.

Darius isn’t just successful in sports; he is also very interested in helping others. In his senior year of high school, Darius saw a need for playground equipment for kids at St. Bernard’s Mission School in Fort Yates (a school he briefly attended as a youth). He took on a fundraising campaign and raised approximately $25,000 for a new playground, which was recently installed. Darius now attends the University of Mary, majoring in Communications, and redshirted for the U-Mary Marauders in his freshman year.