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Apex Camps provide coaching in historic building

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Progress Sports Editor

Mimi Sommers always knew she wanted to get into the business of helping kids ful�ill their athletic dream. But it wasn’t until her own son needed an outlet that she decided to make it happen. EJ was still in elementary school when he began to play basketball at a competitive level. But �inding the right coach and summer camp where he could receive adequate training was a challenge for Sommers and her family.

So, in 2017, she founded DreamTeam Academy, an organization that thrives on youth development in a variety of sports teaching them the basic fundamentals and expanding from there. Five years later, DreamTeam Academy and Apex Sports Camps, the summer camp through Sommers’ business, has now expanded into a multipurpose facility inside of one of the most historic buildings in the Scottsdale area, the pyramid. “Our son inspired us to make an impact on the community,” Sommers said. “We kind of took a leap of faith when the opportunity came up to move into the pyramid. It was a huge risk, but it was a win-win. The response has been overwhelming.” Now known as the Pyramid Sports Complex, located near Tatum and Shea boulevards, was built in the 1970s and served the community as a church for decades. It was recently purchased by a former NFL player who remodeled the facility into a multi-purpose sports complex, equipped with courts that could accommodate basketball, volleyball and other recreational activities. The sports complex partnered with AZ Kings volleyball initially before Sommers was approached by the club through a mutual friend. They offered her the opportunity to move her existing sports camp site – in a warehouse near the Scottsdale Airpark – to the pyramid. She immediately jumped on the opportunity. “We share the space for tournaments and it’s a great venue for the community,” Sommers said. “It’s really exciting to have it located right near the Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley area.” Sommers’ organization had already been responsible for training at least 2,500 basketball players in the �ive years since she founded it. But she was quickly outgrowing her old warehouse space. Just in the last month of being at the pyramid she has seen new campers of all skill levels join her programs. Many seek basketball training but there are some looking for some sort of outlet after the dif�iculties families faced last year due to the pandemic. She and her camps thrive off the help from two full-time coaches, who have experience playing at a high level collegiately. But she also has several high school and college interns who help on a daily basis for summer credits. The camp is speci�ically designed for children ages 6 to 14. Along with top-notch training in basketball, campers also have the opportunity to compete in badminton, pickle ball, dodgeball NERF football and a variety of other sports. Perhaps one of the most appealing factors aside from parents �inally having an outlet to send their kids after a year cooped up inside their homes is the pyramid itself. Sommers said the unique venue has drawn endless amounts of interest from parents of campers who grew up in awe of its unique design. “The parents tell me they’ve always wanted to go into the pyramid when they were little,” Sommers said. “Some of the kids think it looks like a spaceship. That helps

Mimi Sommers started DreamTeam Academy as an outlet for her son to receive top-notch coaching in basketball. Now, it’s grown to include several day camps known as Apex Sports Camps.

(Courtesy Apex Sports Camps) The camps take place in the Pyramid Sports Complex, a historic building recently remodeled and outfi tted with several courts where campers can receive coaching in a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, pickle ball and

more. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff)

our visibility. It helps kind of sell us. All they do is walk in the door and they want to be here.” The camp offers a variety of packages for kids to enjoy. There are �ive, 10 and 20-day packages that start at $325, or $65 per day. The camp also offers daily rates and half-day rates that run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., respectively. Sommer said there are also after-school packages from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays where not only will kids get the same experience in athletics but they will also receive help with homework. Having the opportunity to make a positive impact on the community in this way has always been the goal for Sommers. Even with EJ now entering his freshman year at Pinnacle in the fall, she aims to still provide an opportunity to younger athletes. “We want kids to have a fun, safe place to be themselves, socialize and learn some skills and gain con�idence along the way,” Sommers said. “This is deeper than just providing a service for us. Parents need help. People always say, ‘it takes a village.’ “We are that village.”