Kids out on the basketball courts at Liberty Park this week laughing, yelling and shooting hoops were learning more than just how to play basketball. They were learning how to live a healthier life.

The Hope Heart Institute, Washington State University women’s basketball coach June Daugherty, the City of Renton and former WNBA and NBA coach Tom Newell all teamed to bring the Best Effort Basketball Camp to Renton.

“This is a combined effort to share the game of basketball and help young people understand what they need to do to be healthy,” Daugherty said. “It’s been a fun couple of days working with the kids.”

The free camp ran Monday through Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Boys and girls, ages 8-14, were welcome to join.

Daugherty got a wake-up call to just how dangerous heart disease can be when she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest more than a year ago. Since then, she found just how prevalent the condition is and has been working with the Hope Institute and the American Red Cross.

“We’re really trying to get the message across about healthy lifestyles,” said Andy O’Brien, recreation coordinator for the City of Renton. “One of our themes is eat right, play right.”

There was no problem filling up the 80 available spots for the camp; the city even had to turn a number of potential campers away, O’Brien said.

Daugherty brought along a number of players from the WSU women’s team to help with the drills.

“I felt this was a good thing,” said Lexie Petterson, a sophomore forward. “It’s been a refreshing experience.”

Seeing her players out on the court, teaching kids was a special experience for Daugherty.

“It makes me so proud that I have the privilege to coach girls like this,” Daugherty said. “For them to say ‘I want to help,’ it just makes me feel really great.”

Daugherty, Newell and the players gave the campers lessons on basketball and tips to improve their health. And the lessons didn’t take long to hit the mark.

Melissa Parker, whose 8-year-old son Ben participated in the camp, said her son was already talking about the new things he learned on the way home from Monday’s session. The Renton resident said Ben spoke about the importance of eating breakfast and foods all colors of the rainbow.

“It really struck a chord with him,” Parker said.

Some campers were there strictly for the basketball side.

“It’s been fun to learn,” said Russell McClurg, an 8-year-old Federal Way resident participating in the camp. “My favorite part yesterday was all of the drills.”

McClurg’s basketball dreams bounce higher than the courts at Liberty Park: He wants to play professionally and bring the Sonics back to Seattle.