NPAR | 21
PROFILE
Javier Amaya is a junior at
North Port High School and a
student athlete. Amaya joined
the North Port Athletic Rewind
to assist with marketing and
sales. He plants to attend
the University of Florida or
University of Central Florida
upon graduation.
Photo provided by Javier Amaya
Michigan RB Higdon to Hold Football Camp
Written by: Megan Hart
NPAR Correspondent
Karan Higdon knows what it takes
to play football at the college level,
and now he is hoping to help the next
generation get the skills and exposure
they need to follow in his footsteps.
Higdon, a second-year running back
at the University of Michigan, grew up
in North Port and played football at
Riverview High School in Sarasota. Not
only is Higdon a student-athlete at
one of the nation’s top universities, but
he is also the founder of Who Next,
an organization dedicated to helping
young athletes get the exposure they
need to reach football’s elite levels.
Next month, Higdon will bring Who
Next to North Port for football camps
on May 5-7.
“I know the amount of talent that
exists in this city, but I also know that
it lacks exposure,” Higdon said. “That’s
why I thought North Port would be a
great fit to make this happen.”
Who Next offers no-contact football
camps for children of all ages and
skill levels. The first two days of
camps will focus on fundamentals,
agility and technique development.
On the final day, which is only open
to high schoolers, recruiting services
from across the country will be in
attendance to scout players.
The camps will all take place at Larry
Thoennissen Field, and their times
vary. Individual camps cost $65, or
players can sign up for two camps for
$100. Higdon said camp attendees
can expect to work with several
current and former college athletes,
including a few of his teammates from
Michigan. In addition, each participant
will receive a t-shirt.
“They’re going to learn a lot about
football and what it takes to make it
at the next level,” he said. “Anybody in
K-12 can come out – you don’t have to
be on the football team, you just need
to be ready to showcase your skills
and see what you can do.”
Who Next is based in Detroit, but
Higdon aims to reach kids in
under-exposed areas around the
country. He told the Sarasota Herald-
Tribune that he is hoping to turn the
North Port camps into an annual
event, with the ultimate goal of
encouraging more kids from the area
to go to college.
He plans to grow Who Next while
keeping up with his studies and
playing for a world-class football
program. It is safe to say that Higdon
is a home-grown athlete that North
Port can be proud of.
For more information or to register for
the North Port camps, call (586) 420-
8170 or email
[email protected].