Las Vegas native Ricky Davis of the Minnesota Timberwolves helps children with their passing techniques at the Doolittle Center. Photos by Jane Kalinowsky. Ricky Davis gives Austin Moncrief, 9, some advice as they work on a passing drill.

When Ricky Davis was growing up in North Las Vegas, he never made it over to the Doolittle Recreation Center.

He was too little. By the time Davis was 8, his dad had been transferred from Nellis Air Force Base and the family moved from Canoga Avenue to Chicago. So he missed out on an opportunity to learn how to play basketball at Doolittle.

But Wednesday, the eight-year NBA veteran returned to his birthplace to help give perhaps some future Ricky Davises a head start on their basketball education.

Davis, ex-Knicks big man Jerome Williams and former NBA greats Bob Lanier, Spencer Haywood and Michael Cooper were at Doolittle to work with 300 local youngsters in the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA S.T.A.R. (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Attitude, Respect) summer camp.

The one-day event was the last stop on a 10-city nationwide tour in non-NBA towns, and Davis said it's about more than giving back to a community where he was born.

"I never had the opportunity growing up to meet an NBA player or go to a camp," said Davis, a guard with the Minnesota Timberwolves. "You learn a lot of lessons every day growing up and I hope I can make an impact on some of these kids. My message for them is to work hard on and off the court."

Davis has had a much-traveled pro career. He was drafted in 1998 by Charlotte, went to Miami two years later, then spent three years in Cleveland.

In 2003 while with the Cavaliers, Davis deliberately shot at the wrong basket with five seconds to play in a lopsided game, hoping to grab a 10th rebound, which he thought would have given him his first career triple-double. But Davis was fouled on the play, and the aftermath of his actions made him the target of criticism from coast to coast.

Davis was traded to Boston shortly thereafter and was able to rehabilitate his image by being a better all-around player. Despite his improved play and production, Davis was traded to Minnesota as part of a deal that sent Wally Szczerbiak come to the Celtics in January.

"I'm in a good situation," said Davis, who has averaged 14 points during his NBA career. "I've matured a lot and it's been a lot of fun. I'm playing alongside a great player in Kevin Garnett. He's so focused. He's a true leader in the locker room."

The Timberwolves missed the playoffs last year amid roster changes and injuries. But Davis believes reaching the postseason next season is a realistic goal after the team added one of the top guards in the 2006 draft, Randy Foye.

Davis, who finished fourth in the slam dunk contest at the 2000 NBA All-Star Game, said with Las Vegas preparing to host the 2007 All-Star Weekend in February, he can envision the NBA putting a team here at some point.

"Vegas is a great city," he said. "I remember going to the Strip as a kid with my parents, going out to eat, seeing all the lights. It was special. Now, it's really grown so much. It's gotten so big. Not just the Strip, but all the neighborhoods. I don't recognize it anymore.

"But I definitely think it will be able to support the NBA."