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Steamboat Springs — As tradition goes for the Steamboat Springs High School boys basketball team, this is the time when playoff contenders are made, league championships are won and players build on skill sets.

So while the official start to the 2009-10 season is still more than six months away, Thursday's camp at Western State College in Gunnison is officially the start of the season.

"For us, basketball players are made in the summertime," Steamboat coach Luke DeWolfe said. "Once you get into the season, it's really too late to establish fundamentals and the skill sets a player needs. We focus on summer basketball, getting in the gym and giving them the opportunity to compete. It's been a staple for this program for years and years."

As with each season, the summer is a place where December, January and February questions start to get answered.

For the Sailors, those questions start with finding a post presence.

Gone are starting forwards Nelson Brassell and Alex Wood - both Western Slope League first-team selections.

Although Steamboat loses some size, it's hard not to put its backcourt up against any team in the league and, potentially, in Class 4A.

The Sailors return Isiah Forsyth, Charles Wood and Jack Spady, all three of which will be returning to the starting lineup for their second year.

The camp won't determine who will open the season on the varsity or as starters. Instead, DeWolfe said, it gives the team a chance to start to play together.

"It's getting continuity," he said. "It gives guys the opportunity to show skills and learn what they need to work on. It's a good opportunity for growth."

The camp brings more than 30 teams together for multiple days of basketball. Teams from all classifications and all areas of Colorado are expected to attend.

Steamboat is bringing 23 players and three teams. The Sailors should get at least six games at the camp.

In addition to the camp, Steamboat has been having open gyms three times a week. The team will go to a camp at the University of Wyoming from July 6 to 8. There also is potential that the team will scrimmage several other Western Slope League teams throughout the summer.