By Mukala Kabongo
NEFJ Staff
EVERETT – Former Everett high stars Isaiah Likely and Mike Sainristil returned to their old stomping grounds Sunday afternoon for the third annual Everett Legends Camp at Everett Memorial Stadium.
With all the rain that we saw the past few days, it looked like we may have not had a camp, but luckily the rain stayed away and kids had quite the time learning from Likely and Sainristil, who have seen an increase in participation each year.
“This is where we’re from, so just being able to come back out here and put on for this environment,” said Sainristil. “Having these kids be a part of our charity.”
Like the previous years, the camp began with an early session with kids from grades K-5 followed by middle school. The former state champs emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people if they one day want to get where Likely and Sainristil are now.
The brotherhood between Likely and Sainristil dating back years is something that not only helped the two get to the NFL, but also give back to the community that’s done so much for them when they were the campers the same age as the ones they inspired on Sunday.
“Giving back to the community is so important to me because where you come from, not a lot of people make it out,” said Likely. “So, just showing them that it’s possible.”
Being able to host a camp together is something the two are passionate about. The two Everett high teammates certainly showcased the meaning of the Everett Family.
Sainristil and Likely not only assisted with drills, but they got involved in a few themselves before the sessions were done with Sainristil running routes against multiple defenders in what began as a one-on-one drill. Likely also showed the campers his elusiveness during the one-on-one break down drill.
“At the end of day, if the kid smiles or not, I feel like that’s just the ultimate goal me and Mikey try to have,” said Sainristil. “By the end of Memorial Day weekend, seeing, you know, did the kids leave with a smile? Did they leave happy? Did they leave energized? Did they leave tired? Did just seeing them…like, how we could play off of that next year?”
The camp concludes on Monday with their second annual 7-on-7 tournament. There will be 12 teams that will play for an $8,000 prize. The best players in the area have committed to play in the tournament, which should end this year’s Everett’s Legends camp with a bang.
“I feel like it’s going to be one of those, you know, one of those events, you know, from years on, you know, in the future that people look back on and say, man, I love how Mikey and Isaiah had a whole day for the seven on seven,” added Likely
“Just excited to allow the kids that come from this area. “I think this is a very overlooked region,” said Sainristil. “Cameras are going to be out here, so we’re trying to put out good footage from this camp, just so they could get the proper exposure and hopefully it reaches a national scale.”
The two were also asked about their 2017 state championship team, which many consider as one of the most talented teams put together in state or national history.
It’s safe to say they both still think very, very highly of that group.
“I don’t really like when people say ‘one of,’ I feel like the 2017 team was the best,” said Likely. “If you asked me or asked any of the guys, I’ll tell you, we’ll put us against anybody.”
“I think the 2017 team was the best team to come through this high school,” Sainristil added.
