With a smile, Travis Hansen delivered the only rule Wednesday enforced at his basketball camp.

It turns out to be the same as the only goal: "Try your best."

But it isn't only the kids, mostly boys ages 8-17, that are learning about life and sports at the Flash Factory in Lehi through Friday.

It's also a place where some BYU basketball players can be refreshed in the lessons of what it means to be a role model carrying the valuable torch of Cougar basketball.

Jackson Emery, Chris Miles and Noah Hartsock were there for the six-hour day, spread among three different camp sessions and helping Hansen get across the message of playing hard, having fun and learning the sport.

The counselors didn't take long to figure out that there are different groups. Some kids are die-hards, and can't get enough of the Cougars -- wanting to chat, or simply high five, or get an autograph.

Others know some about basketball but don't have a clue who the trio of volunteers is (except they mostly stand out for their height).

And then there's a group, as Emery put it, that is there because "mom signed them up and said they were going to camp."

The goal, of course, is to make the three days enjoyable for all.

Emery and his two current teammates are learning, too, though.

Hansen is regarded as a terrific networker. The 31-year-old professional basketball player -- who is in talks with a couple of NBA teams on the East coast, along with teams in Spain, as he figures out his next move -- figures some of it comes from being around his businessman father.

But his knack for making connections also is attributed to knowing Brian Santiago.

The current senior associate athletics director at BYU (the right-hand man of AD Tom Holmoe) was the director of basketball operations for the school when Hansen played there. Both know their way around a room and a Rolodex.

It was while being a popular Cougar player that Hansen took to heart the importance of leveraging that presence for good. Talking to people, influential ones like many Cougar Club members, could be important later in life because, as Hansen says, "basketball isn't forever."

Maybe they'll need a job. Maybe they're also trying to start up a charity. Being in the spotlight with sports -- especially at a prominent place like BYU, Hansen says -- provides unique opportunities that should be seized by meeting people and getting to know them.

Emery said Hansen was going over the "carpe diem" topic with his brethren during a break in commotion.

Hansen's learned, too, along with his staff, about the importance of marketing the camp.

It is about three times the size of last year, attracting more than 300 youngsters.

"Marketing was better this year," Hansen said. "We had more banners out. ... And we stayed in front of the parents everyday; kind of remind them."

Hartsock, who didn't really know much about Hansen before getting an invitation to coach, said the goal is to "help kids realize what they're good at, and what they can improve."

It brings back fond memories of when the sophomore power forward loved going to the annual camp in Bartlesville, Okla., to "hang out with the high school guys for a few days."

Emery, who lived in Sandy as a youth, remembered going to Utah camps to mingle with former stars like Andre Miller.

"We want everyone to work hard and focus on teamwork," Emery said. "But it's also our job to make it fun."

There seemed to be few arguments, if any, from the customers on the first day.

The rest of the week should be memorable, too.

BYU basketball coach Dave Rose, still recovering from June surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, is expected to speak Friday.

Today the players will be invited to stay a half hour after their respective sessions to help assemble supply kits for children their age living in the Mana village of Mali, Africa. Those kids will be part of the new Little Heroes Academy in the fall. There will be all sorts of school supplies included, plus various team pictures taken at the clinic.

"One of the goals here is to teach awareness," Hansen said.

It comes on many levels at his camp.

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