In line with about 60 other kids waiting to take shot at a regulation-height basket will a full-size basketball, 10-year-old Kevin Kiloch had an unusual complaint for a boy his age.

On the basketball court for the first time in three years, he seemed very much like a middle-aged man trying to get his shot back years after leaving the sport behind in high school.

“Basically, I’m just trying to get back in shape,” he said.

Surrounded by scores of other fifth and sixth graders, neither Kiloch nor the others in South Whidbey High School’s Erikson Gymnasium Saturday morning looked like they needed much conditioning. About as young as they come in the sport of basketball, all these guys needed was a little more height.

The morning was an opportunity to show off their skills to volunteer coaches in the South Whidbey Basketball Association, a recreational basketball league sponsored by the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District. Those coaches were there to draft kids onto SWBA teams scheduled to begin practice in early February. League coach Paul Arand said he and his colleagues needed the skills day to find out what this year’s crop of hoops dreamers could do on the floor. Comparing the day to mining talent, he said there was definitely some gold on the gym floor.

“This is where it all starts,” he said.

The least intense of the several youth basketball programs on South Whidbey, at least in terms of games played, the two-month rec league is intended to build player skills and prepare them for competition on teams at Langley Middle School. Though kids can play more games on South Whidbey AAU teams, Arand said having fun and learning the game is the emphasis at this level, not court time.

Parents who have 10 and 11-year-old children interested in playing basketball, but who were not at the skills day can call the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District office at 221-5484 for tryout and sign up information.