A slam dunk for local youth

For many kids, professional and collegiate athletes are larger-than-life figures—heroes seen from a distance, admired on TV and emulated on neighborhood courts. Rarely do young fans get the chance to meet, much less play alongside, the athletes they look up to. 

That changed in a big way on April 30, when Wisconsin men’s basketball player Carter Gilmore partnered with Exact Sciences to host a basketball camp at the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Gilmore, a native of Hartland, Wisconsin, is one of 11 student-athletes in the 2024–25 Exact Sciences Athletes class—a unique NIL (name, image, likeness) program that connects UW–Madison athletes with community opportunities while helping them grow their personal brands and career experience. 

Dozens of kids between the ages of five and 18 filled the gym for an afternoon of hands-on fun -- working on ball-handling drills, layup lines, games of knockout, and more—all led by Gilmore and a group of Exact Sciences volunteers. 

“Having Carter here in person is such a special thing for our kids,” said Aubree Watkins, Club Director at the Boys and Girls Club. “Their eyes light up, and you can really see them start to imagine a future for themselves that’s right there in front of them.” 

From the outset of his partnership with Exact Sciences, Gilmore knew he wanted to give back in a meaningful way. Hosting a youth camp wasn’t just a box to check—it was personal. 

“I really wanted an opportunity to give back to the community, to learn and to be a part of something bigger than myself,” Gilmore said. The afternoon ended with high-fives, smiles and plenty of photo requests for Gilmore, who was reminded of the power of showing up and the lasting impact of giving back. 

“This is why I play,” Gilmore said. “Giving back to your community, being a role model, being someone that these kids look up to—that’s why I play. That’s why I’m a Wisconsin Badger.”