Syracuse, N.Y. — Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Eric Devendorf was spending most of his time in basketball gyms.

The former Syracuse University basketball player was conducting clinics for kids two or three times a week. He was running camps, holding individual workouts and even working out high school teams from Cato-Meridian up to Watertown.

And then the coronavirus shut down everything, including gyms.

“I am so used to being in the gym every day,’’ Devendorf said. “It was killing me not being in the gym.’’

Devendorf started going outside and finding places where he could just dribble in order to burn off some of his pent-up energy.

His fiancée suggested that he video himself doing the drills and send it to the kids he had been instructing.

“Good idea, right?’’ Devendorf said.

Devendorf, who played at Syracuse from 2005 to 2009 and scored 1,680 points in his career, took his basketball and his phone to parking lots and city parks, where he filmed himself demonstrating various drills. He has put several of those drills on his Twitter feed, where they have become popular.

Here’s a good drill for all ages to work on your rhythm and pace. Pace is so important when playing, it keeps the defender guessing and off balance. It’s up to you to make that read out of it! Go 10-15 seconds challenging yourself getting space and pounding the ball. ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/wYyFWPcmSv — Eric Devendorf (@edeven23) March 28, 2020

“It’s gotten a pretty good response from the first couple of days,’’ Devendorf said. “I know everyone is having to stay inside and they’re just going crazy. I thought this could help the kids and also help the parents to get the kids outside doing something.’’

Devendorf’s drills are geared toward younger kids, but they can benefit players of any age.

“I’m doing stuff that I did when I was a kid or stuff that I do with the kids that I’m working out now,’’ he said. “I try to keep it as simple as I can, so all the kids can get it.’’

Here’s another simple ball handling/control drill to do in your basement or driveway. Continuous crossover then add the pound dribble into it! Reply to this video with a post of you guys doing the drill! I want to see! Simple yet effective! Let’s stay engaged in positivity! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gjtXzLqSwA — Eric Devendorf (@edeven23) March 27, 2020

Devendorf was devastated when officials in the city of Syracuse ordered the removal of the hoops from the baskets in the city’s parks because people were disobeying social distancing guidelines.

“It was kind of depressing but at same time, it had to be done,’’ he said. “We’ve got to be smarter right now.’’

Baskets aren’t necessary for Devendorf’s ball-handling drills.

“I did some in an open parking lot in Thornden Park,’’ he said of his videos. “I didn’t see anyone within 200 feet. It was a cool little spot.’’

Devendorf said he’s looking forward to the day when he can return to a basketball gym and work with his kids, but in the meantime, he’s looking to help out as much as he can.

“We’re in a tough spot as a society,’’ he said, “so I tried to find something that would be useful for kids and their parents and bring some positivity.’’

Mike Waters is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and Syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? He can be reached via email at mwaters@syracuse.com.

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