SUWANEE – Mark Price is back in the game.

After a year away from the NBA sideline and the opportunity to watch his children play their respective sports, the former Georgia Tech and NBA star completes the Charlotte Bobcats – soon to be the Hornets – coaching staff accepting the assistant coaching position.

Being away from the sideline for a year allowed Price to just be a dad. Now it is time to get back on the sideline.

“it is exciting for me,” said Price about being back on a coaching staff. “A lot of times when I have worked with guys it has been part-time. It will be a real advantage to be there.”

Several weeks ago, Price was called by Charlotte to work with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bismack Miyombo. They liked what Price did during the workouts, which prompted them to offer him the job while he ran his basketball camp at Suwanee Sports Academy.

Price joins new Bobcats head coach Steve Clifford and Patrick Ewing. Bring Price in allows the veteran to work with player development, especially with correcting several of the players shots.  Perimeter shooting is a premium for teams to help extend the offense. Unfortunately, finding a pure shooter today is a lot harder than when Price played.

When he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers the league was littered with shooters Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, etc. Shooters were at a premium. Things are different today.

“Seems like when I played there were a lot of good shooters in the league so it didn’t stick out as much,” Price said. “Kyle Korver and J.J. Reddick have made themselves valuable to teams.”

However, the goal-orientated Price is driven to some day climb up the coaching ranks and be a head coach in the future. He sees how Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson faired so well and the Brooklyn Nets new head coach Jason Kidd taking on new challenges.

“The reality of it is that you have been a head coach your whole life,” Price said. “You are an extension to the coach, so you know how to get guys into those situations (on the court).”

Price’s focus is not always geared to NBA players. For the ninth straight year, he has held the Mark Price Basketball Camp for players looking to improve their game. He is here the entire week helping the various campers ranging from fourth grade to 12th grade.

His goal when starting the camp was to help players build their confidence and skills to make either their middle or high school basketball team.

“The reputation of this camps is that there are some kids who are playing high level and understand they can make some improvements,” Price said. “That has been good to see.”

Price has spent the last year watching plenty of basketball and tennis.

He followed son Hudson Price have a breakout season at The First Academy. The 6-foot-6 combo guard, who was a member of the National Honor Society, signed with the Horned Frogs after averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds a game. Both Price’s were there after the elder Price was an assistant with the Orlando Magic. So, instead of returning back to Atlanta, the younger Price wanted to finish at the Orlando school.

“He was really looking for the opportunity to play at the next level,” Price said of his son. “You want your kids to be able to achieve their goals.”

Price has always instilled in his children the fundamentals of the game and tries not to be an overbearing parent. Once the basketball season was over Price turned into a tennis parent as daughter Caroline plays for North Carolina. The second-rannked Tar Heels were eliminated by seventh-ranked UCLA in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Caroline was named an All-American as a sophomore.

“That was fun for me,” Price said. “I can really just sit back and watch because there is not much help I can give her there.”

Price will have plenty of opportunities to have input on a players develop in his new position.