The shorts may be a little longer, but Roosevelt Bouie still plays and teaches basketball with the same philosophy.

“If you learn from your mistakes, you will be a good player,” the former Syracuse player said to a group of Moravia basketball player Sunday. “But if you learn from your mistakes and others' mistakes, you'll be great.”

Bouie helped host a basketball clinic put on by varsity head coach Todd Mulvaney at Moravia High School. The camp concludes with a second session next Sunday and then Bouie will speak at the Blue Devils' year-end dinner.

During the session, Bouie and Mulvaney worked on several drills with the kids such as passing, ball-handling, low post moves and shooting drills.

“It helps when you see them from someone like him,” Mulvaney said. “Then when you work on it with his guidance, it only makes it better.”

Bouie is at ease guiding the next generation of basketball players. As a lanky freshman in 1976, Bouie broke onto the scene at Syracuse University where he played for Jim Boeheim and alongside Louis Orr.

During that freshman campaign, Bouie had 91 blocked shots and a total of 326 points.

After four years of work at Manley Fieldhouse, he finished No. 1 in school history in blocked shots (327), second all-time in scoring (1,560) and third all-time in rebounds(987). He is also Syracuse's all-time leader in field-goal percentage.

“At the time I didn't know about my record in the blocked shots,” Bouie said. “I didn't realize it until Etan (Thomas) broke it a few years ago.”

Since the days of the “Louie and Bouie show,” Bouie been involved with Italian and European basketball leagues.

He was originally drafted by the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association but decided to play in Italy. He now has an organization that helps college athletes get contracts with European teams.

“I believe if you play basketball at any level Division I or Division II, you have the right to play the game and I want to give it to those that want to,” he said. “I set up a program that works with those kids and gives them the opportunity.”

Bouie also has two teams in Italy that he owns. One of them is an under-21 team that will be coming to New York n June. They will be playing at SUNY Brockport against the ABA all-stars, Syracuse alumni team and other local schools as well.

During his visit in Moravia, Bouie talked to kids about the current image of the game.

“Back when I played we had to have a high basketball IQ,” he said. “Now kids play with athleticism -- they lack the IQ of the game. I want that to come back and instill it to the younger generations.”

Bouie mentioned how kids may play a game of one-on-one and be successful but then on the court in a game situation, it's often a different story..

“One-on-one is all instincts,” Bouie said. “But then when they get into a game, they lack the IQ. I want to keep the instincts with them but also add the smarts.”

For the Blue Devils basketball program, Mulvaney wanted the kids to learn the instincts of the game.

“I set the clinic up so the kids could lean the skills,” Mulvaney said. “I then got him to come and talk after he did our varsity and JV banquet. It helps when you get someone in like him. The kids are motivated to do better and learn from him. He is a great guy and a great teacher.”

The days of Louie and Bouie may be long gone, but they will forever be mentioned together. Orr and Bouie led the Orangemen to a four-year record of 100-18.

“I always said Louie was the smartest guy I ever played the game with,” Bouie said. “Without a doubt he's the smartest basketball player.”

And before Sunday's session concluded, Bouie made one promise to the kids that will keep them counting the minutes until next weekend's workout.

“I will dunk next Sunday,” Bouie said.

The clock is ticking.