Love the game, but can’t play December 23, 2009
Posted by hoopmasters in 1.Tags: basketball, Middlebury College
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It’s hard to sit on the bench in any sport. I know this from personal experience, though some time ago.
It’s especially hard in basketball, it seems to me. There are so few players — only five can play at any one time, and then there’s the tyranny of the clock: only 32 minutes to be parceled out in high school games, 40 in college.
At Middlebury College, two of the best players on this year’s talented team (5-0 so far, with two more home games this week), Kevin Kelleher and Ashton Coghlan, are sitting on the bench and haven’t played a minute this season.
Kelleher has no prospect of playing and Coghlan has only a vague hope. Both would love to be competing, but they are out with debilitating, chronic injuries.
One of the two senior captains this year, Kevin is a versatile player, tall and well built, 6-5, 215, with a nice long-distance shot, so valuable in today’s game.
2010 recruitment and commitments under way October 7, 2009
Posted by hoopmasters in 1.Tags: basketball, Miles Cartwright, Temple, University of Penn, University of Pittsburgh, verbal commitment
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Miles Cartwright called me last night to let me know he has given a verbal commitment to The University of Pennsylvania of the Ivy League. Miles and his family are very excited about his choice. Penn has made the NCAA tournament 4 times this decade and has a national schedule that includes teams like, Duke, North Carolina, Villanova, Penn State, and University of Pittsburgh. Their home games are played in the storied Palestra in Philadelphia. Penn’s non-Ivy league schedule also includes Temple University, LaSalle and St. Josephs University, all big time AC-10 schools with a rich history of tough, hard-nosed east coast basketball. Miles will play for Coach Miller who is known for his basketball acumen and his ability to make his teams competitive winners. Miles will also have the opportunity to be tutored by 1st year assistant coach Jerome Allen, former Penn All Ivy leaguer, former pro player (NBA and Europe) before returning to Penn this year. Allen was also inducted into the Big 5 Philadelphia Hall of fame this past February. The other Assistants John Gallagher and Mike Martin who both has a rich pedigree in basketball and academics round out a very strong coaching staff.
Miles is in great hands and the coaching staff and I are very excited about the opportunity that Miles will have to continue his basketball career at Penn. As coach AD said to me tonight.
“Penn got a guy who can play anywhere. He just knows how to get it done period.”
click here for more info on Penn Basketball
More recruiting news
Kareem Jamar is currently narrowing his choices down between University of Portland and University of Montana. He has taken official visits to both schools and will be making a decision sometime soon. Both schools offer him an opportunity to come in and play right a way and speak very highly of his overall understanding of the game. He informed the university of Detroit that he has narrowed his choices down to Portland and Montana.
Chris Barnum has several opportunities that he is considering
Solomon Singer is being recruited of UC Irvine and Cal State Northridge
Cal State Northridge and University of Detroit are recruiting Denzel Douglas
Academic Recruiting
Yes, it does pay to get those grades.
Derek Farrar is being recruited for academics to some major schools and will decide which route he will pursue as the season continues
Pharoah Green has academic offers from University of Pittsburgh, Grinnell College in Iowa, and University of the Pacific in Stockton CA.
If you are in the class of 2010, please send me any recruiting news (Student-Athlete or Academic) to me.
NBA Finals videos June 13, 2009
Posted by hoopmasters in General, learning.Tags: 411hoops.com, basketball, Ihoops.com, NBA.com, Trevor Ariza
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Embedded video from NBA Video
Hoop Masters 13u win Hard Core Hoops tournament June 1, 2009
Posted by hoopmasters in 1.Tags: 13u age group, AAU, basketball, Hoop Masters, OBAMA, tournaments
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Hoop Masters 13u team wins Hard Core Hoops Championship
It is said that patience is quality that every person needs to learn. In the case of the Hoop Masters 13’s they have had that. There tough coach, John Fischer, has molded the team into a hard hitting, defensive pressuring team and they put that all together to win the Hard Core Hoops 13u basketball tournament. The team will try to repeat their achievement this coming weekend at the ACES tournament.
Are You Going To Finish Strong? Nick Vujicic January 20, 2009
Posted by hoopmasters in 1.Tags: basketball, conscience, Finishing strong, Hoop Masters, Nick Vujicic, recovery
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Confession of a baskeball addict, part 1 December 9, 2008
Posted by hoopmasters in 1, Basketball Men's, General, High School update, learning.Tags: basketball, College Hoops, New York, Robert Casey, RPI
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In March of 2000, after a disappointing college JV season and a long, unremitting struggle to restore a harmonious passion back into my life for playing basketball, I decided to quit the game cold turkey.
My decision was formalized in a meeting with the varsity coach who had called me into his office at the close of our season to inform me of my promotion to the varsity team. While I valued his offer and endorsement of my playing ability, my mind had already been made up—I would be moving on from the game of basketball.
No press conference. No retirement celebration. No jersey to be raised to the rafters.(more)
Man-Man December 8, 2008
Posted by hoopmasters in 1, learning.Tags: basketball, basketball Training, Brian McCormick, Hoop Masters, Inglewood High School, Paul Pierce
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“I don’t wanna play basketball, yea baby, ’cause I’m too small to hoop,”
–Rapper-Imajin
If you’ve ever been told that basketball is for people 6’0” or taller, or you believe you are too small to play basketball, I invite you to go down to Inglewood High School (home of Paul Pierce) in Inglewood, California and watch 5’0”, “Man-Man”, real name Gerald Evans, who is in the 11th grade. I first saw Man-Man last year when he was a sophomore, when his team played Santa Monica High School.
Man-Man caught the attention of several people in the stands and some were even laughing about how small he was. One person commented that he must be the team mascot, manager or coach’s son. But, I have scouted talent for over 30 years, and I knew he was a contributing member of the Inglewood team. This 5’ 0” had a swagger about him. Sure enough, four-minutes into the first quarter, this little bullet shot up off the bench and was at the scorers’ table. Prior to Man-Man coming in the game, Inglewood was playing pretty flat and Santa Monica was having their way with them. Well, in comes Man-Man, and like the movie “Gone in 60 seconds”, all of Santa Monica’s Mojo shifted to Inglewood. Inglewood went on to win the game as a result of Man-Man’s energy and Dashawn Gomez’ outstanding play down the stretch that sent them into overtime. But it was Man-Man that shifted the tide and the game with his infectious energy.
I don’t even know if Man-Man even thinks of himself as a small player. He plays big, plays every possession and never quits. The minute he comes in the game, you can see how much he lifts the spirits of his teammates and the fans. I have never seen him not make an impact. If you are a player on the short side, or the large variety, you need to see Man-Man play. Not only is he quick and fast, but he also knows how to take advantage of everything he’s been given. Imagine being an opposing guard with average handles and then having to deal with this guy who is up in you, giving you no breathing room, and here you are trying to run the offense. It’s a daunting experience! A year after seeing Man-Man have an impact in a big game, I got to see him, once again, bring verve with a resolute spirit and acuity of ability to the floor that very few players have.
Man-Man has a huge heart, some above average athletic ability and an “I won’t quit” attitude. I don’t know if Man-Man will play at the proverbial “next level” that we all talk about, but who cares?
There is so much focus on the “next level”, that I think we often forget about the level the players are at right now. There is a risk as a player, coach or parent of getting too far ahead of the moment.
Play hard, work hard, and bring your heart in each moment and let that determine what the future holds. The biggest trend in basketball is to go for size, and yes, the game is getting bigger and stronger. But if you really have a passion for the game, why not go as far as you can, for as long as you can? Basketball is an activity that can be played for a long time if you take care of your body, stay in shape and don’t have too many injuries. Who knows, the “next level” for you might just be the White House!
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