"Blueprint to Success" Pt. 1 (Concept via Coach Rich)

One of the biggest diminishing points about BASKETBALL is ACADEMICS...POINT, BLANK, PERIOD!

In society, we tend to overlook the things that make us who we are. If we see a doctor, we see his money but not the 8 to 12 years it took for him to get there. When we see look at the president, we see the power but we don't see the years he had to go to college and law school and deal with political issues and situations of the world. & with Athletes, we see the great skill and game that they have but we don't understand the biological, psychological and philosophical concepts behind why that player is who he is.

One of the huge reasons behind the society's failing is because of ELIGIBILITY. Players sometimes take academics for granted because it's free. Sometimes Players substitute academics for stupidity. There is a huge difference in society with men then what it use to be. There use to be a time, where men felt proud about being academically strong. Now they just struggle and it's no worry because of the focus presented towards them.

BUT CAN I BLAME YOU?

3 things must change fully...

1. CHANGE THE IDEOLOGY OF THOSE WHO SURROUND THE ATHLETE (PEOPLE & MEDIA)....DON'T GLORIFY THE PRODUCT OVER THE PRODUCTION. Allow them to see that, education is the only way to win in sports. The smarter the athlete the better the game. The life of an athlete will definitely be increased by opportunities if they did so. IMAGINE IF ATHLETES WERE THEIR OWN AGENTS. People wouldn't make money off them, because of their ignorance. Adjust the families, friends & parents that surround them. "YOUR NETWORK IS WORTH YOUR NET WORTH"

2. Get more qualified people in place that are in control of sports...ALL AAU COACHES & HIGH SCHOOL COACHES SHOULD HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES AND COME WITH A PROFESSIONAL IDEOLOGY TO GIVE TOWARDS THE CHILDREN. If their coaches and people in place with sports are educated, that will strive them to be educated.

3. RAISE THE STANDARD FOR THE CHILDREN IN SPORTS. Stop allowing children to see athletes uneducated and reach to the NBA, because of that, it sends a sign that people don't have to be educated to make it, which isn't true. We need to be united as one people under a professional personification. Raise the criteria of athletes that play in college...make them higher than an everyday student. Allow them to know, IT'S A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT.

If these three things are done, we will definitely help the problem of athletes thinking they can reach the top without education or being eligible. Please find it in yourself to be ACADEMICALLY STRONG AND PROSPER IN THE WORLD OF INTELLIGENCE and not IGNORANCE.

Doo-Wop..."HAND DOWN, MAN DOWN"

QUICKLY...NAME ME A JUNIOR WITH MORE THAN A 1,000 POINTS....LoL....it's a joke...get it...there isn't any other ones but this kid...

Maurice Watson aka "Doo-Wop" is the ultimate bucket getter, especially for a guy that is only 5'9" barely. If you like to see somebody get buckets in bunch, Boy's Latin might be the place for that this year...shoot...next year too..LoL. When the show is on the line, this guys comes up to play.

Now that his team has reached another hurdle, we definitely have to see how he steps up to the plate on this one. & WHAT PLATE IS IT, YOU ASK?....3A....the league of the giants.

This is definitely a big jump from 1A...but there's a catch...Wop doesn't seem to be scared at all. He just straps up & it's all "HAND DOWN, MAN DOWN" from there...Good Luck this year!

Joey Gripper..."LET ME POINT IT OUT 4 U"

Persistent, Vision, Quickness....

Joey Gripper aka "a million & one plats" doesn't have every attribute in the world...but those three things...HE DOES!...When up to par, there really isn't much stopping him from seeing a pass that you don't. Sure...he plays with Jabril Trawick aka "animal", who committed to Georgetown & with some great help from Dylan Moody & Kenny Johnson, seems as though he's in pretty good shape this season. Unless you are looking for someone to lead this talented bunch.

Gripper hasn't been under the biggest spot light in the world, but he sure has done his job to help those other guys on his team stand out. Under the guidance of Abington Friends Basketball Program, there were able to do some really good things last year and seem to come back with fire in their stomach this year.

Gripper will definitely be looking to "POINT" things out on the floor this year that other people won't see and hit passes that only come natural for him. It's not always easy to take a back seat to someone else but the questions...is he really taking a back seat or he's just contributed big in other ways. Consistency is the name of the game for his book...GOOD LUCK TO THE KANGAROOS!

"Only Baby Jesus"

Baby J...

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAAAAAHHH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH....BLAH-BLAH!

JUST FOR THE TEAM FUNERAL SERVICE FAMILY!...Enjoy it looking at the FUTURE DUNK IT CRAZY!

"In T-Staff, we trust"

Talking about making sure your team is going to be just fine...

There is nothing like the feeling of being down 12-0 in the fourth quarter against a team (Rox) you are suppose to kill. Looking into a deep black hole with no sense of hope...all of sudden, there is something you hear from the general of a Dobbins team that lost the championship, the year before because of some things (a dumb decision) pulled on his own high school team, the day before the game. So Dobbins loses the championship that they should have won against Gratz, knowingly they beat them during the regular season 28-16.

But within every darkness, something must come to the light..."IN T-STAFF, WE TRUST"...the first team all city running back not only did what he told people he would do...he exceeded expectations by breaking 4 different school records, including most rushing yards in one season with 1,345 yards. This being weird, especially for a guy the season before was a Full Back. If you talk to Terrance Stafford aka T-Staff 6'0" 210 RB/LB (Temple on his heels), he's quick to say, "We can't be stopped, & I promised my team, we not leaving this Northeast Field without a championship". That's a BEAST, and what he promised his team showed up for that occasion. After Kevin Butler threw a Hell-Mary into end zone to Jamil Williams over two corner back, he reaches to the highest point to score the first touchdown to get the offense into a great motion. The after some power rushes for great first downs and monster tackles by Staff...there was nothing you could say...they were going to score and win this game. With about 35 seconds left...Kevin Butler made that true with a 1 yard rush by himself into the end zone. Stafford took his team from no Hope to pure Trust in what he said would happen....

"IN T-STAFF, WE TRUST"

Aquil Younger..."4ever Young"

It is said by law...we only get older. Unfortunately, that is not true to Aquil. He seems to only be getting YOUNGER.

Aquil is one of the fastest, if not the fastest guard around. He can get from one spot to another in no time & in most cases, you know when he's going to attack you, you just don't have enough quickness to beat him to his spot.

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE SOMEBODY WHO GETS OLDER!...L.o.L.
Well, Aquil Younger aka "the young one" will be taking his duty to a new home. He has left West Catholic to attend Gratz High School before he's off to Drexel University, the same powerhouse of Rasheed Wallace. Now he's in the position to take his game to the next level and help Gratz get that respect they deserve back. If you talk to Aquil, he will tell you, "last year's Gratz, was last year's Gratz". He is definitely on a new team with some great speed and athleticism, looking for another opportunity with guys like Andrew Moye, Niguel Caldwell & Charles Merritt, all ready to make that jump toward winning a championship this year & with the talent they have...anything is possible.

Let's just hope AQUIL STAYS (HOW CAN I SAY...OR HOV SAID) "4EVER YOUNG"

Mont & Howard...Under rated?...Not anymore!

There are 2 things I hate most in sports...
1. Cheating
2. Under rated players

Since I have no affect on the first one...I'll deal wit the 2nd one. I would like to focus on the 2 most under rated by highly focused players around.

If we are talking about talent in high school basketball...that must end this year. These two players I stand with are two of the most under rated players around. Players who have all the potential and game to play at any level but have not quit received the opportunity to show that.

This picture is from a year ago in the summer of 09 when I attended the national top sophomore & freshmen camp in the country...where highly ranked players like Ricardo Ledo, Alex Murphy (Duke), Rasheed Sulaimon (Duke), Landen Lucas, & Khem Birch (Pitt) attended.

Ky Howard (Shipley) & Markeith Mont (World Comm) attended the camp after having a outstanding headliner camp. Along with proving themselves, they had outstanding high school careers so far. In Mont's soph. year he averaged 19.1 ppg & then jumped to 21.9 ppg in his jr. year. In Howard's soph. year, he lead the friends league with 16.7 ppg & then in his jr. year, he remained the scoring champ with 17.6 ppg.

These two players have not only helped lead their program in many different ways but also have been league MVPs of the well-respected Sonny Hill League & have not slowed down in anyway to march into a very promising season. It's no telling what these two will do this season, but based on what their skill level is and what they have been doing...YOU WILL ONLY SEE AN INCREASE. Underrated...I THINK SO...HIGHLY!

Ky Howard....

Mark Mont.....

Jerrell..taking the WRIGHT steps!

What if I told you the best senior in the CITY, maybe the entire area committed to LaSalle University...YOU'D PROBABLY SAY I'M CRAZY!...

We'll guess what...It's true...Along with playing with an Under Armour AAU Program (HUNTING PARK WARRIORS)...he's has committed his next four years of basketball to another Under Armour sponsored program LaSalle University.

Jerrell Wright aka "Da Dippah" 6'8" PF/C from the North Philly section of Philadelphia. Not only does he live in North Philly but he has taken his game to another height by committing himself to stay at his Dobbins CTE program under Coach Will Johnson to help lift the program back to where it use to be with Horace "Pap" Owens, Doug Overton, "Hank" Gathers, Larry Stewart, Bo Kimble. This program has not only rebounded but has made serious moves by beating powerhouse (Gratz) last year when it counted in the championship.

Now Wright must continue those steps with helping his team achieve another level of winning...you ask Jerrell about this season...he'll tell you "I'M GOING FOR EVERYTHING". Sounds like somebody needs to win everything and prove to those that turning down big programs and committing to LaSalle means being an Explorer is the WRIGHT choice.

IMHOTEP...RIGHT BACK @ IT

What stands in the way of one of the most talented programs around...IMHOTEP CHARTER..that is. The school that features 3 D1 committed & more on the way.

Erik Copes (George Washington)...arguably, the best big man in the area. Nothing seems to escape this guy...especially if it's brought in his territory. Copes aka "The Minister of Defense" has been a terror for people who tend to bring the ball in the paint & expects no different outcome then what took place last year...CITY CHAMPIONSHIP...One difference....IMHOTEP LEFT SOMETHING BEHIND LAST YEAR...STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

I bet if you ask any player on that team...they probably have an empty spot in their heart about what took place this year. So including the commitment of Copes, Ameen Tanksley (Niagara) & David Appolon (Robert Morris) both committed to notable D1 programs, will be there to help lead this team into a championship run. One thing that will be helping this team this year...Khyree Wooten...if the name sounds familiar. This is the guy that was on the team that beat Imhotep to keep them from the state championship appearance when he attended Strawberry Mansion. Wooten will definitely be a hot target this season and with his athletic ability, nothing will be out of his reach.

With the team returning in it's best form, you can only expect great things to happen with this team this year. Nothing seems unreachable for this team but with Coach Bro. Noble....there is definitely a huge opportunity to do some wonderful things this year. Good Luck to the Imhotep Panthers this year.

ANC starts off in the right direction....

Along with being one of the most anticipated teams in the area this year, ANC has alot on their plate. One of the biggest things on their plate is being able to get "their" state championship.

Now...here's the funny part...ANC didn't win the state chip last year...Friends Central did & in doing so, they took a huge lost this year losing 3 big time seniors in Travis Robinson, Dom Morris & HJ Gaskins...who graduated off to Boston University.

Coming back stronger, ANC decided to make a bigger impact on the league this year by doing something that no team in this area had ever seen. HOW ABOUT 3 PLAYERS OFF TO THE BIG EAST...Along with Macolm Gilbert (Pitt) & Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse) announcing their commitment & signing to their future in the BIG EAST, another player on the team decided to take things in his own hands by turning down Duke, UNC, Kentucky & others for Big East power Villanova in Savon Goodman. ANC decided that if they were to be big this year, they had to do it big, it started out as last week playing in the TIP-OFF CLASSIC IN CHICAGO. They not only took home some wins, but the biggest win in country...BEATING THE NUMBER 1 TEAM IN THE COUNTRY; FINDLAY PREP. Findlay features nationally ranked Myck Kabongo, Nick Johnson, & Amir Garrett. Those 3 were no match for the big 3 from ANC. Goodman would take home the MVP of the tournament with a 24 pts. & 14 rebounds performance versus Findlay Prep to commit to Nova a couple days after.

ANC not only made a statement but proved they belong in any league and if I was any team facing this team this year, I would practice hard because this team is coming for much respect and expect nothing but a challenging game and teams that come after this buzz. Coach Givens is doing a great job, putting things together and managing the opportunity of having a great team this year. Congratulations to ANC and their well deserved start.