Update on . . . DeAndre Liggins and Michael Peck

I spoke to Findlay College Prep (NV) Head Coach Michael Peck within the hour and received some good information regarding the up-and-coming prep power as a whole, and one of its top outgoing players. Coach Peck told me that he is looking into a player from Puerto Rico who thinks "may be a good fit for the program," but that the transfer is not finalized. The graduating player that I discussed with Coach Peck is 6'6 guard DeAndre Liggins '08, a Kentucky-signee. Liggins' eligibility for next year is up in the air, so I inquired of Coach Peck whether or not his star senior had qualified, to which he told me: "We're still waiting to hear." Findlay's head man does not know when he will find out about the outcome of DeAndre's situation. The top-notch guard did receive his test scores and all the information is in the hands of the NCAA. I will keep you updated on Liggins' status.

Update on . . . Lance Stephenson- A Father's Perspective

Lance Stephenson has been the talk of America in the high school basketball world for quite some time. The class of 2009 6'6 superstar swingman at Lincoln (NY) has been talked about in New York City for much longer though. Yet even before the NYC circle began to discuss Stephenson, his father saw something in him. Lance Stephenson, Sr. has seen his son progress from a youngster all the way to one of the best players in America. I spoke with Mr. Stephenson at the Steve Nash Skills Academy, where he was taking in the action.

NB: What schools [are] Lance really considering?
LS: UCLA, Kansas, USC, and St. John’s . . . [and] Memphis.

NB: What do you think Lance needs to work on the most?
LS: A little bit of everything. He has an all-around game, . . . so he’s got to keep brushing up on everything, all his tools. . . . It’s not that one thing that I can say he needs to work on, just everything, just keep getting better.

NB: What do you see as the strongest point in his game?
LS: His strength, his agility, he’s real quick, he [has] got good lateral movement, he’s explosive, he’s got the complete package right now.

NB: What do you think helped him get to where he is right now? Other than just having the natural ability.
LS: Just working out, [a] lot of push-ups. . . . It’s a little bit of a mix of everything, natural ability, a lot of hard work, push-ups, pull-ups, dips, . . . a whole lot of advice, information, so he [has] known how to make the right plays from an early age.

NB: When Lance was young, did you see him having the potential to be such a talented player?
LS: Yes, yeah, from day one, I knew that he was going to be a real talented player, just like my other son.

NB: Other than you two, who’s going to be involved in the decision process for college?
LS: My wife, that’s about it. . . . His high school coach [Dwayne “Tiny” Morton of Lincoln (NY)] has a little bit on influence as well.

NB: Is Lance going to eventually make the final decision, or is it just going to be a group choice?
LS: I would say he [is] going to make the final decision. We [are] just going to give him all the information and let him decide what he wants to do.

NB: Is there a school . . . that you favor, that you think Lance should go to right now?
LS: Right now my favorite school is UCLA.

NB: What makes the Bruins standout to you?
LS: Well, the tradition, the conference, the style of play, they let the guards play pretty free.

NB: If not for the NBA age limit, would Lance be going pro next year?
LS: I think if you asked me that question . . . when that times [I would have a better idea], but an educated guess, I would say ‘yeah,’ he’s definitely got all the skills, and after looking at [Thursday’s NBA] Draft, all of those kids, all of the freshman that went, he’s playing against or with before, so we pretty much know some of the good players.

NB: You mentioned all the freshmen. Do you think Lance is a lock to be a one-and-done [player in college]?
LS: No, nothing is a lock, . . . he got to play the games. I wouldn’t say he’s a lock, he still has a lot of work to do.

NB: With all the attention that he’s been receiving since eighth grade, do you ever see it getting to him, kind of . . . bringing him down a little bit, having all that focus on him?
LS: No, nothing [is] bringing him down, he’s still rising. Heading into his senior year he has a lot . . . of accomplishments that he’s already done, wining three [New York] City [championships], two state [championships]. He’s still rising, next year I think will be the icing on the cake.

NB: What are you most proud of Lance for?
LS: Just staying with it, and really not folding, he’s kept the same . . . demeanor all the way through . . . high school. He’s kept the same demeanor, he hasn’t let the media change his game, he still has his attitude, he still has his . . . aggressiveness, and that’s really what I’m most proud of him [for]. He designed his game, and he’s sticking with it.

NB: What [are you most proud of him for] . . . outside of basketball?
LS: What am I most proud of him . . . [for] outside of basketball? I’m proud that he’s my son. I’m proud that he’s healthy. I’m proud that he’s [a] pretty good student in school.

NB: What are Lance’s plans for July during the evaluation period?
LS: He’ll be trying out for the USA . . . 18 and Under team.

The younger Lance Stephenson was by far the most impressive player at the Steve Nash Skills Academy. His play in the five-on-five scrimmage to end the event was fantastic. Lance's father certainly knows of the talent and potential that his son possesses. He definitely is proud of Lance's game, and he should be, as Lance is one of the best player in the United States. I'll make sure that I keep you updated on how things are moving along for the younger Lance Stephenson.

Scouting Report on Stephenson:

Lance Stephenson may well be the best player in America. He has a fantastic all-around game. The Lincoln (NY) stud is even talented enough that his teammates deferred to him at the Steve Nash Skills Academy to run the point in the scrimmage, despite being the only non-point guard on his team. Stephenson '09, a 6'6 swingman, can shoot the rock, with range that extends out to the three-point line. Lance can also get to the hole and has a solid handle. He is a spectacular athlete with great hops, and well-chiseled frame. The NYC phenom seems to have a good work ethic, as he chose to shoot around during the water break in the scrimmage at the Nash Academy. At times, Stephenson can be a bit too flashy. As well, his attitude is something that he needs to work on. He gets frustrated with lesser teammates when they make mistakes and is a bit cocky. Yet, that may well be from being "the man" in the Big Apple for so long. A change of scenery for college may be quite helpful for the gifted ballplayer. Attitude aside, Lance might have the most complete game of anyone in America, including graduating seniors from the class of 2008. Lance Stephenson is the real deal.

Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/

Karl Towns, Sr.- Former Star and Father of a Star

Karl Towns, Sr. is an integral part of Team New Jersey ABC. Towns not only helps coach within the program, but is one of the club's founders. As well, his son, Karl Towns, Jr. is a member of Team NJ-ABC, and he is one of America's top rising middle schoolers. Senior is a former college basketball player with a great knowledge of the game. I spoke with Mr. Towns at the Playaz Spring Fling about his basketball career and that of his son.

NB: What do you think is the biggest way you can help your son [Karl Towns, Jr.] on the road for him to attend college and then . . . possibly after that?
KT: Well, my biggest thing is I got to keep him focused on the sport. He’s in love with baseball, but he’s just as good in baseball, maybe better, but I got to keep him focused on the fact that . . . everyday you got to learn something more. You never are at a point where you just can be content, so that’s what I keep him focused on, that’s why I have coach Lamont Halsey and [coach] Matt Pauls behind him, because that’s why I let them coach because everyday he needs to stay focused on the fact that there’s other people out there about to get him. You got to learn everyday, when you [are] at . . . the top of . . . the map, people want to take you down, so everyday, we got to teach him more and more.

NB: What similarities and differences do you see between your game when you were at his age and in high school, and the way he plays right now?
KT: He’s way better than I was when I was his age. I wasn’t as good a shooter, because he can hit the three. His handle’s better, I was just a great rebounder at Monmouth [University], I led the nation, I was third in the nation . . . my senior year at Monmouth. He just has more aspects [of his game], . . . playing in all these tournaments, practicing with Dexter Strickland and Kasim Drummond, and DeSean Butler, seeing all these great people and having [the opportunity] to play against them just helped elevate his game. I didn’t have all those luxuries, playing against great players, I had to play with kids in the park, but he’s only played with the best players, so he’s only had the best teaching, so that’s why his game is so much above [what] mine [was at his age].

NB: Do you ever notice him struggling . . . to keep up with all the attention that’s being put on him at such a young age?
KT: I think that some of the attention bothers him a lot. I think that the pressure for him [may be something he struggles with], he just turned 12, and I think that he sees that he has to always play at a high level. I think sometimes it affects him, but like we told him, ‘you’re kid, be a kid, don’t let it get to you, you have many more years of basketball to go, just . . . have fun.’ . . . I think that they [have] grounded him, . . . when you’re the number one player in the country [at the] 12 and under [level], it’s hard, and I think he takes that to heart sometimes, that he has to always win, and we’re not going to always win, we’re not, it’s just not going to happen.

NB: Are you worried about him turning out like some of the other young . . . stars?
KT: I always worry about the fact that he may, but . . . he’s a good student, straight A student, and he’s in Catholic school, and everybody around him keeps him grounded, doing the little things, we don’t let him get caught up in nothing, and I keep trying to tell you, coach Lamont and coach Matt make sure that he enjoys the good things in life. . . . They know his talent, I know his talent, we all know his talent, but we want him to have fun.

NB: Where do you see him attending high school?
KT: [Laughs] Everybody’s giving [interest], he has St. [Patrick’s], he loves [head coach] Kevin [Boyle]. . . . [He] loves St. Anthony’s, Pennington is a nice school, I really haven’t thought that far [ahead], Lawrenceville wants him. It’s a lot of prep schools that are out there [that are showing interest], [and] Matt [Pauls] has pushed him everywhere, so it’s like he can go a lot of places, but we don’t never get caught up in that because right now he’s only in sixth grade, I just want him to worry about passing and going to seventh grade.

NB: Going back to your high school days, . . . take us down the road of how you ended up at Monmouth.
KT: I had a great senior year at Piscataway, [which is] where I’m from. I went to Mercer County [Community College], we had a good team, and the following year I ended up at Monmouth from a scholarship from Ron Kornegay, and I had a good career, graduated, got my degree, I wasn’t the great player, but I was a great rebounder, so I got offers to go overseas and unfortunately, I got hurt in the park, and that was that.
NB: Where you planning on accepting any of those offers to play overseas, or were just going to try to go another direction?
KT: I was going to and try [playing] overseas [for] maybe two years, just to get some experience with the pros so I could always have that, but I don’t regret it, and I’m not living through my son, I’m just happy that my son is getting more opportunities than I was, and that’s more important to me, seeing that he prospers as a player.

NB: What was the best thing for you about your time playing basketball?
KT: College life. I loved the fact that the competition and the levels [were so high], [and] that I got a chance to be [on] one of the first teams to play Division I at Monmouth, it was our first year, I got a chance to play against Ed Pinckney, Dominique Wilkins, you name it. I played against . . . Rutgers here [at the RAC] against [John] Battle, I played against all the top players in the country. We didn’t win [any] games, but it was a good experience.

NB: Being at such a high level and playing in DI and getting out to all those people, what did it mean to you on a more personal level?
KT: Well, it just good to see people that eventually ended up on TV. . . . Patrick Ewing I played against, Michael Graham, it was just a good experience for me, it was just [an] all around [good experience]. . . . To see that I was able to play against people who I [can] talk to today, talk to them, and they remember when the played against me, and that’s a good thing. Just to see people, I can say . . . I played against so and so, when [I] see them, they say ‘hi,’ Darryl Dawkins, who practiced with me, and Bernard King, so many players that played at Monmouth when I was there, because the Knicks practiced at Monmouth University when I was down there.

NB: Do you keep in touch with a lot of those guys still today?
KT: I keep in touch all the time with Darryl Dawkins [also known as] “Chocolate Thunder.” I see people, but I don’t keep in touch with them because [although] it was a good time, I’m small-time, they’re big-time, so it’s a lot different for me.

NB: If you had to pick the best moment . . . from your basketball career, what would it be?
KT: [It would be] getting a scholarship to college, and not having to have my parents have to pay for me to go, and being the first person in my family to go to school for four years for free.

Towns, Sr. had a highly successful basketball career, and he is hoping that his son has even more opportunities than he did. This may certainly be the case if Mr. Towns keeps Junior focused on the game, and keeps him working hard. Senior is a quality coach and was a wonderful basketball player. It's no wonder his son might just be the same way.

Note- photo is from http://teamnjabc.com/index.html

Update on . . . Bob Hurley, Sr. & Tyshawn Taylor

Yesterday I spoke separately to both St. Anthony's (NJ) head coach Bob Hurley, Sr. and one of the Friars' star seniors, 6'4 guard Tyshawn Taylor. My discussions with the two came within 24 hours of Marquette naming Brent "Buzz" Williams its new head basketball coach, replacing the departed Tom Crean. Taylor--who has signed a Letter of Intent to play ball for the Golden Eagles--and his coach both expressed their views on the Marquette situation. "He's going to come in Friday," said Hurley, adding that the pair need to talk about what the differences between Brent Williams as a head coach and an assistant coach will be. Williams is the coach that did Taylor's recruiting, causing Tyshawn to tell me that he feels as if he is "in a better position, . . . because he was talking about what Coach Crean was going to do, but now he's in that position, but at the same time, I asked for my release, and a lot of schools are calling Coach Hurley about me." As of now, he has not been officially let out of his LOI, though he did say that he did "expect to be released," also adding "at the same time, I might end up back at Marquette." Taylor informed me that the schools he is considering are "Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Kansas, Florida, . . . and Marquette, of course." Tyshawn, though, has not "really been talking to [the schools] a lot [because he] can't talk to them [until] he [is granted his] release." For those of you who have followed Taylor's recruitment, you may notice one school that is surprisingly not on his list: Virginia Tech. "Coach Hurley has talked to them a bit, . . . but their name hasn't popped up a lot [in conversations of who is calling]," said Taylor of the Hokies. Another school absent from his list is North Carolina, which Taylor had previously told me was one of his finalists prior to choosing Marquette. Of the Roy Williams' program, Tyshawn had this to say: "Before I had committed to Marquette, they had contacted me, . . . [but] not since asking for my release." The two wild cards on the list are Tennessee and Florida, SEC programs that Taylor had not previously mentioned as finalists for his services, yet they are now on his list because they are "just a couple new schools that called Coach Hurley." I asked the him where he would sign if he had to pick a school right then and there: "I don't know, I think if I had to choose right now, I don't know. It's tough because I like Marquette, but a lot of other teams have been [involved the process since Tom Crean left]. . . . I don't know." Clearly, Taylor is up in the air about where he plans to go, even telling me he is "going to wait as long as possible [to sign because he wants] . . . to make sure [that he makes] the right decision." Going back to what Coach Hurley was saying about Taylor and his recruitment, the living legend in the hoops world said that he has "only met the [new] head coach [Buzz Williams] one time," and informing me upon my inquiry about the subject that Taylor won't be following Crean to Indiana due to the possible "NCAA sanctions" that the Hoosiers could be handed. "I think that as soon as a coach leaves [a school], the kid [who has committed there] should be able to open up [his] recruitment again," said Hurley of his views on coaches walking out of contracts. He also added that Tyshawn "wouldn't be going to Milwaukee [where Marquette is located] to play for just anybody," regarding the player's feeling for Tom Crean. "Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech" are the two other schools that Taylor visited prior to choosing Marquette, and "he's got two visits" left now. I asked Coach Hurley what his role in the recruitment process of a player generally is: "We want everything to go [smoothly] since most of the families are only going to do this once. . . . I'll keep a tab on the schools that are reaching out [to a player]," adding "you got to see that people are coming to practice, coming to games [to see the recruit]." In addition, Hurley mentioned that he'll meet with a player to chop the player's list to around six schools and then "bring the remaining schools in for school visits and home visits, and then make the [campus] visits." It's evident that Bob Hurley is invested in his players and their future.
Let's move on to some other points regarding Hurley, his school, and his players. "It was . . . what everyone shot for. It was a great feeling. . . . Saying it's your goal and doing it can be two different things," said Coach Hurley of his squad's national title. The Friars were ranked number one in just about every ranking out there, including the USA Today Super 25, ESPN High Elite 25, rivals.com Fab 50, and MaxPreps. USA Today, EPSN, and rivals.com all had St. Benedict's (NJ) at number two on the list, a squad that is coached by Bob Hurley's son, Danny Hurley. About the impressive family one-two finish, Bob Hurley said "it's not going to happen again," also mentioning that "Danny [will] complain about the bad foul shooting in the one game they lost, . . . and I'll remind him about the [long layoff they had between games, and tell him that] . . . he should have scheduled a game in the middle." I inquired as to whether or not the two national powerhouses might ever play each other, to which the elder Hurley said "you got a better chance of games being played on the moon." On going undefeated, Hurley remarked that "it can only happen. Your goal is to get better all year. . . . You just got to go out and play the games." The coach mentioned that there is a time in every season with a stretch of tough games, and for the Friars this season "it was Paterson Catholic [in New Jersey] on a Monday and St. Patrick's [in New Jersey] on a Wednesday." The Friars are losing a lot of talent to graduation this year, with nine seniors departing, including Fordham-bound Jio Fontan, Rutgers-commit Mike Rosario, future Pitt Panther Travon Woodall, and Tyshawn Taylor. Hurley said that players will "move up from the freshman [and] JV [teams]," saying that the team will "have to build around Dominic [Cheek]," and also mentioning that "Jamee Jackson" may be a key part of the squad in 2008-2009. I also questioned Coach Hurley about the recruitment Dominic Cheek, a 6'6 junior guard: "We really haven't made a list," also saying that "the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, and even the SEC," are the primary conferences that Cheek is getting interest from. Coach Hurley even went as far as to say that "he's on just about everybody's wish list." Make sure to check back soon for an interview with Dominic Cheek that I got at the Playaz Spring Fling this past weekend.
There is a lot going on with the St. Anthony's Friars right now, and I'll try to fill you in on happenings with the players, including Taylor and Cheek.

Update on . . . Tony Bergeron, Tyreke Evans, & Lamont Jones

Tony Bergeron, the head coach of American Christian Academy (PA) has had his name tossed around regarding a job at Seton Hall, by media outlets including Hoop Scoop. Bergeron, who I spoke with earlier today, says that there is "no truth to any of that," adding that "there's not even an open job at Seton Hall." Even if an offer does come around to head to SHU, Bergeron's history says he may turn it down, as he told me "I had a chance to go [to the college level] three times already, and haven't yet." The coach's reasoning: "Each year I have a new kid that I [don't want to leave]." Coach Bergeron said that it would need to be an "unbelievable situation for [him] to leave," even mentioning that he hasn't "updated [his] resume in eight years," pointing to the fact that he has no plans of leaving ACA. "Any time there is an opening with Bobby Gonzalez, my name is going to come up because of my relationship with him," said Bergeron. This led me to asking whether it was this relationship that got The Hall involved with ACA superstar senior Tyreke Evans: "He got involved with Tyreke because of my relationship with him, but they have done a good job recruting [Evans]." The coach told me that Evans will "announce [his decision] April 16th on ESPN." According to Bergeron, Evans is considering heading to either Memphis, Seton Hall, Texas, Villanova, or UConn. The Huskies may be a longshot though, as I have heard from sources that UConn is Evans' last option. The only school that stands out as missing from Tyreke's list is Louisville, a school that he had previously been seriously considering. "He's not going there," said Bergeron of Louisville, adding that "they have backed off," and "Louisville is officially off by both sides," meaning that the two sides have agreed to no longer stayed involved with each other in the recruiting process. So, Tyreke Evans will NOT be a Louisville Tiger. Meanwhile, Bergeron informed me that Lamont "MoMo" Jones is "wide open," and that the two "won't make a list [of schools] . . . until September." It appears we will have to wait a while to see where the former Louisville-commit will be headed.
"I had a great group of kids. . . . I loved my team. . . . You never had to motivated them. . . . The national title [was the] . . . only part that was missing [from the team's season]," said Bergeron of his squad this year. The coach told me that the school's recent change to being a prep school had "nothing to do with athletics, " and that now the school's official name is "American Christian Academy and Prep School, . . . ACAPS." Coach Bergeron informed me that his team will "be like St. Benedict's," in the fact that the team will be playing high schools but can also "play prep schools," adding that he "won't be recruiting fifth year players for [the] team," yet these kids can still go to ACAPS. I asked Coach Bergeron how not having many young players on this year's team will affect the squad for next year, to which he said" "We had . . . a small amount of underclassmen [this season]," adding "Lamont Jones and Ashraf Yacoubou." Bergeron raved about Yacoubou, saying that "the only thing that held him back [this season] was that Tyreke Evans played the same position." By the way, that is the correctly spelling of his name, as this is how Bergeron told me it's spelled: Ashcraf Yacoubou.
People, just eight days until we find out where Tyreke Evans will take his game for college, and assuming my sources are right, it will not be Connecticut. Do not expect to see Tony Bergeron anywhere other than American Christian next year. He and his team will continue to compete at a high level. I'll try to keep you posted on news involving Evans, Bergeron, or Jones.

Michael Peck- Program Builder

Findlay College Prep (NV) is not a well-known prep school for basketball, but this season, the squad squashed any notions that teams from the West cannot compete with those on the East, specifically those in New England. Findlay Head Coach Michael Peck brought his team from being a relative unknown to being at the forefront of prep school basketball. Peck has gotten players such DeAndre Liggins, a Kentucky commit, and Brice Massamba, a UNLV commit, and his team went all the way to the national championship game. Findlay took an undefeated record to Fordham University in Bronx, New York for the Prep National Championships, where the team was the two seed, and knocked off Harmony (OH) and Notre Dame (MA) on its way to the title game, where the team met Hargrave Military Academy (VA), another undefeated club. Michael Peck kept his team in the game throughout, and his squad almost picked up a come from behind win, but fell just short, 75-73. Coach Peck and I spoke for a few minutes after the tough loss.

NB: So, you guys had a great season, [but] came [up] a little short. What happened in the game today?
MP: Oh, I just think [that] like any good game--Hollywood, we said before to our guys, Hollywood couldn’t script it any better, number one versus number two, both teams undefeated going into it, and then there ends up to be a two point game, [and it] goes down to the final 1.4 seconds. That’s a great story, but I think . . . the ebb and flow, there’s ups and downs to any game, there’s swings our way, there’s swings their way, [and] I just think their guards just really controlled the pace offensively for them. . . . Two days before this I saw their guards, those guards just continue to make shots, big shots, deep threes. . . . When you’re making shots--I always tell our guys all year, it doesn’t matter if a team’s not very good, what their record is. . . . if kids are making shots it’s going to be a ball game because the bottom line is [that] you got to defend and stop, and if their scoring, . . . scoring isn’t a luxury, you’re going to have to score just to be in the game, and that’s kind of what happened. . . . I think their guards did one heck of a job for them, and just made some big shots and we answered, but obviously came up a little short.

NB: You mentioned big shots. Down the stretch you guys hit a lot of those. How were you guys able to really make that into a game?
MP: Well, it’s kind of funny. One of the things that we practiced before we left [Las] Vegas to come out here, is we practiced a lot of situations [at the] end of games. . . . We were undefeated [and] our margin of victory was about 30, so we didn’t have a ton of close games, but one thing we knew coming out here [was that] we were going to have to prepare for that. So we tried to practice and simulate end-of-game situations. Okay, you’re down seven [with] 2:37 left, . . . we’re going to play it out, and lo and behold, we did not practice it very well. Our guys just did not have much success coming from behind or holding a lead even, in those situations, but like anything, I think when you put our guys in an actual situation when it’s a do-or-die, there have been drills in practice that we’ve done . . . when it’s on the line and it’s for real they respond and they get results usually. So, this unfortunately was the first time . . . where it was played for real, and they didn’t get the outcome that they usually get, and it hurts, it hurts, and it should, but nonetheless, we’ll go through a little mourning now, but then we’ve got to regroup and look at the bigger picture.

NB: Did it mean anything special to you guys being the only team from the West Coast at this tournament, or were you guys not even thinking about that?
MP: Yeah, teams say that, but my argument on that is . . . [that] if I enter contest and I come in first place, but I’m the only one that enters it, does it mean as much? . . . There’s only three teams that I know of out there that are sort of in this world of prep school [basketball]. . . . New England, the NEPSC, kind of is the end-all be-all of what people know in terms of prep school [basketball], and then out in California there’s Summit and Stoneridge, and then us. So it’s not like there’s a whole list of them out there, so being the only school from the West, I think it’s neat and it has some appeal to it from a fan standpoint or a media standpoint, but for us I don’t think we thought too much about it to be honest.

NB: You mentioned that the New England schools are the most well-known. So, . . . how does this tournament, knocking off a school like Harmony [and] a school like Notre Dame really help you guys to establish your reputation as a top-notch prep school?
MP: Well, I think that’s one of the things we did. We played a national schedule this year. This was our ninth trip East. We played those teams, we played South Kent three times this year, [and] beat them all three times. . . . We went to the National Prep Invitational in Rhode Island. We beat Brewster out there, we beat New Hampton. . . . We knew we had to play those teams in order to get the credit that we felt we deserved and needed to ultimately be one of eight to make it here and get invited here, and then to compete, and so that’s what we set out [to do]. We didn’t pad our schedule too much, we wanted to play the best, because one) that makes you better, and two) . . . in our second year, that’s going to give us the recognition and the credit that we needed.

NB: If you had one word to sum up the whole season, what would it be?
MP: [Pause] It was long, it was long, it was a long season, but it was fun. Our guys, like I’ve always said, when you have talent, and they play hard, and they play together, what more can you ask for? I think that our group of guys was a group of guys that bought into our system, and embraced it, and our play showed [that].

NB: How are you going to replace guys like Brice [Massamba] and DeAndre [Liggins]?
MP: I have no idea, that’s a great question. If anybody’s got any ideas, I’m willing to take calls, e-mails, [and] what-have-you. We’re working on that right now, we’re in that process. We know that these guys have set a standard that’s pretty high, and the expectations [are as well]. I think we can get back to being very competitive and then being very good, but it’s not . . . going to be the same group of guys. We got to, as coaches, we got to know that, and as our fans and people back home got to understand, we’re not going to have Jacques [Streeter], we’re not going to have DeAndre. . . . Now, we’re going to have different players that we think are going to be as good, and we’re going to make them better and help them, but it’s going to be different. So, it might . . . taste good, but it’s going to be a different product. [The] steak’s going to be a little bit different, but we think it’s going to be good.

Michael Peck is clearly a proud coach, and for good reason. Coach Peck has molded his team at Findlay into a national title contender, and he has done a great job. Peck had a roster of stars this season, and Findlay's roster should remain loaded, as long as Michael Peck is in charge. He has found a way to have his team compete with the big dogs, and not just play the, but beat them. Michael Peck and Findlay Prep are here to stay.

Kevin Keatts- Championship = Happiness

Kevin Keatts is the head coach at the best basketball prep school in the nation. Hargrave Military Academy (VA) is number one, and there is no question about it. Keatts' squad won the Prep National Championships title game on March 6, 2008 at Fordham University in New York, completing an undefeated season and defeating Findlay College Prep (NV) to claim the national title. While some of his players were cutting down the net, Coach Keatts took a few minutes to chat with me.

NB: [That was] big victory out there, you guys won the national championship. What does that mean for your program and [for] you as a head coach?
KK: It’s good, and I’m happy for the kids. Certainly our focus is just trying to get kids, and make sure they make it academically, and be ready when they go to college, but this was a special group of kids and I’m very happy for them. Don’t get me wrong, we’re happy as a program, but I’m glad for the kids because they worked hard this year.

NB: As a program, what do you think is a bigger accomplishment, [winning the] national championship or [having an] undefeated season? . . . You guys did both.
KK: I don’t know, we’ve never been undefeated before, so that’s pretty special, to . . . beat everybody that’s on your schedule. So, I’m happy, and listen, we played a great Findlay team. They fought to the end, they were undefeated coming in. This whole tournament had eight teams that could win it, and we made some plays and we got lucky, and we won it.

NB: In the second season of this national championship tournament, what’s your opinion on it? What do you think about this idea of crowning an official national champion?
KK: I think it’s great because you get to play it out on the court. When I first came back from Marshall--I coached for a couple years--we won a mythical national championship. . . . We were 25-1 [and] we finished number one, but we never played it out on the court, and I think [this is] a great deal.

NB: You guys are losing a lot of players. How are you going top try to keep this team on the level its playing at right now for next season?
KK: I have no idea. I’ll worry about that later.

NB: And about this game, how’d you guys pull through in the end when Findlay was coming back?
KK: You know what, we just . . . did some good things, we worked, and the kids, they refused to lose, and certainly they stepped up and did some good things, so we finished the game.

NB: Do you have any goals to get back to the college level?
KK: I’m happy. I’m happy. I’m really happy where I’m at.


Clearly winning the national title has made Hargrave Head Coach Kevin Keatts happy, but not just for himself, for his program, and his players. The school certainly deserves the championship, and with a great guy as the coach in Kevin Keatts, you've got to be happy for everyone involved with the program. Hargrave will lose a lot of talent, but the team should remain competitive. After all, a happy coach and happy players can go a long way.

Dwayne "Tiny" Morton- A Big-Time Coach

Although high school coaches are generally not well-known, Dwayne "Tiny" Morton is an exception. The head coach of Lincoln (NY) has coached numerous top-notch talents and highly regarded players, including the team's current stud, Lance Stephenson. Morton is a prominent figure in the New York hoops scene, and his Lincoln squad is always near the top of the standings. After his team knocked off Rice (NY), I caught up with Coach Morton.

NB: You guys had a big game out there [against] Rice, an instate rival, [and] pulled out the victory. What went into that, to come away with that win?
DM: Well that’s a great win because [Rice’s Head] Coach [Maurice] Hicks and I are good friends, so it’s . . . really a friendly win, but if was upstate in the championship game, it might mean a little bit more, but I know this is just a non-league victory, and we [are] going to smile about it, but we [are not] going to take it to seriously.

NB: Lance [Stephenson] had a great game out there. How does him playing so well help the rest of the team?
DM: Well, when he’s clicking, and he’s rebounding, and scoring, and putting pressure on the team, it makes it easier for everybody else around us.

NB: How were you able to, in the second half, stop Durand Scott and Kemba Walker? . . . They were both playing pretty well, but you were able to slow them down enough to come away with the victory.
DM: I don’t think we slowed them down, I think we slowed down the other scorer, [Chris] Fouch, we slowed down Fouch, and that was a big key. If all three of those guys were on, I think we’d of had a big problem.

NB: Were there any adjustments you made at halftime to continue to stop Fouch? . . . He was off all night.
DM: No, I was happy with the five point lead. I told our kids, if we [are] going to win by five, let’s win by five, let’s keep playing the way we are.

NB: Are there any goals you have the rest of the season, and for next year maybe?
DM: No, I just take it day by day, game by game.

Dwayne Morton is a key part of the program at Lincoln. He might not be the tallest guy on the bench, but Coach Morton has presence about him, one that is easily noticed by those around him. New York is a hotbed for high schol talent, and a fair amount of the talent comes from Lincoln, thanks in part to the coaching of Dwayne Morton. "Tiny" is his nickname, but Dwayne Morton is anything but that in the coaching world.

Jason "Jay" Williams- New Jersey, to North Carolina, to Illinois, and All the Way Back

There are an absurd amount of athletes named Jason Williams, with the first names ranging in spelling from Jason, to Jaison, to Jayson. Yet, there is only one who decided to go by Jay Williams, and he may be the most well known of them all. Jay Williams was a top-notch high school basketball player at St. Joseph's (NJ), an All-American at Duke University, and was made the second overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. Jay's basketball career has taken him from New Jersey (high school), to North Carolina (college), to Illinois (pro). The former NCAA National Player of the Year has come back to New Jersey, and went to the Prime Time Shootout, as the event ambassador. Williams' life in basketball has taken him on a figure-eight, as after the NBA, he returned to Duke for a while, and now is back where it all began, in New Jersey. Jason took some time to speak with me while at the Prime Time Shootout.

NB: What’s it like coming back? You used to play here . . . in New Jersey, [and now you’ve] come back and [are] the ambassador for the [Prime Time Shootout].
JW: It’s always in honor to come back to the event that kind of made me who I am. [With] me coming from St. Joseph’s [in] Metuchen, New Jersey, we played against a lot of smaller schools, so on a national scale, it wasn’t as big as it is now, but I got a chance to play against some of the elite competition from other areas, besides AAU, and that was huge for me because [those] couple games kind of put me on the map with pro scouts and also college scouts as well.

NB: How would you compare doing things like this, such as being an ambassador, and announcing, some of the other things you do now, compared to playing basketball?
JW: Well, I’m not announcing anymore. I actually have my own sports agency, and [I’m] doing some things with 24 Hour Fitness. I love it because I [still] get a chance to stay around the game. This is the one thing about the game is that there’s always going to be politics involved, any way you decide to go about it, and for me, most of my life, I was the guy who was dealt the politics, and now I’m the guy who's able to deliver the politics, which is different. So, I love being a part of what I’m doing now, and helping guys understand their value, . . . and be part of helping them make a difference in their lives.

NB: What’s it like being on the other side? You said . . . now you’re the one giving the politics.
JW: It’s different. It’s different, in the fact that sometimes . . . you try to mentor kids going through the same situations you went through, but you know nothing is really going to prepare them unless they go through it for themselves. So I [have] kind of started to understand how my parents felt with me for a long time, trying to tell me what to do and what not to do. . . . Its been an amazing experience to get a chance to mold and help somebody discover who they are, and follow their footsteps through the process is really lucky.

NB: Going back to 2001 when you guys won the national championship [at Duke], what was that like in comparison with some other moments for you? What would you compare that to, winning the NCAA Championship?
JW: I think the only thing to compare that to is to me, getting my degree in three years. Those are the two most memorable moments from college for me. I know a lot of guys say they want to win a national championship, but nobody really has an idea about how much it takes, effort, and sweat, it takes to get there, and how the stars have to be aligned for it to actually happen. We beat every team in the tournament that year by 10 [or more]. [We] had some really big games with some big teams, I mean you talk about . . . the championship game, it’s myself, Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer, Chris Duhon, [and] Shane Battier [for Duke] versus Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas, Loren Woods, Michael Wright, and Jason Gardener [for Arizona], so you got nine [future] pros on the floor. That’s unbelievable, that’s a heck of a game, so [it’s a] very memorable experience.

NB: When you think back on those memories, what stands out the most, other than the national championship, as the best part of playing college or high school basketball, or in the NBA?
JW: For me it was, I think two. I had a triple-double vs. Jason Kidd, where I had 27, 25, and 21, which is amazing. I was the first guy to do that in Chicago since Michael Jordan. The second one is just getting a chance to play against Maryland, we were down 10 with 50 seconds [left], and I don’t know what the heck happened, God just came down and touched me on the forehead, and I ended up scoring eight points in 50 seconds and we win the game. It was truly a miraculous comeback.

NB: So is it true that you hate that chant, “Overrated”?
JW: Oh, I love that chant. I love that chant because it makes me play better.

NB: When that book [Five-Point Play] was written about you guys, what was that like?
JW: It’s crazy. A lot of people always tell me I should write my own book about my comeback and my journeys through adversity, and I tell them I don’t know, but to be able to go in the history books one day and see your name written among some of the top greatest players of all-time in college basketball, it says a lot about my parents, who pushed me to not only be that I could at basketball-wise, but also academically, and be able to graduate school in three years, and still be a two-time national player of the year and win a national championship is a huge honor.

NB: How do you feel looking at . . . Andrew Bynum who came out of your high school, and now he’s really successful in the NBA, playing with Kobe [Bryant]?
JW: I’m happy for him. The thing about it is nobody understands how lucky you are to play this game, until something happens, and more importantly, the life expectancy of your ability to play this game could be one year, or it could be 15. So, to see Andrew come from where he came from and then see him blossom and grow, and become an intricate part of [the Los Angeles Lakers] and their foundation says a lot about him, the will not to quit, and to keep fighting, and I wish him the best.

NB: Do you have any interest in ever going into coaching, or are you just liking what you’re doing now?
JW: No, having my own sports agency keeps me busy enough. To be able to relate to these kids and handle their everyday situations, I don’t know if I really want to get into coaching. Maybe when I’m 35 or 40, but I’m 26 right now and I enjoy what I’m doing.

When one thinks back on Jay Williams' days at Duke, it's hard not to remember just how fantastic he truly was. Williams was a spectacular basketball player, and is one that will never be forgotten due to the history books. For those of you that do not know, Five Point Play is a book about Duke's 2001 NCAA National Championship, and it is mentioned a number of times in the book, that Williams hates the chant "Overrated" that is sometimes directed towards the Blue Devils, as well as other teams. It is clear that Williams has the skills to be a successful sports agent. Anyone who can endure all that Williams has been through, and remain strong, is a person destined to succeed. He has gone to a hard road from New Jersey, to North Carolina, to Illinois, and all the way back to where he started, but now that he is back in New Jersey, Jay Williams knows what he wants, and he is well on his way to getting there.

Note- photo is from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/

Tony Bergeron- A Championship is Within Reach

Tony Bergeron is the head coach of one of the premiere prep school teams in the nation. Bergeron is the man in charge of the American Christian (PA) Eagles. The coach has built a powerhouse up in Pennsylvania, as the team boasts numerous top-notch players, including Tyreke Evans, Lamont Jones, Jeremiah Kelly, and Martez Walker. Soon after his team knocked off Rancocas Valley in the Prime Time Shootout, I caught up with Coach Bergeron for a few minutes.

NB: [The] first half was a really hard-fought battle, Rancocas Valley was really sticking with you guys. How did you manage to come back in the second half and really take control of the game?
TB: Well, we had as much as a 12-point lead in the first half, and it was interesting, they did a great job of slowing the game down, they spread us out, we didn’t make some shots. When Jeremiah Kelly got in early foul trouble it took us out of the flow, and they were just a great, well-coached team. I expected a battle from them.

NB: Tyreke [Evans] didn’t score a lot of points today. Lamont played a great game. How were you guys able to continue to score without Tyreke dropping so many points?
TB: Well, ‘Reke, I probably shouldn’t have played him. His ankle was really tender today. He wanted to give it a chance, so we did. When he figured out his shot wasn’t going to work and they were going to put three, four guys on him if he drove, we put him at the point [in the] second half and let him distribute a little bit and get “MoMo”, [Lamont Jones], started. We really have a lot of scoring options.

NB: How does that help the team, having so many options with scoring? Does it help team chemistry with guys not getting jealous, . . . especially with a guy like Tyreke on the team?
TB: There’s no jealousy. People want ‘Reke to score, they get frustrated when he doesn’t shoot. He’s such a great team player. . . Our kids all root for each other, it’s a real good family.

NB: You guys are having a good season thus far, you had a good season last year. What [are] your goals the rest of the season this year?
TB: The boys want to win the national championship at Fordham, in the Bronx, in March, so I’ll roll with them.

NB: What’s your outlook for that?
TB: I want to get there, get us there, and everyone’s got a chance.

Coach Bergeron wants to get his guys to the championship games, and as he said, everyone has a chance once there. American Christian will have a wonderful chance, as the team is stocked with talent, and it will be the final high school games of Tyreke Evans' career, so he should be quite motivated. Whether or not the team makes it to Fordham, and regardless of if they come away with a title or not, this ACA team is primed for success. The Eagles re-load every year and are competitive each and every season, as they should be next year, led by Lamont Jones and Oscar Griffin. Coach Tony Bergeron has this ACA program in a great spot right now.

Steve Smith- The Head Warrior

The Oak Hill (VA) Warriors are the definiton of a powerhouse. The team is always near the top of the rankings in whatever national poll you happen to look at. The school has produced numerous NCAA and NBA talents, including Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse, Denver Nuggets), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Eric Devendorf (Syracuse), and Josh Smith (Atlanta Hawks). A big part of the Oak Hill program is head coach Steve Smith. Coach Smith spoke with me after his team's victory over Piscataway on Friday night.

NB: You guys had a pretty big win today. The first half they were really sticking with you guys. What did you do in the second half to really pull away and put the game away?
SS: Well, we tried to speed the game up a little bit. We went to a half-court trap, and I think they took some shots by some guys who don’t normally take them, and they took them a little quicker than usual. I . . . got us in transition. I think the third quarter was [about] 24-7, so we had a big quarter.

NB: Coming into the game, how were you guys able to look at the game like any of the rest of the games? You’re playing against a lot of powerhouses, [such as the game] tomorrow St. Patrick’s. This is not a weak team, but it’s a public school. What [did you do] to keep your players focused?
SS: Well, we wanted to have a good game . . . mainly for tomorrow night. I don’t like to be sloppy the night before a big game, so we emphasized playing well tonight, playing together on offense, sharing the ball, and getting after it on defense. For the most part, I thought we did that. Hopefully we’ll be ready to play against St. Pat’s tomorrow.

NB: What’s your outlook for the game tomorrow? What do you guys think you need to do to defend Dexter Strickland and a lot of those guys they got on that team?
SS: We’re going to have to stay in front of [Strickland] because he’s very good at driving and slashing the ball. We need to rebound with them because they play very physical and Quintrell Thomas is a great player too, so this is a tough match-up for us. We’re going to mix it up defensively and play some zone. We didn’t play much zone tonight, except when we half-court trapped. They’re too good to half-court trap, they’re too well coached. So, we’ll just mix it up and play some zone and some man, and hopefully Brandon Jennings will get his shots on offense.

NB: What are you guys looking to do the rest of the season?
SS: Hopefully win the rest of them. We got nine games left. . . . We got some good competition, some great games, and hopefully we can close it out in style.

NB: For next year, you guys are losing Brandon Jennings. . . . How’s that going to impact the team?
SS: It’ll have an impact on us, but six of our top seven are back. We’ve been starting two sophomores, two juniors, and the first two subs in have been juniors, but Danny Jennings we’ll lose, he’s a senior, and Brandon. . . . The rest of them are back, so we’re hopeful we’ll have a big team, a great year next year as well.

They didn't beat St. Patrick's, but they still may be able to win from here on out. Though the squad does have an un-Oak Hill-like four losses to date, they are still having an impressive year with a young squad. Steve Smith is a fantastic coach, and he'll keep his guys ready to play. There is no doubt in my mind that with Steve Smith at the helm, Oak Hill will remain a national powerhouse for years to come.

Note- photo is from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Bob Hurley- A Great Coach Leading a Great Team

The name Bob Hurley goes hand-in-hand with New Jersey high school basketball. The head coach of the St. Anthony Friars is a living legend in the hoops world. Coach Hurley's team is near the top of the state ranknigs every year, and has competed for national titles a number of times as well. This year, the Friars are undefeated and considered by many as the top high school team in America. Coach Hurley was kind enough to take some time and talk with me after his team's dominant win over John Carroll (MD) on Friday night.

NB: Start to finish, you guys were in control of that game. What went into that?
BH: I think we jumped them defensively early. We were very concerned about their size, and I think our quickness bothered their size early. We got out and got some run-outs for lay-ups . . . got a chance to get people shots. Mike Rosario, who had a great game, really waited on his first couple shots. He really wasn’t out looking to shoot the first shot of the game. We got some other people off, and then I think Mike wound up having a fabulous game . . . I couldn’t have been happier with the way we played in the first half.

NB: How were you able to compensate [for playing without] Dominic Cheek?
BH: I’m blessed, I start Alberto Eastwick, who’s going to Fordham, so I have a kid coming off the bench who’s a Division I player. . . . We have a stat sheet called the “effort sheet” and he won the effort sheet today. And he tied actually with Jamee Jackson, who was [making] only his second start today. He started [at] center because AJ Rogers is coming off the flu. . . . I think our first seven played very well today. And it’s good for us for the future, because knowing that we’re missing Dominic and 6’8” Madut Bol, [who was] out with the flu also.

NB: You have a lot of guys with the flu. Do you know when [they will be] back?
BH: I think Dominic and Madut will both play next Tuesday against Our Savior New American. We have Elizabeth on Sunday. I don’t think they’ll be back. I don’t think they’ll be physically ready for that.

NB: You mentioned [that] you got a guy going to Fordham. You got Tyshawn Taylor going to Marquette, Rosario heading to Rutgers. What’s it like having so many DI players on the team?
BH: Well, I’m going to enjoy it for this entire run, because next year . . . I’m back to the pack. I’ll have the same concerns high school coaches normally have, trying to figure out who’s in the starting lineup. We’re blessed right now, we have a group of seniors, that since sophomore year have developed tremendously. On a great team, kids are accepting sharing the ball, and a kid like Travon Woodall who’s going to Pitt, welcomes coming off the bench a couple of minutes into the game . . . He’s one of our six starters, but we start the game with him sitting. So, chemistry has been great. They play hard. It’s been a pleasure to work with the kids.

NB: You mentioned that you guys are a great team. You guys are widely considered the best team in the country right now. Do you feel any added pressure, or is it just going about business as usual?
BH: We talk about the bandwagon of life, and a lot of people have jumped on the St. Anthony’s bandwagon, but our goals are not to please the people who have jumped on the bandwagon. Our goal is to reach the goal we set, which is [to] win a state championship. So if we lose three times between now and the end of the season and everybody forgets about us, but we win a state championship, we’ll be very happy, because that’s what we are going to try to do right now. For . . . our school, it has particular meaning because if we win a state championship, we’ll set a national record with 25. We’re tied now for the national record with 24.

NB: What’s it like for you, you know, with your son [Danny Hurley] also in the state of New Jersey running [the program at] St. Benedict’s?
BH: We’re very proud of him. He’s done a great job building the program there. . . . He’s got it now where it’s nationally known in only a short period of time. . . . I think he’s enjoying being a high school coach.

NB: You guys have to replace a lot of guys for next season, like you mentioned, [you have a] big senior class this year, [with] a few juniors on the team. Are there any guys you got your eyes on to replace some of them?
BH: We’re very happy with the way Jamee Jackson has been playing. It gives us good hope for next year. Devone McCloud was a little guard who played quite a bit in the second half. I think . . . he’ll be able to help us next year, and obviously, Dominic . . . we are going to lean on him extensively next year to be a very big, you know, part of the way we play both offensively and defensively. This happens in high school, everybody else is gone. We need the returning varsity kids, and our freshman and jayvee to find a couple of kids that can build up some depth, but we have no illusions about where we’ll be next year. . . . We’re going to enjoy this whole experience, and then next year we’ll have a dangerous team, but we won’t have as many weapons.

NB: How are you able to get so many top-notch players to come to this school?
BH: Well, we’ve always had a reputation for developing guards, and I don’t mind playing a bunch of them. . . . I don’t know actually, why things [have happened this way], because I’m not the easiest guy to play for. I’m very demanding, and I’m on the kids nonstop. While they’re in high school . . . they don’t necessarily understand it. I think by the time they get to college they enjoy it, but that isn’t what would necessarily make somebody want to come to the school to see how hard I work with them. That may not be as appealing as something else, but we’ve always managed to have good teams because we . . . know what we’re doing too.

NB: What was it like having a book written about you guys, The Miracle of St. Anthony? . . . Was that enjoyable?
BH: It’s very much like what’s going on now. They’re doing a documentary on this particular team, so we’ve had a whole year of someone following [us] around. . . . It’s interesting. . . . I think the documentary is harder because I have a microphone on me basically six days a week, and there’s hours of trying to be the same person, yet maybe be a bit a little more politically correct in my delivery. Whereas when the book was written, I had a very difficult group of kids to work with, and my frustration level at times was through the roof.

Coach Hurley may be demanding, as he siad he was, but his style is certainly working. Maybe some other high school coahces will want to follow Coach Hurley's lead and become a bit tougher to play for. Regardless, Bob Hurley is one of the top high school basketball coaches in the nation. He has been producing Divison I talent like it's a piece of cake, and it certainly is not. Coach Hurley said that he is blessed to have such a loaded roster, and he may very well be right, but Bob Hurley is one heck of a basketball coach, and we are blessed to have had him invloved with high school hoops for such a long time.

Note- photo is from www.dailyhampshiregazette.com