Team Ariza Top Performers at Compton Magic Memorial Day tournament 2010 (via Information on basketball around the globe) June 2, 2010
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Reggie Murphy March 16, 2010
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Hoop Masters Jordan Wilson helps get Windward to the Regionals Championship Game March 15, 2010
Posted by hoopmasters in 1.Tags: CIF basketball, Foothills Christian, Hoop Master, Jordan Wilson, Troy Leaf, Wesely Saunders, windward school
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Troy Leaf, Wesely Saunders and Jordan Wilson, playing their hearts out
Windward boys basketball rallied from being down 22-8 in the first quarter, to win 78-73 in OT against Foothills Christian. I was a little hesitant on driving 2 ½ hours to San Diego to see this one, especially when Westchester was playing up the street from my house, but thanks to my wife Gail, I went. I am glad I did. The game had as many twist and turns as a Michael Crichton Novel. A Hollywood ending that belies the famous neighboring city that Windward borders.
As in any good movie you need a back-story to bring out the fullness of the characters. Foothill Christian was led by senior Troy Leaf, averaging 28.1per game (attending UCSB in the fall) and Windward was led by Junior, Wesley Saunders, who averaged 23 pts, 11 rebound, 4 assist and 2.3 steals a game for the season. The supporting cast of both teams were all auditing for starring roles. If it wasn’t leaf or Saunders hitting a shot, it was Nick Stover, or Javante Brooks hitting a shot. There was a pay per view fight (Pacquiao vs. Cotty) on tonight, but from all accounts, there was a better fight going on in Cajon San Diego.
It was apparent from the beginning that Windward was going to need to have the heart of lions to over come Foothills advantages; the 2 ½ hour, home gym advantage and fans outnumbering Windward fans 5-1. Foothills fans were noisy, and plentiful. They were also the best opposing and well-mannered fans I’ve encountered this year I can always tell when a school is use to winning, they have character and class.
It wasn’t until the later part of the 2nd quarter that Windward got their legs underneath them, Freshman Jordan Wilson, scored 5 consecutive points, and then it was game on. Both teams showed the sociological meaning of what competitors really are:
rivalry between two or more persons or groups for an object desired in common, usually resulting in a victor and a loser but not necessarily involving the destruction of the latter.
In the end, well, in Overtime, Windward was the victor and, both teams were victorious. Sometimes we forget the high school sports is not the end of the world, it’s the beginning of these young peoples lives. The lesson they learn on the court or field will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Tonight, I was witness to how the game, when played with heart, is such a beautiful game to watch.
Windward was led by Wesley Saunders 27 points 12 rebounds, Nick Stover, 24 points, kwame Firewpong, 9 pts, and Freshman Jordan Wilson, 9pts.
Foothills Christian was led by Troy Leaf, 23 points, Javante Brooks, 26 points and Jamal Aytes 11 points.
Windward has a repeat date with La Verne Lutheran next Saturday, Colony High School, 3 Pm. La Verne won their semi-final game 67-50 over San Diego Maranatha Christian
Jamar becoming a more complete player February 10, 2010
Posted by hoopmasters in 1.Tags: Rivals.com, top High School players in California, University of Montana men's basketball, Westchester High basketball, www.hoopmasters.org
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Kevin Scarpati
section sports staff writer
Entering the season, Westchester guard Kareem Jamar had one knock on his game- he couldn’t shoot. But after being selected as the best shooter at the Westchester Tip-Off Classic earlier this season, Jamar seems to have put the concerns about his outside game to rest.
“He’s really been shooting the ball well this season,” Comets’ coach Ed Azzam said about Jamar.
A two-star athlete on Rivals.com, Jamar seems to have remedied scouts’ greatest concern, and a bump in the rankings could be in order. He’s made a solid verbal commitment to Montana, a commitment that could change if Jamar continues his meteoric rise as bigger schools are bound to be interested.
Jamar’s stock rose even more this season when injuries in the Comets’ backcourt forced the senior into the point guard position.
“Jamar’s a big guard who can rebound,” Azzam said. “He really stepped up his game this year and played the one for us when we needed it. Colleges like the fact that he’s had exposure to both positions.”
Scouting Jamar
Jamar is regarded as one of the top wing players in Southern California. While he doesn’t possess elite height (he’s 6-foot-5) Jamar has long arms and is a very good leaper and finisher around the basket.
Jamar’s size and athleticism also make the senior an excellent on-ball defender, as Jamar is able to effectively guard three positions.
Starting right away?
If Jamar does end up signing with the Grizzlies, he’ll be joined by Serra of Gardena star point guard Vaughn Autry to form what could end up being the future starting backcourt for Montana.
With top guards Anthony Johnson and Ryan Staudacher due to graduate, that future could end up being sooner rather than later. Azzam thinks the experience his player has garnered playing as the top team in California will help Jamar in the future.
“The teams we play, the competition we’ll face in CIF and hopefully in the state playoffs will help our guys compete at the next level, there’s no question,” Azzam said.
Surrender Your Game February 5, 2010
Posted by hoopmasters in 1.Tags: Jordan, Kobe, Larry Bird, Magic Johnshon, Surrender, www.hoopmasters.org
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Surrender Your Game
Jerome Green
Don’t have a left hand? Can’t dribble with your head up? It is probably time to surrender. Yes, surrender. Magic, Bird, Jordan and Kobe all did it. Every summer they took stock in what part of their games needed work and then proceeded to put the work in. They had the unique ability to surrender to the process of what it takes to develop excellence.
Recently I was reading a comment on my Face Book page by an ex-player of mine and he said.
“ I will never surrender”.
It triggered something in me on why so many players today (Pro, college, H.S and youth) may not be improving at the rate they should be. They are refusing to surrender to the learning process. I think many people confuse surrender with submission. They are two different actions entirely. In fact most of us submit to doing the same dumb things over and over and refuse to acknowledge that it’s time to do something new. To surrender requires discovery and learning to take place. To submit is to continue being stuck in old patterns that don’t work and have an expiration date. Surrendering keeps you up to date and current.
Surrendering requires a pedantic approach to learning. The process can be addictive and fun. Why continue doing something the same stupid way over and over again? Well, for one, it’s safe, comfortable and gives the illusion of being easier. In truth the refusal to surrender is an avoidance of relaxation. Once you surrender to something, you stop the internal fight and await the adventure. I know when I surrender I breath a lot deeper, laugh more and really enjoy the process. When I submit to my way or the highway. My breathing is shallow, my listening is restrictive and my fun meter is below the poverty line.
Some of the greatest athletes like a Usain Bolt at some point in their development embraced their talents and then proceeded to learn how to develop them. Gretchen Bleiler the Winter X Games champion snowboarder says:
“ As a professional snowboarder, it’s my job to scare myself every day,” Bleiler said. “Lots of people say, ‘You must never be afraid of anything.’ It’s not the case at all. I am afraid — but it’s getting past it and having the confidence in yourself that you can push past those boundaries.”
Gretchen is able to acknowledge the fear and then surrender to learning how to get past it. One has to get past your fears of looking bad, not doing well, being awkward in order to reach your full potential as a player and a person. If not, just submit to being the same player and person who just gets older, but not that much better.
When you learn to surrender you will then become a better student, better athlete and most importantly a person of principle and strength. To SURRENDER is to show strength, to submit is to commit to your weaknesses.
Weschester Over Fairfax 80-44 February 2, 2010
Posted by hoopmasters in 1.Tags: Dwayne Polee, Fairfax basketball, Kareem Jamar, Nike, Westchester basketball
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I have been attending Westchester/Fairfax games for at least 10 years and the number of empty seats in the Westchester gym on Monday night was a strong indication of how far this rivalry has eroded in just one year. Westchester laced with a talented senior class is +70 over Fairfax this year. I can’t recall if either side has ever experienced a season where the scores being this one sided.
Donte Mcfrazier, Fairfax, was the leading scorer of the game scored 20 points on 8-20 shooting. He hit his for 7 shots, from a variety of spots, before he missed. Kareem Jamar, Westchester, scored 18 points on 6-12 shooting and was his typical efficient self. Dwayne Polee, had 15 points and 12 rebounds and 4 of the most devastating dunks that I’ve seen in some time on the high school level. Reggie Murphy chipped in with 11 points and 12 rebounds. The other two Westchester starters, Jordin Mayes (recently committed to the University of Arizona,) and Denzel Douglas finished with 13, and 10 respectively.
Jordan Weathers chipped added 16 points for Fairfax.
Take Me To Your Leader January 27, 2010
Posted by hoopmasters in 1.Tags: conscience, Hoop Masters, hope, Jiminy Cricket, leadership and basketball, Money and luvv
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Take Me To Your Leader
By Jerome Green
Edited by Vicky Sun
Recently I’ve heard many high school and college basketball coaches lamenting the fact that they can’t get players to step up and assume leadership roles on their teams. This seems to be a pervasive issue with coaches all over the country. I was watching a roundtable discussion on the Big Ten Network this week and the panelists debated why Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Northwestern were having difficulties with player leadership. The key issue that the coaches mentioned was a lack of communication within the team. An example of this was the way Illinois coach Bruce Webber banned his team from talking to the media because they don’t talk to each other in the locker room.
Jim Jackson stated, “The problem is that kids come to school and it’s not in their personality to be leaders.” In response to that statement, Dan Dakich said, “ You should never leave college the same way you entered college”.
Dakich feels that leadership can be taught. So if you want to win, if you want to learn, then becoming a leader is part of the process.
Being a leader comes with responsibilities and my sense is that we have a generation of players who don’t want to be burdened by that role. Players may say they want the title of being a leader, but not many of them want the pressure that goes along with it. When I was captain of my high school and college teams, I remember having the responsibility of being the first at practice and the last to leave. My coaches held me to a higher standard. If the team wasn’t acting right, the coach came to me and told me to fix it. I was fortunate none of my coaches were screamers, but boy were good at giving me an icy stare. The look that meant, step it up.
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