March 2010 edition of the Arizona Men’s basketball Newsletter.

Paul VI HS (VA) vs. O'Connell

From the Boy’s and Girl’s game at Paul VI High School in Fairfax, VA., a rival game vs. O’Connell… both boy’s and girl’s won big!

There is a freshman on the girl’s team that Division I’s need to see.  Also, one or two juniors.  Call Coach Allen!

It’s been a big week at PVI…

Lady Panthers upset # 1 Holy Cross and # 5 Seton

PVI Lady Panthers had a very exciting week of basketball playing 5 games in 7

days against 2 teams ranked in the top 5 in the Washington Post and the top 3 in the WCAC.

On Tuesday, the team hosted the 5th ranked team in the Washington Post, Elizabeth Seton. PVI led the entire game pulling off a very exciting 60 ‐ 54 win.

On Friday in front of a great crowd, The Lady Panthers hosted # 1 ranked Holy Cross. The game was a battle back and forth in the first half ending with a 26‐26 halftime score. The team came out very strong in the third quarter and finished strong pulling away with a 59 ‐ 53 victory. It was a very exciting game in which the PAC was very loud and supportive for the team.

The Lady Panthers finished off their 5th game in 7 days with a 77‐16 win over Don Bosco Prep.

Coach Scott Allen, his staff and players have put together a tremendous run of 8 straight wins after some early season struggles.   The perfect time, heading into conference and State Tournaments, to have come together and  be playing great team basketball.

Boy’s Basketball

On February 16, varsity played DeMatha and lost 72‐84 in a game in which a section of PVI fans were removed from the game under controversial terms by a referee. PVI was lead by Patrick Holloway 29pts, Stanford Robinson 11pts and Devin Hill 11pts. On February 18, PVI played Gonzaga and lost in a very disappointing 91‐53. PVI was lead by Coleman Johnson 11pts, Asa Smith 9pts, Stanford Robinson 9pts and Patrick Holloway 9pts. On Saturday, PVI beat Don Bosco 73‐33, lead by Devin Hill, Patrick Holloway, Stanford Robinson, Jamall Robinson, Coleman Johnson and Asa Smith.

GUARDING THE TRIANGLE

Guarding the Triangle

Major Grassroots Changes Coming (UPDATED)

by Adam Zagoria

Grassroots basketball will undergo some major changes again this summer.

Reebok will not hold its annual Reebok All-American Camp in Philadelphia in July because of a “change in marketing strategy at the grassroots level,” said a source with direct knowledge.

“It just means that college coaches will have to work a little harder to see high-level talent play against high-level talent under one roof, “  the source said.

Chris Rivers ran the Reebok All-American Camp for two summers as an extension of Sonny Vaccaro’s old Reebok ABCD Camp at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. That camp featured legendary grassroots players like LeBron James, O.J. Mayo, Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson.

When Vaccaro retired from he sneaker business in 2007, Rivers, pictured above with Mayo, moved the camp to Philadelphia University in 2007 and ‘08. Pat Coombs ran the event in 2009.

Last year’s Reebok camp included uncommitted junior LaQuinton Ross, Joe Jackson (Memphis) and Patric Young (Florida).

Rivers left his position as Director of Basketball at Reebok and now works for adidas, for whom he worked before 2003.

Adidas will still hold its annual adidas Nations event in August for the classes of 2011 and 2012. The site has yet to be determined.

The other major change on the grassroots horizon involves the LeBron James Nike Skill Academy.

A new set of NCAA rules could be passed in April which would prohibit any grassroots event from behind held on Division I campuses that did not have a contract in place before Oct. 29, 2009.

The NCAA recently voted on this matter and decided to table it until April, when it will be voted on again.

If the rule is passed, numerous events, including the LeBron camp at the University of Akron, would not be permitted on Division I campuses.

Numerous other such events — the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, previously held at Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State; the It Takes 5ive event held at Cincinnati; and the Pittsburgh Jam Fest held at Pitt — also wouldn’t  be permitted at those locations.

No word from Nike just yet on where the LeBron camp might take place.

RECRUTING TIPS – THINGS TO KNOW

• You and your parents or coaches may visit a college campus, at your own expense, as many times as you would like.  There are times considered a “DEAD PERIOD,” when you can not visit with members of a coaching staff.  Let the coaches know you are coming.
• You may meet and speak with college coaches on their campus at any time, except during a “DEAD PERIOD.”
• You may receive three (3) complimentary admissions to any collegiate sporting event any time you are visiting a university campus.  Your high school and/or AAU (Summer) coach may receive two (2) complimentary admissions as well.  That sporting event must be on the universities campus or regular HOME playing facility and it can not be for a post season (conference or NCAA Tournament) game.
• During your Senior year in high school:
  • You may take ONLY five (5) Official Visits
    • An Official Visit allows the college you are visiting to pay for certain things for you and your parents or guardian.  Those things include:
      • Hotel
      • Transportation – for you only if you are flying for all of you if you ride in the same car with your parents or guardian.
      • A university coach may accompany you during your trip to campus ONLY if that transportation occurs by automobile and all transportation occurs within the 48 hour period.
      • meals – On campus or Off.
      • Complementary Admissions to Athletic Events

• BEFORE you can take an Official Visit you must provide that college a copy of your test score fro the SAT, ACT or PSAT.
• Your Official Visit may not exceed more than 48 hours.

DEFINITONS:

EVALUATION

Permissible for authorized athletics department staff to be involved in off-campus activities to assess academic qualifications and athletic abilities.  No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect are permitted.  *Each year, the coaching staff may evaluate you up to 5 times during the academic year in women’s basketball (others sports have specific numbers of evaluations specific to the sport).  You can locate sport specific evaluation numbers HERE.

CONTACT

A contact occurs any time a coach has any face-to-face contact with you or your parents off the college’s campus and says more than hello. A contact also occurs if a coach has any contact with you or your parents at your high school or any location where you are competing or practicing.

Other Definitions HERE.

Coach Wooden’s teachings are always profound.  This week…. for me, 8 practices in 4 days so far… have convinced me of that even more.  So many different styles, personalities and ways to teach with all the same goal:  Teach the game, play hard and try to be in a position to win.  Coach Wooden’s words and philosophy are always good to go back to , to ground us, to remind us of what is important.

Most have probably already seen this, but watch it again.  Especially now as we all start games.  Good luck!

Below are some notes from the video:

Victory with Honor

- there is too much emphasis on winning today

- the coach is first and foremost a teacher

- before Coach Wooden was a coach, he taught English for many years

- the 4 laws of learning in English, are the same applied to coaching

- the teacher has to be more concerned about the entire learning process, than just in the content. Same goes for sports

- its easy to get carried away with win loss record

- Coach Wooden was more disappointed in parents who were concerned with their children getting an A or B than in whether they really learned anything

- Our society is too concerned about athlete first, and not student before athlete

- high school coaches, are really teachers.  Teachers first, in the classroom and on the court.

- it made Coach Wooden a better coach, the fact that he taught English before. It helped in organization skills, and helped in dealing with athletes as individuals

- the job of the coach is therefore to analyze each individual and help them achieve their maximum potential

- each player is different, therefore they must be treated differently

- Please always ask, “what is your most successful team??” Coach Wooden’s response, “I won’t know in 25 years.”

- most treasured medal or prize according to Coach Wooden was the academic medal, it holds the most value for individual achievement

I have heard players say, this is too “Old-School.”  I don’t know, academic goals, humility, hard work, selflessness, team first…. if that is “Old-School”, count me in – I’m guilty.

Coaches of all levels can gain experience and learn.  The clinic schedule includes a full team practice with a Q & A session and a discussion by Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie.  Following lunch, lectures will be provided by the assistant coaches and strength and conditioning staff.

The registration cost is $40 per coach and this year there is an in-state discount registration fee of $30 for any in-state North Carolina coach of any level or age group.  The registration fee includes lunch.

Register by mail or at Cameron when you arrive to attend the Clinic on November 1.

Check-in will be at Cameron’s north entrance (the Krzyzewskiville side).

Cash (with correct change) and checks are the only accepted forms of payment.

Checks are made out to:            Duke Women’s Basketball.

Receipts can be provided at check-in.

Please contact Sarah Smoak, Asst. Director of Basketball Operations, at 919.613.7548, ssmoak@duaa.duke.edu or Kate Senger, Director of Basketball Operations, at 919.613.7572 for more information.

Click here for the full coaching clinic brochure, registration forms can be printed off and mailed in to:

Duke Women’s Basketball

Attn: Coaching Clinic

Box 90554 4th Floor Schwartz-Butters Center

Durham, NC 27707

Paul VI Basketball

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The seminar was designed for parents of all age student-athletes to engage in a informal informational session about the experience of the college recruitment process, both from the view point of the family involved and that of the college coach.

To help families and their scholastic and AAU coaches figure out… “What is really going on.”

The unfortunate reality is that there is a “Cat & Mouse” game that happens on both sides.

Student-athletes don’t want to tell colleges they aren’t interested because they don’t know if they will end up with the scholarship offers they want in the end.  College assistant coaches don’t want to tell families that their child isn’t their “number 1″ choice in fear that they will choose another school before their head coach is ready to “offer.”  Each side becomes less comfortable.  It’s OK.

Most parents and families are unsure of the questions to ask college coaches, or even if it is “OK” to ask college coaches.  It is.  Ask as many questions as you can.  If you don’t get the answer you understand – ask again.  Most college coaches want those questions.

Later, I will provide a one-page check list for families on establishing your “List.”  This check list will help families establish what is important in the recruiting process and how to realistically keep and eliminate schools.

Our seminar is designed to give both sides a road map and a resource to the process.

Download the overview above and see if it raises any questions.

We would like to answer your questions, on both sides of the equation, and share this information with everyone else as a resource.

AllBasketballReview does NOT release ANY personal information.

ALL names and email address will be kept confidential.

We’ve started what we call the   AllBasketballReveiw Recruiting Network

Simply email your questions to: recruiting@allbasketballreview.com. We will read, respond and post them for everyone to share.  If you have insight into the process that you have experienced, either as a coach or a family – please share and we will post.

As stated above, all contact information will be kept private.  This is simply a resource for families and coaches.

Everyone should ENJOY this process.  It is a thrilling time for a young guy or girl to go through this.  As coaches, we have an opportunity to help guide them and their parents through it.  Most families go through it once in a lifetime, maybe twice.  We go through it daily, in my case for 20+ years.  Let’s enjoy it with the families, lead them through it and help them find the right “fit” for their child.

Alan Stein

Alan Stein, StrongerTeam.com, presented a great program on conditioning and strength training drills while using a basketball.

Stronger Team

Alan posts many of his clinics and workouts on YouTube and has other videos available at Championship Productions.

RICHMOND CLINIC

I want to share with you some of the things Alan gave to us in Richmond.  Click the above link for the RICHMOND CLINIC to down load Alan’s Basketball Specific Strength & Conditioning lecture.

Brenda Frese

Three years ago I saw Coach Frese at the Final Fout as we talked she said her passion… to bring the best players in the world to the University of Maryland.  Mission accomplished, again… Maryland is the only school in the country to currently have five top 100 players in their 2010 recruiting class.  Louisville, Boston College, Oklahoma and Duke each have three.

The ACC has historically attracted the Nation’s top student-athletes and recruiting classes.  North Carolina ranked #2 in 2009 and our Virginia recruiting class for 2009 contained 5 Top 100 players and ranked among the top 5 classes in the Nation.

2009 Recruiting Class National Ranking

The five top 100 players so far at Maryland — Alyssa Thomas (No. 5), Bays (No. 15), Laurin Mincey (No. 19), Alicia DeVaughn (No. 59) and Natasha Cloud (No. 98).  There are 14 scholarships committed for 2010-11, leaving one more… fasten your seat belts, this class could get even better.

Maryland isn’t the only ACC school bidding for the top recruiting ranking.

Two other ACC programs join Maryland in the chase for the Nation’s best 2010 class.  Those schools include Duke – no surprise there and Boston College.  Yes, Boston College.  Second-year coach Sylvia Crawley

Sylvia Crawley

continues to point Boston College toward an upward swing and possibly the upper echelon of the ACC with a class of No. 10 Kristen Doherty, No. 62 Katie Zenevitch, and No. 94 point guard Tiffany Ruffin.

Joanne P. McCallie

In Durham Coach Joanne P. McCallie and the Blue Devils staff have assembled another tremendous class.  #5. Chelsea Gray, 5-10 PG, Saint Marys H.S. (CA), 18. Haley Peters, 6-3 F, The Peddie School (NJ), 35. Tricia Liston, 6-0 W, Fenwick H.S. (IL), and UR. Clair Watkins, 6-4 P, Butler H.S.

Louisville hasn’t rested on it’s trip to the National championship game.  Coach

Jeff Walz

Jeff Walz and staff have used it to secure three top 100 players for 2010:  #18 Charmaine Tay PG 5′10″, #42 Antonita Slaughter W 6′1″, #55 Sheronne Vails P 6′4″.  The Cardinals are not done recruiting yet, so don’t be surprised if they try to steal that top spot from Maryland after the November signing period is over.

Oklahoma, has three Top 100 ranked players among its five-player class.

Sherri Coale

They include No. 41. Jacqueline Jeffcoat, No. 49. Aaryn Ellenberg, and No. 80. Nicole Griffen.   This class should help keep the Sooners where they are used to being in the Big 12.

It’s early for rankings and predictions for the 2010 class, but predictions and rankings are always fun.

Coming soon… a 2009 – 10 ACC Season Preview and Breakdown.