Players from the 2013 and 2014 class continue to impress and seem like they are growing and learning exponentially from game to game. Nationally both classes are very strong, especially the 2014 class which has special written all over it at each position. The DMV 2010,2011,2012(to some extent) classes have not produced many  players that are in the national conversation like previous DMV classes. It is not specifically about rankings, it is about skill and heart and that is something that I have not seen on a consistent basis from the last 3 classes.  Looking at the younger classes I am seeing some impressive intangibles, obviously the players are talented but I think that parents are learning how to navigate the instant hype, media sites, blogs( guilty) and everything else that comes along with it.

2014

Ona Gilmore Point Guard (Riverdale Baptist) She is the only freshman on the RB varsity roster and she has been on the floor in some big games. She is fearless and full of energy and doesn’t the least bit fazed by all the hype of playing for a nationally ranked team.

Lynee Belton Forward (Bullis) At 6-2 she has all the physical tools to play the game.  Her footwork and athleticism give her the ability to face the basket and her wing span is unreal, something like 6-9.

Mikayla Venson Point Guard (Yorktown) She has already proven herself on the national stage with and against the best talent in the country. She is still growing and is going to get stronger but the her IQ and work ethic are what separate her from the pack. Venson along with her follow 2014 point guards Jordin Canada(Winard High,CA) and Kelsey Mitchell(Princeton High,OH) are making college coaches come to the table with real offers.

Rhamat Alhassan Forward (Holy Cross) Potential, potential, potential! She has come along way from the first time I saw her as a 6th grader. Most impressive so far is her understanding of the game..learning how to move on the court and how to make basketball plays.

Chania Ray Guard (St. John’s) She is fitting nicely into her roll of coming off the bench and giving the starting guards a rest. She is not only holding serve but she is making things happen on her own. She is calm under pressure, knocks down 3s and makes her foul shots.

Cydni Cole (St. Frances) In the crazy sport world of Baltimore there is so much extra-curricular activity that is almost impossible for kids to just focus on basketball. She had a rough start but has begun to show more control and court leadership. The team is young and she is under pressure  but it seems like she is finding her own voice and tuning at the noise.

Sarah Woods (Good Counsel) Terrific athlete who has moments..if she can improve her ball handling and shooting in the off-season she can be a quality shooting guard.

Dyzhanay “Da-Da” Burton (City College) She is tiny but tough as nails with tons of heart and she’s a lefty. Like a lot of young guards it is layup or nothing, she will need add a mid-range game.

Ariana Freeman(Paul IV) I haven’t seen her yet in a real high school game, only fall league. She has the size and physical strength to play on the wing in college, reminds a little of Monica Wright in that sense. Definitely a competitor on both ends of the floor.

Next up the 2013s….

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Wed Mar.11 4A/3A Semi Finals at UMBC.

The parking was awful, it gets worse every year..I ended up parking in a lot about a half mile from the gym, supposed to have a permit and I got a ticket from the University po-pos. I have wonder if it matters since I have VA tags..oh well.

Game 1: Arundel vs Urbana…this was a no contest, even though the Arundel coach, who is no stranger to screwing up a playoff game(remember last year’s debacle against Roosevelt) subbed his bigs to early and let Urbana get within 9.  Talen Watson,  Sherrone Vails and Brianna McKellery were in chill mode, I think in anticipation of a championship match up with Wise, who beat them badly in a holiday tournament game.

Game 2: Dr. Henry Wise vs Gaithersburg…after being up 22-4 Wise inexplicably goes falls in to a 8 min scoring drought. Wise’s Coach Clark is the Godfather of  GBB in the DMV and even with Brianna Gibson out ill, I know he had his team better prepared than they played . Gaithersburg, fresh off an upset of Paint Branch is this season’s Cinderella story and they weren’t ready to turn in their glass slippers just yet. The Marshall sisters Kara and Colleen didn’t have their best shooting performance but it was good enough to keep G’burg in the game. The real story was Wise’s star point guard Janay Bourm, who started off the game hot and subsequently pulled a disappearing act in the 2nd half, she was also 0-5 from the foul line, Tierra Smith was really the only Puma that played focused the entire game..she hit the layup to take i t into overtime.  The Wise fan club has been whining about bad calls, missing and injured players but the bottom line is that in the clutch your go-to-player didn’t get it done! Time to focus on getting all your seniors a college scholarship.  G’ burg Coach ‘Hot dog’ McDaniel may be the DMV COY.

Game 3:  Seneca Valley vs Largo…2 words KELSEY WOLFE. Plain and simple she was the best player in the gym and proved why she is the Gatorade POY. Her and her running buddy sharp shooting Audrey Cunningham are a killer 1-2 punch. Largo is a very good shooting team, they  had 4 players in double figures with Cierra Johnson leading them with 17 pts. Jess Lyons Largo’s point guard had 13 but Sasha Orr did a great job of keeping her from dropping a 30 piece like she did to Wise in the PG County Championship. Wolfe drops 32 and Seneca hits their foul shots in the 4th quarter.

Game 4: Western vs Centennial…potentiallyone of the worst games I have attended all year…I don’t even know where to begin so I won’t.  Coach Silver and Coach Burley have my respect for what they have done with the Western program.

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Sun Mar 7th: The week started with the WCAC Final 4…this league has been so competitive during the season that every team has lost to another top team at least once.

Bishop McNamara vs. St John’s: This game was nip n’ tuck all the way,  Sr. Cierra Strickland was shooting the lights out in the first half from B-Mac.  Sr. Nicola Zimmer played a tough game and Fr. Lindsay Allen did a great job penetrating and creating score opportunities for herself and her teammates. Coach Rod Hairston has done a great job with B-Mac in his 1st year but I can sense that he is still struggling with coaching around not having a shot clock, especially in close games when the other team just plays  keep away. In the end that is what St. John’s did.

Paul IV vs Elizabeth Seton: PVI had just come from playing in the VA Independent Championship game, which went to double OT and they didn’t get back to school until 2 AM, so their legs were dead.  Seton as able to execute in the half court as well as push the ball in transition. PVI girls fought hard but they were clearly gassed..I really love 6-0 Fr. Maya Singelton from PVI, the girl is a physical specimen, the best way to describe her is “country strong”.

Mon Mar 8: WCAC Finals Seton vs  St. John’s…it was the Ty Marshall show from start to finish, the Georgia Tech signee was able to penetrate St. John’s defense at will, Sr, forward Alexis Martin did a great job controlling the boards.  From a coaching perspective, Coach Perizac had her Seton team well prepared and I think Coach Scribner stayed in M2M too long, especially with no real post presence.

Wed Mar 10: Virginia AAA Semi-Finals at VCU..it was a Beach vs Beltway showdown with teams from the Tidewater going against squads from Fairfax County.

Princess Anne vs. Oakton: The gym was packed with college coaches from the top programs in the NCAA who came to see “Queen” Elizabeth Williams the #1 recruit in the country…of course Pat and Geno were on opposite sides of the gym.  Geno is Geno, he was wearing  $500 Italian loafers and some nice designer jeans, no need to rock the UConn polo. Pat Summit and her assistant Dean Lockwood were both sporting that bright Rocky Top orange, it is impossible not to see them.  Coach Summit was being bombarded with autograph and picture request, which she of course handled with her usual style and grace. No one seemed to approach Coach Auriemma, I think they were intimated..Geno rolls hard .

Honestly that game was a little boring, it was clear that Princess Anne was running in cruise control, they could have beaten Oakton by 30 if they really stepped on the gas. Williams had close to a triple double and barely broke a sweat, Georgetown signee Samisha Powell had an awful game offensively but the story was Norfolk St signee Coutrny Braxton, who was on fire from the 3-point line 4-4.  Oakton is known for their 3 point shooting could never really get going, they had spurts but it seemed more like PA taking it easy on defense then them executing offensively. When PA played real defense and denied the next pass, Oakton couldn’t run their stuff..if there was a shot clock they probably would have had 6 or 7 violations.  Jr. Zora Stephenson played the best game I have seen her play, mainly because she didn’t just hang out in the corner trying to drop 3s..she worked hard trying to get to the basket, she rebounded and defended and really showed a competitive spark.

The second game had a little bit more flavor, Lake Taylor is an extremely athletic and fast team but West Springfield has a couple of athletes of their own.  Jr. guard Linda Stephney is the engine that makes LT run, she pushes tempo and is a terrific passer.  Coach Billy Gibson has been at WS for 25 years and has coached some great teams and players including Kara Lawson..he knows his Xs and Os.  WS for the most part was able to handle LT’s zone press..So. PG April Robinson didn’t get rattled and was able to make the right pass. Even though WS has getting to the basket they missed a tremendous amount of bunnies and Robinson didn’t shoot the ball well.  Logan Battle did have a double-double but when LT’s Jr. Toia Gidgetts and Jr. Crystal Leary were in the game she had a tough time scoring.  Gidgetts is a tweener post that is the glue player for LT and 6’2″ Leary is long and athletic and can defend all 5 positions.  Soph SG Jordan Miller is a terrific clutch shooter, she knocked down some big shots for WS and lead them in scoring. Once LT had a 10 pt lead with 2 mins left, with out a shot clock the game was over.

Once again the Beach teams dominate..it must be the ocean air!

Next up MD State Finals at UMBC

A message to my man F.H.F.T don’t start no you know what today in the gym.

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2. Ka’lia Johnson, 5-11, Thomas Dale/Chester, Virginia (Duke commit)

3. Brene Moseley, 5-8, Paint Branch/Burtonsville, Maryland

4. Markell Smith, 6-1, Norfolk Collegiate/Norfolk, Virginia

5. Mallory Jones, 6-0, Oak Hill Academy/Mouth of Wilson, Virginia

6. Taryn Durant, 5-7, McDonogh/Owings Mills, Maryland

7. Achiri Ade, 5-11, Seton Keough/Baltimore, Maryland (James Madison commit)

8. Linda Stepney, 5-6, Lake Taylor/Norfolk, Virginia

9. Taylor Brown, 5-6, Bishop McNamara/Forestville, Maryland

10. Jazmon Gwathemy, 6-1, Liberty/Bealeton, Virginia (James Madison commit)

11. Tyonna Williams, 5-7, Riverdale Baptist/Upper Marlboro, Maryland

12. Kiani Trice-Hill, 6-2, Oak Hill Academy/Mouth of Wilson, Virginia

13. Sarah Imovbioh, 6-2, St. Anne’s-Belfield/Charlottesville, Virginia

14. Shaquilla Curtis, 5-9, Archbishop Spalding/Severn, Maryland

15. Jessica Long, 5-6, Paul VI/Fairfax, Virginia

16. Simone Antwi, 6-2, South County/Lorton, Virginia

17. Destiny Shearin, 5-11, Osborne Park/Woodbridge, Virginia

18. Ashley Lambert, 5-10, Paul VI/Fairfax, Virginia

19. Talequia Hamilton, 6-1, Huntington/Huntington, West Virginia

20. Elizabeth Brown, 6-4, Seton Keough/Baltimore, Maryland

21. Lauren Chase, 5-5, Riverdale Baptist/Upper Marlboro, Maryland

22. Maggie Morrison, 5-7, Archbishop Spalding/Severn, Maryland

23. Amber Singletary, 5-8, Seton Keough/Baltimore, Maryland

24. Danielle Davis, 5-9, Oakton/Oakton, Virginia

25. Akilah Bethel, 5-10, Academy of the Holy Cross/Kensington, Maryland

26. Joy Caracciolo, 6-1, Stonewall Jackson/Manassas, Virginia (East Carolina commit)

27. Whitney King, 5-8, Pocomoke/Pocomoke, Maryland

28. Siobhan Beslow, 5-11, Westfield/Chantilly, Virginia

29. Tiffany Minor, 5-11, The Maret School/Washington, D.C.

30. Lynasia Frazier, 5-7, Frederick/Frederick, Maryland

31. Candice Hendricks, 5-10, McDonogh/Owings Mills, Maryland

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2. Tasia Butler, 6-0, North Point/Waldorf, Maryland

3. Lindsay Allen, 5-6, St. John’s College/Washington, D.C.

4. Tyshell King, 5-10, St. Frances Academy/Baltimore, Maryland

5. Maya Singleton, 6-0, Paul VI/Fairfax, Virginia

6. Adrienne Motley, 5-8, Hampton Roads Academy/Newport News, Virginia

7. Alexis Harrison, 5-11, Digital Harbor/Baltimore, Maryland

8. Ataijah Taylor, 5-8, Salem/Roanoke, Virginia

9. Infiniti Alston, 6-5, Western/Baltimore, Maryland

10. Breyana Mason, 5-9, Forest Park/Woodbridge, Virginia

11. Camille Calhoun, 5-10, Archbishop Spalding/Severn, Maryland

12. Amanda Fiorvanti, 6-1, Good Counsel/Olney, Maryland

13. Danielle Webster, 5-9, Norfolk Christian/Norfolk, Virginia

14. Tyshara Fleming, 6-3, Salem/Virginia Beach, Virginia

15. Keana Samuels, 5-7, Largo/Largo, Maryland

16. Dazia Hall, 5-10, The Bullis School/Potomac, Maryland

17. Taylor Mc Cauley, 5-10, Academy of the Holy Cross/Kensington, Maryland

18. Kasey Curtis, 6-1, Lake Braddock/Springfield, Virginia

19. Zoe Beard-Fails, 6-2, South Lakes/Reston, Virginia

20. Lindsay Spann, 5-5, Good Counsel/Olney, Maryland

21. Latrice Hunter, 5-5, Norfolk Christian/Norfolk, Virginia

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Where do I  start?

Well I had another birthday and yes it does suck having a winter birthday…my husband’s birthday is in June and last year we had a huge BBQ..catered food, 2 tents and lots of sun and sangria.  I got to plow out my car so I could go to Alexandria and do a database upgrade..sucks to be me right.  Actually, I am just happy and blessed to see another year!

With school being closed for over a week everybody was climbing the walls waiting to get back in the gym.  Things have returned to normal(define normal) and the  playoffs are kicking off..which is a good thing.  For the life of me I still don’t get Virginia’s regional alignment and playoff schedule..it is way too much…and I don’t like the Super Site games and mixing boys and girls together.  Maryland’s playoffs are straight forward 4 regions 4 classes..everybody in the regional playoffs, you lose you go home..girls play at their own site. But Virginia has their games on TV…which works for me because the smaller regions play on Saturday when the Maryland State finals are at UMBC.  So the week of the playoffs I spend driving back and forth to VCU and UMBC like 4 times!!! I will have my playoff predictions coming out later in the week.

There has been a lot of noise in the universe about All-American selections..this year’s rendition of bitching and moaning may be a little worse than year’s past.  Personally, I don’t get bent out of shape over selections..I am not a voting member of the WBCA, McDonald’s or Parade but I do get consulted by voting members about players in my region.  I honestly don’t want to be involved formally because it is why too much drama,  in fact had several people roll up on me and ask if I was responsible for this kid or that kid not making All-American…I had to laugh I am not that important.  I know a quite a few fans were pissed off that Maryland recruit Alyssa Thomas did not make WBCA or McDonald’s, yes I was shocked, especially since was a unanimous selection for the Hoopgurlz 2010 team(I do vote on that). I know the political reasons that Thomas was not selected, I am not going to give any credence to it here because it is what is and there is nothing that I can do about it.  Let’s be honest when all these All-American’s hit their respective campuses this summer the slate is clean and they are starting from ground-zero, time to stop sniffing the ink on the press clippings because your new teammates and coaches don’t give a crap about your high school accolades.

As much as I am not into high school All-American games, I am thinking about going to Mickey D’s only because Ronika Ransford and Jen O’Neil want me to help them get all gussied up for the banquet..now that may be worth the trip to see those two in dresses.

Believe or not I have never been to a Final Four… the time always conflicted with my coaching schedule with AAU and club basketball..put this year I am clear. I may not stay until the finals but I am definitely going hit up some of the parties…for networking purposes of course(wink,wink).

With the school season in the stretch run, this month is when all the club and AAU coaches start getting cranked up looking for players. There is always some intrigue and drama going and thus far I have heard about so many high profile players playing with every team up and down the east coast.  I wish I had a dolloar for every time I hear a player mentioned in the same sentence with Boo Williams, Fairfax Stars, Team Unique, Philly Belles, Exodus, Gauchos, Blue Star within the same day.  Peeps y’all have got to stop polluting the atmosphere with all this crap…my thing is I only believe a player is playing with who they are supposed to be playing with when I see them in the lay up line. AND if you want to know who a girl is playing for in the club season ask the MOTHERS, because the FATHERS listen and entertain all kinds of gas and bullshit from every joker who has a summer team, they will even have their kid attend a tryout of a team that they have no intention of playing on(just to get a whiff of that gas).

There are only so many elite level players and apparently in the DMV there are more elite teams than they are players..so if you do the math the numbers just doesn’t add up.  If you have a team full of guards and no college size wing or post players you are not an elite team, if you have a parent coaching you are not an elite team and if your coach has been bounced from an elite level team and is now coaching his own team you may want to ask why. Do your homework folks, every team is not for everybody.

This weekend was a perfect example of why I love DMV basketball…we were treated to a great college game #14 Georgetown vs. #4 Notre Dame. It was a great game and this was the biggest win in the history of Georgetown basketball.  Terry is doing a great job and Keith Brown’s(Coach Sexy Chocolate) influence on the defensive end is making all the difference.  If you haven’t seen the Hoyas this year you are missing out on some hard-nose, scrappy, in-your-face basketball and freshman Sugar Rodgers is a special player.

The nightcap on Saturday was a match up of two national powerhouse teams, as St Michael Academy from NYC came down to get some bump from Riverdale Baptist.  Tons of talent on display…the speed, athleticism  and intensity were off the charts, it was definitely a n0-Barbie Ball zone, there were a lot of turnovers but at that frantic of a pace it was par for the course.  It was good to see Apache and Co. come to the DMV,  they don’t ever duck bump and we love and respect them for it.  They will be back next year and they are lining up games since nobody really wants to see them in NYC…so if you are looking get in ring with them let me know so I can get you in touch with Apache.

Tonight I am going to miss Pam Goodwin’s farewell to Mount Vernon, when they play Edison for the District Championship.  Ms. Pam and the Mt. Vernon faithful have a love hate relationship…they love to hate each other..LOL. Edison vs Mt. Vernon has always been one of my favorite high school rivalries, more drama than a soap opera, with this being Ms. Pam’s last Mt. Vernon game it is almost like Erica Kane leaving All My Children. But have no fear because Ms. Pam is stepping up to the ACC so, Brenda and Debbie will get to hear that familiar voice in their gyms now when they play NC State.

I am missing that game for a good reason…Florida State vs UVA @ JPJ tonight, first time I get to see my girl Chastity Clayton live in a college game and of course watching Monica Wright is always special.  7PM ESPN if you look hard you will probably see me.

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1. Jannah Tucker, 6-0, Western/Baltimore, Maryland

2. Tasia Butler, 6-0, North Point/Waldorf, Maryland

3. Lindsay Allen, 5-6, St. John’s College/Washington, D.C.

4. Tyshell King, 5-10, St. Frances Academy/Baltimore, Maryland

5. Maya Singleton, 6-0, Paul VI/Fairfax, Virginia

6. Adrienne Motley, 5-8, Hampton Roads Academy/Newport News, Virginia

7. Alexis Harrison, 5-11, Digital Harbor/Baltimore, Maryland

8. Ataijah Taylor, 5-8, Salem/Roanoke, Virginia

9. Infiniti Alston, 6-5, Western/Baltimore, Maryland

10. Breyana Mason, 5-9, Forest Park/Woodbridge, Virginia

11. Camille Calhoun, 5-10, Archbishop Spalding/Severn, Maryland

12. Tyshara Fleming, 6-3, Salem/Virginia Beach, Virginia

13. Keana Samuels, 5-7, Largo/Largo, Maryland

14. Amanda Fiorvanti, 6-1, Good Counsel/Olney, Maryland

15. Dazia Hall, 5-10, The Bullis School/Potomac, Maryland

16. Taylor Mc Cauley, 5-10, Academy of the Holy Cross/Kensington, Maryland

17. Kasey Curtis, 6-1, Lake Braddock/Springfield, Virginia

18. Zoe Beard-Fails, 6-2, South Lakes/Reston, Virginia

19. Tori Oliver, 5-11, St. John’s College/Washington, D.C.

20. Danielle Webster, 5-9, Norfolk Christian/Norfolk, Virginia

21. Lindsay Spann, 5-5, Good Counsel/Olney, Maryland

22. Cydney Smith, 6-2, McDonough/LaPlata, Maryland

23. Jade Scaife, 5-11, Bishop McNamara/Forestville, Maryland

24. Tiara Wood, 6-1, Sidwell Friends/Washington, D.C.

25. Latrice Hunter, 5-5, Norfolk Christian/Norfolk, Virginia

26. Savonna Murphy, 5-9, Elizabeth Seton/Bladensburg, Maryland

27. Kayla Ballard, 5-5, Arundel/Gambrills, Maryland

28. Brittany Jackson, 5-7, The Bullis School/Potomac, Maryland

29. Christine Mitchell, 6-2, Western/Baltimore, Maryland

30. Janelle Hubbard, 5-7, Elizabeth Seton/Bladensburg, Maryland

31. LaChae Leftridge, 5-10, St. Mary’s Ryken/St. Mary’s, Maryland

32. Aleah Epps, 5-3, Archbishop Spalding/Severn, Maryland

33. Nola Anderson, 5-6, Grassfield/Chesapeake, Virginia

34. Erica McIntosh, 5-5, Elizabeth Seton/Bladensburg, Maryland

35. Erin Blaine, 5-10, Westlake/Waldorf, Maryland

36. Kierra McKellery, 5-11, Arundel/Gambrills, Maryland

37. Tyra Durrett, 5-11, Bowie/Bowie, Maryland

38. India Dotson, 6-0, Frederick/Frederick, Maryland

39. Torri Chestnut, 5-8, Archbishop Spalding/Severn, Maryland

40. Jasmin Dancey, 5-9, St. John’s College/Washington, D.C.

41. Kaitlin Lyon, 5-7, Wakefield/Arlington, Virginia

42. Janae Burrell, 5-3, Potomac/Woodbridge, Virginia

43. Danielle Snowden, 6-0, Blake/Olney, Maryland

44. Bianca Brown, 6-0, C.H. Flowers/Springdale, Maryland

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HS Team of the Decade: Eleanor Roosevelt

HS Coach of the Decade: Rod Hairston, Eleanor Roosevelt

HS General Manager of the Decade: Mike Teasley, Notre Dame Academy

HS Player of the Decade: Jasmine Thomas, Oakton HS

Club Team of the Decade: Boo Williams Summer League

Club Coach of the Decade: Boo Williams, BWSL

Club General Manager of the Decade: James Nichols, Team Unique

Club Player of the Decade: Tierra Ruffin-Pratt

Impact Player of the Decade: Elizabeth Williams

Little Girl AAU Team of the Decade: Fairfax Stars ’97

Little Girl AAU Coach of the Decade: Jeff Boykin, Fairfax Stars

Big Girl AAU Coach of the Decade: Herb Krusen, MD Flames

Big Girl AAU Team of the Decade: MD Flames ’91

AAU General  Manager of the Decade: Saladin Reese, Team Sol

Major DI College Team of the Decade: University of Maryland

Major DI College Coach of the Decade: Debbie Ryan, University of Virginia

Major DI College Player of the Decade: Kristy Toliver, University of Maryland

Mid Major DI College Team of the Decade: James Madison University

Mid Major DI College Coach of the Decade: Kenny Brooks, JMU

Mid Major DI Player of the Decade: Tamara Young, JMU

College Impact Player of the Decade: (tie) Marissa Coleman, UMD and Monica Wright, UVA

Basketball Entrepreneur of the Decade: Curtis Symonds, Hoop Magic Sports Academy

Trend of the Decade: ESPN Hoopgurlz.com DMV Message Board

Team Mom of the Decade: Tahiri ‘Terri’ Bell, HD Woodson, NC State…the entire DMV!

The INS and OUTS for the next decade:

OUT: Fathers coaching their daughters past middle school

IN: Fathers sitting in the stands and being a fan

OUT: Negative recruiting by club teams that have no track record

IN: Building a resume and getting your players into college

OUT: Any scouting service that ranks kids without actually seeing them

IN: Sitting in the bleachers for hours and taking notes

OUT: Regional scouting services trying to do national rankings

IN: Regional scouting services actually covering the region they are from

OUT: AAU teams claiming to be an elite team with 12 guards

IN: Elite teams with players playing their college positions

OUT: Playing in a national level showcase tournament but playing down so you can win

IN: Playing in a national level showcase tournament and playing the best competition at or above your age group

OUT: Sitting on the bench for an elite club program

IN: Getting on the court and actually playing in front of college coaches

OUT: Claiming you have a Nike deal

IN: Realizing you can only get a “pack of Newports and some Puma sweats”(shoutout 3rd Bass)

OUT: Feasting on the weak..more concerned with your high school record than real competition

IN: Getting some real bump for your team in a holiday tournament

OUT: Winning games and not graduating your players from high school

IN: Graduating your players from high school whether they ever play basketball in college

OUT: HS teams with talent and horrible coaches

IN: HS teams with marginal talent and good coaches

OUT: Washington Post HS rankings

IN: Real Basketball Report HS rankings

OUT: Fathers infiltrating HS programs

IN: Former HS players returning to help their school team

OUT: Fall League

IN: Real skill development and conditioning

OUT: Sending You Tube highlights to coaches and scouts

IN: Sending full game video to coaches and scouts(when asked)

OUT: Paying a basketball trainer with no resume

IN: Finding a quality basketball trainer with a resume

OUT: Playing every weekend during the spring and summer

IN: Working on fundamentals every weekend during the spring and summer

OUT: Adidas Grassroots

IN: Fila Grassroots

OUT: Male coaches who rip apart their players

IN: Female coaches who keep it positive

OUT: The name on the back of the jersey

IN: The name of the front of the jersey

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