2020 Spalding Hoophall Classic Special Edition

The Springfield Student Est. 1910

January 20, 2020

[scstudentmedia.com]

SPECIAL EDITION

Contact us: springfieldstudent@springfield.edu Hoophall 2020

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Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020 Presented by Eastbay

Hoophall 2020

The 2020 Spalding Hoophall classic

Coverage from The Springfield Student newspaper in partnership with the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Sierra Canyon’s B.J. Boston flies in for a reverse dunk.

Evan Wheaton/The Student

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January 20, 2020

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MeEt the staFf

Photo Courtesy of Damon Markiewicz

Ian Snowdeal Junior @IanSnowdeal25

Kris Rhim Junior @krisrhim1

Gabby Guerard Senior @GabbyGuerard

Jack Margaros Junior @JackMargaros

Marty Dobrow Advisor @martydobrow

Joe Arruda Sophomore @joearruda9

Danny Priest Junior @dpriest3

Evan Wheaton Senior @EvanWheaton

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January 20, 2020

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Jack Margaros/The Student

Why we did this

By Danny Priest @dpriest3

Last December, I sat inside the radio booth located outside of Abbey-Appleton Hall with my podcast co-host Ian Snowdeal and our guest for that day: our journalism Professor Marty Dobrow.

We had just recorded a podcast episode with Marty about his career in the field of journalism and we had talked about some of his experiences in the industry. Naturally, after we finished, we continued to talk about modern journalism.

With winter break approaching, Marty mentioned to myself and Ian that our program, communications/sports

journalism (COSJ), should do something in the form of coverage surrounding Hoophall.

Not coverage in the traditional sense of writing about the games, but rather from a more modern perspective.

One focused on digital platforms and getting to know players BEYOND the games they played.

It sounded perfect.

After all, COSJ has been around at Springfield College since 1999 while Hoophall began in 2002.

Despite the coincidental timing and inceptions of the two, COSJ has never actually covered Hoophall until this year.

Hoophall did allow a chance for COSJ students to cover the event via freelancing for various out-of-town outlets, but never before had the

program formally covered the event itself.

Now, we did it. An idea born out of casual conversation last year turned into this project that we were able to execute this year.

We’ve written and continue to work on over 20 stories across the five days of the event. We took pictures and videos, all of which we shared on our social media accounts and website. We did our best to not miss a moment of the action.

We interviewed dozens of players and coaches. From the big time interviews with the likes of Evan Mobley and Cade Cunningham, down to the local teams who played on the first two days, we covered it all.

The reason for doing

this was simple: we’re sports journalists and this event is huge, the type of event that gets exposure on a large stage. Hoophall has grown into something special, and we’re lucky that the Birthplace of Basketball is where the tournament gets held.

This project wouldn’t have been possible without the help of so many people. First and foremost, to my fellow staff: Gabby, Evan, Jack, Kris, Ian, and Joe, you all crushed it. This wouldn’t have been possible without your contributions and the amount of effort you put in day in and day out.

Beyond that, big thanks to the Basketball Hall of Fame for taking a chance on us and allowing us this oppor-

tunity. Greg Procino and his staff at the Hall as well as the folks from Position Sports were extremely helpful and patient with us, which we truly appreciate.

Kathy Smith from special events played a large helping hand in getting this project off and running, and Damon Markiewicz from Media and Communications was there to lend a hand any time we needed him.

And of course, Marty, for thinking up a great idea that at the time I never could have imagined turning into this project just a year later. It was a ton of fun to put this together this year for people to read and enjoy, and we all look forward to doing it again next January.

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January 20, 2020

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Day 1: Local Boys Hoophall 2020

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Xavion Hoophall 2020 Martin Hoophall 2020

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Photos Courtesy of: Joe Arruda, Gabby Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020 Guerard, and Evan Wheaton

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Springfield Central: Sustainable success Springfield Central is grooming its players for success in life beyond high school and the athletic playing field.

Springfield Central’s Joseph Griffin (left) with a boxout in the Golden Eagles win over Sabis at the 2020 Spalding Hoophall Classic Presented by Eastbay. (Gabby Guerard/The Student)

By Evan Wheaton @EvanWheaton

Springfield Central’s 75-35 win over Sabis at the 2020 Spalding Hoophall Classic presented by Eastbay was yet another showing of their dominance.

Now sitting at 9-1 on the season, the Golden Eagles are hungrily pursuing their first Division I state title since 2012.

With the football program winning state titles each of the past two seasons, Central Athletics has seen great success in recent times.

“I think Central Athletics is in a great situation, we have a lot of support in the building,” Head Basketball Coach William Watson said. “Administration does a great job with the kids and everything in the building is about the kids. So, it’s not just about winning games, it’s about kids going to college (and) having a bigger plan than just being successful in high school.”

According to Watson, the positive results enjoyed by Central’s youth programs start with Athletic Director Kieth Worthy and Principal Tad Tokarz. With the current administration in place, student-athletes are finding various opportunities once

they move on to the collegiate level.

“I think a lot of people see that and they’re getting on board with it,” Watson said. “We have kids from difficult situations going to Ivy League schools, going to schools where they can get a great education and provide for their families and even come back to our community and help the community get better.”

Watson also serves as the offensive coordinator for Central’s football program in the fall before the hoops season begins.

His son, William Watson III, plays on both teams. As a father, Watson values the importance of what the student-athletes are gaining in the inner city.

“I think it’s great for the city. It says a lot for the direction of our youth programs, all of the coaches involved with the youth programs, they’re developing enough talent to go around for multiple schools,” he said.

According to Watson, Central, SciTech, Putnam, and Commerce are “all very competitive and playing on an even playing field this year,” and it’s been drawing in a sizeable amount of support from the

Springfield community.

This was apparent in Blake Arena during the Central game as the bleachers were flooded with parents and alumni clad in black clothing, thundering in support for the Golden Eagles.

“You see all the old Central, Commerce, Putnam, and Sci-Tech alumni coming out and supporting the kids,” Watson said. “Every time we’ve played another city team it’s been packed. There’s a lot of energy in the building and it’s been a great environment for our kids and a learning experience.”

Watson understands that student-athletes come from different backgrounds, and some may be more challenging than others.

But for those that pass through Central Athletics, or any of the Springfield high schools, and move on to the collegiate level to compete, they all share his belief in their abilities With the current state of Springfield youth programs, Watson has a strong sense for life after high school.

“Whoever comes out of this city will be battle tested.”

January 20, 2020

living the dream Much of Hoophall is about the stars, but each year the local teams and players get to perform on the big stage.

That means a lot to them.

Kelsey Reno of Millbury. (Gabby Guerard/The Student)

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By Kris Rhim @krisrhim1

The Spalding Hoophall Classic presented by Eastbay, is a tournament known for hosting some of the top high school basketball teams in the country.

NBA and WNBA stars, such as two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant and WNBA champion Elena Delle Donne, have dominated on the hardwood at the Birthplace of Basketball.

While the tournament does play host to some of the top prep schools from around the nation, it doesn’t forget about the local schools in the region. For the first two days of the five-day invitational, boys and girls teams from schools across the state of Massachusetts square-off at the Birthplace.

The Student talked to some of the local players about what it’s like playing at the place where the game was created as part of a large scale tournament.

Kelsey Reno | Millbury

Ga’Vaughnt English of Putnam (right). (Gabby Guerard/ The Student)

“It’s amazing playing at the Birthplace of Basketball — everyone wants to do that as a player. Playing here is obviously a bigger platform, it helps us for districts

and that’s what we’re really looking forward too and we also get to play better competition. It’s just amazing.”

Thomas Maslek | Sutton “We were definitely hyped up for this game. The atmosphere, all the players (that have played here before) and the staff treat us so well. This is something that we don’t get to experience often so it’s really fun coming out here and playing.”

Ahliya Phillips | Taconic “It was kind of nerve racking at first, but it was a good atmosphere and it was fun to play with all of them (teammates) here for the first time.

I think it is Taconic’s first time being here, ever. There was more pressure because there’s a lot more people around, but it was fun.”

Ga’Vaughnt English | Putnam Academy “It was a live crowd.

I enjoyed seeing a bunch of faces from the city. This is honestly an amazing

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opportunity and I’m glad that the city is able to compete in this.

It’s the atmosphere (that makes Hoophall different) we got more guys coming out, it just makes the intensity go and the adrenaline rise.

Andy Rosario | Springfield Central “The environment is great, to play in front of everybody and seeing all the coaches around and getting a chance to play for the coaches.

It’s very exciting to play on the same court as former NBA stars and big time college players.”

Noelle Furlong | Wahconah “We’ve never been here before so it was a big thing for us. When we started the season and our coach told us about this, we were really excited and we prepared for the entire last week. We talked a lot about how we should just have fun because it’s a great opportunity. I was really nervous because there were a lot of people here, but it’s a good feeling. It was a lot of fun, I will definitely remember it.”

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Alumni spotlight Hoophall is full of young stars as well as Springfield College alumni. These gentlemen were spotted doing their jobs over the course of the tournament.

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Class of 1988 - Athletic Birthplace Birthplace Training Major Birthplace Birthplace Birthplace Currently: Head Strength Birthplace and Conditioning Birthplace Birthplace Coach Birthplace for Montverde Birthplace Academy Birthplace

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A natural fit George Miller did not always appear destined for the job of PA announcer, but he’s grown into the role like a star.

By Danny Priest @dpriest3

George Miller didn’t always fit the description of someone who would turn out to be a public-address announcer.

Of course, that makes a lot of sense given that he attended Oberlin College in the town of Oberlin, Ohio where he majored in French.

While he did not study communications, public speaking, or anything else typical of a PA announcer, there was one thing he did: he worked for the college’s radio station.

“My whole time in college I worked at the radio station for all four years doing sports,” Miller said. “I probably started a month into my freshman year, some of it was serious radio, but it was mainly frivolous.

But it was still a good way just to hone your craft.”

That “honing of your craft” turned out to be important as Miller landed a job out of college as a sports director at the WHMP radio station in Northampton, Mass.

It proved to be that position which would open several doors in

Danny Priest/The Student the announcing world for Miller as his career progressed.

“I was there for almost eight years and in addition to doing all the morning sportscasts six days a week and doing a ton of play-by-play for high school football, basketball, and baseball; I also got to do four years’ worth of play-by-play for UMass men’s basketball from ‘91-’95.”

Luckily for Miller, those years were some of the best ever for UMass basketball. Miller was able to correctly recall of the top of his head that in that fouryear stretch, the team compiled a record of 111-24.

That run also included UMass winning the regular season A-10 Title and Tournament Championship each year, as well as appearing in the sweet sixteen and the elite eight during the stretch.

While UMass was busy succeeding, Miller continued to find more chances to announce.

“Along the way, during that sports director’s gig, I just picked up kind of hit and miss PA

announcing gigs. A lot of high school stuff, like high school soccer, that’s probably where I started as far as PA announcing goes.”

Miller continued to bounce between playby-play and PA assignments. After his time with WHMP came to a close, Miller spent the summer of 1997 calling games on Minor League Baseball as the play-byplay announcer for the Pittsfield Mets.

Five years later when the Mets moved to Troy, New York and became the Tri-City ValleyCats, Miller was the play-byplay man for their first year in existence.

Miller was fully in on the announcing and PA gig and hasn’t looked back since. For the past 16 years, Miller’s job has been with his family business: Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, Mass.

“That’s the real-world job, but you know when I’m not doing that in terms of the PA announcing, I had a stretch of eleven years where I did the PA for UMass men’s basketball.”

Miller had come full

circle, from play-by-play to PA for the Minutemen.

“It started kind of in midseason because the guy who did it before me, Jack O’Neill, who’s a longtime sportscaster here in Western Mass. (who) worked at Channel 40, he was diagnosed with what turned out to be terminal cancer,” Miller said.

“So, I actually filled in for him starting midseason, this would have been the ‘05-’06 UMass season. I started announcing their games in January, and then I did after that for almost eleven years right up through the 15-16 season. There was some UMass hockey PA announcing in there as well which was kind of fun,” Miller added.

Fast forward to the present day and Miller is a PA announcer for Hoophall as well as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).

Miller has been calling MIAA events since 2005 where he’s done high school tournament games in both basketball and baseball, as well as

state tournament games.

As for Hoophall, Miller is in the midst of his third year calling games.

For an announcing career that’s ranged from high school gyms across Massachusetts to the TD Garden in Boston, Miller’s approach has never changed.

“I’m pretty old school as far as my style goes, I think. I’m not a monster truck pull guy, I’m not a Rucker Park guy, you know, I do it kind of the same way,” Miller said.

“Whatever exciting part or moment in a game is going on, I just try to amplify that a little bit through my work.

There are some times where stuff that happens allows you to kind of riff a little bit and inject a little bit of humor, but at the same time, I don’t want what I do to get in the way of what’s happening on the court,” Miller said.

“Yeah, I like people to be listening and understanding and getting what I’m saying and hopefully that helps their enjoyment of the game, but as I see it, I never go over the top with it.”

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Day 2: Local girls Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020 Riley Robinson (right) Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020

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Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020 Gabrielle Kingston Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020

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Photos Courtesy of: Joe Arruda, Gabby Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020 Guerard, and Evan Wheaton Hoophall 2020

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January 20, 2020

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The epic story of Hoosac Valley’s Riley Robinson The pinnacle of toughness and leadership. This is Riley Robinson’s story.

By Joe Arruda @joearruda9

Hoosac Valley’s Riley Robinson forced a St. Mary’s turnover three minutes into the first quarter of the 2019 MIAA Div. III State Championship. She took off running, driving hard to the basket.

There was contact, as expected on a fast break, but this time it totally took her off guard.

Her legs were taken out from under her, and she proceeded to crash head first into the hardwood.

Silence filled the Worcester Polytechnic Institute gymnasium as blood flowed from just above the junior’s left eyebrow. In the stands, Robinson’s sister and grandmother had even begun to cry.

“First thing I saw was my hands covered in blood and that’s when I started to kind of freak out like, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on?’ I just had to sit there and regain my breathe and focus on what was actually going on in the moment and calm down,” Robinson said. “Once I did that, everything was starting to ease up and I

just knew I needed to get something taken care of.”

Seconds before the collision, Ron Wojcik, Hoosac Valley’s head coach, was focusing on coaching. And then, within the blink of an eye, one of his players was laying in her own blood. His thoughts immediately diverted from basketball.

“It’s scary, number one seeing that much blood. But then two, I just felt really bad for her because I know how much obviously a state championship means to you. So those were the first two things that crossed my mind,” Wojcik said.

“Certainly it was going to be a letdown for us if she couldn’t play, the starting point guard and the leader of our defense in the middle of the floor. Our game plan was kind of centered around her, so all of those things run through your mind. The biggest thing was, ‘is she going to be okay?’ I felt she was, it was something that is treatable, but still it was scary when you

first saw it.”

The medical team helped Robinson walk off the court, and brought her to the side of the bleachers where they would wrap her head in a black bandage.

“I could still see part of the game, but I could only see the end that St. Mary’s was scoring on.

I’d see them make a basket and I’d hear the big fan section cheering and I was like, ‘Oh my God, (I need to get back out there),’” Robinson said.

That, of course,

would not happen without her proving that she physically could.

After performing an eye-sight test, a series of motor tests, a running test, and cleaning everything off in the bathroom, the medical team was finally convinced.

“About halfway through the second quarter I hear this loud roar and Riley’s back on the bench,” Wojcik said.

“That was the loudest ovation of the day. I was looking the other way but once she came

around the corner the fans started cheering and I knew what it was.”

“Coach, I’m ready,” she said.

“From a coaching standpoint, I can tell you it is one of the most courageous things I’ve ever seen. I’ve been doing boys and then girls now for 28 years and I’d never seen anything like it,” Wojcik said.

Once Robinson re-entered, she ignited an 11-0 run through which the Hurricanes extended their once-slim lead to

Evan Wheaton/The Student

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January 20, 2020

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double figures.

She even took a charge.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Hoosac team surrounded Robinson with smiles on their faces, and as state champions.

After the game, the Hurricanes were to be paraded through the county with fire trucks and police cars. But first, they had to make a stop at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Mass. where their starting point guard was getting temporary stitches.

“We took the school bus over to the hospital so we could make sure she was on the bus for the parade. It was pretty cool, kind of a storybook type of thing for sure,” Wojcik said.

She boarded the bus to the emphatic Rocky theme song.

“When you talk about

somebody that is the heart and soul of a program, Riley is one of those kids...you’re fortunate as a coach to have somebody like a Riley because it is like having an extension of the coaching staff on the floor.”

- Ron Wojcik

On Friday, at the 2020 Spalding Hoophall Classic Presented By Eastbay, Robinson took the court with her teammates as a senior. This time, her dark gray headband was over her hair rather than her eyebrow.

Despite her team’s loss, Robinson’s leadership and teamwork shined.

“She is the type of kid that brings a lot of intangibles to the floor. Some kids will bring shooting, scoring, but she brings a little of everything. That toughness, that ball handling – obviously the toughness coming back in a game like that,” Wojcik said.

“She for us, isn’t necessarily a 20-point (scorer), but on any given night she could kick in with a triple double. With rebounds, assists, steals and points. She is that type of kid and that type of player.”

Not only is she the one who takes the ball down the court for the Hurricanes on most trips, she is

Gabby Guerard/The Student also positioned as the center of their defense. She jumps at any possible opportunity to disrupt an opponent’s drive through the lane, negating the possibility of an easy bucket in the paint.

She runs the team with not only her basketball ability, but with her knowledge of the game.

“When you talk about somebody that is the heart and soul of a program, Riley is one of those kids,” Wojcik said. “You’re fortunate as a coach to have somebody like a Riley because it is like having an extension of the coaching staff on the floor. It really holds true for her. A lot of times I’ll look at her and she’ll call something and it’s what I was thinking and we didn’t even exchange words.”

A senior, Robinson hopes that her team’s loss in the Hoophall Classic won’t be her final trip to Blake Arena. Springfield College is her top choice for its physical therapy program.

“If I get in, I’m definitely coming here.”

#HHClassic

January 20, 2020

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Hoophall 2020: the ladies’ perspective...

The ladies got their chance to shine on the big stage too, here’s what they had to say about the opportunity.

By Gabby Guerard @GabbyGuerard

By now, most know that stars such as Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, and DeMarcus Cousins are all Spalding Hoophall Classic alumni.

But what most fail to remember is that stars such as Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, and Brenna Stewart are also distinguished Hoophall alumnae.

Hoophall isn’t just about the boys – it features girls too.

Of the 30 games played at the Spalding Hoophall Classic, four are dedicated to girls, who took over the court of Blake Arena Friday evening.

And they made it count.

Taconic opened up the day by defeating West Springfield 52-29.

Ciany Conyers led the way for the Braves, finishing with 19 points.

Though it wasn’t about the stats to Conyers. Simply playing at Hoophall was special to her.

“I’ve come down here before for the boys’ tournament, so it was really fun and it was a good experience coming down for the girls’ one too. My team had a really good time, and it was good for

Central Catholic’s Adrianna Niles. (Gabby Guerard/The Student) us to play good competition,” she said.

Considering how few girls teams are selected to compete, the opportunity was even more valuable in Conyers’ eyes.

“I think personally last year we made a really good run, so (we) think we deserve to be here,” she said. “And as long as we just keep working hard I think we’ll be back next year.”

Following Taconic’s win was a Millbury-Hoosac Valley matchup, where the Woolies pulled out a 45-28 victory. After leading the team with 12 points, Millbury’s Morgan Cronon felt the opportunity to play at Hoophall was unrivaled.

“It’s been a really good experience for not

only myself but definitely our entire team,” she said. “We worked really hard to get here and it’s just a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing for us, so it’s good to be here.”

And despite the lights, logos plastered throughout the Arena that read “Basketball Hall of Fame,” and elite locker rooms, for Cronon, it wasn’t about the flashy perks.

It was about the people she got to enjoy it with.

“Just spending it with my team, just like being able to go through everything with them and making it here… It just means a lot to represent our school here,” she added.

The Wahconah War-

riors took the court next, defeating Longmeadow 34-21. Maria Gamberoni led the team with 12 points.

Since there were only eight girls teams selected to compete, Gamberoni was thrilled the Warriors were one of them, and used it as fuel to elevate her game to the next level.

“I mean it’s such an honor when you come here and you realize that only a couple teams are picked,” she said.

“It just makes you want to play harder and play your best because you’re here.”

And during this experience, she appreciated much more than just the game itself.

Gamberoni didn’t

take anything for granted, no matter how small or seemingly irrelevant the gesture may have been.

“The treatment is so nice, like we’ve never been in locker rooms like that obviously, or had music when we walk out on the floor, so it’s just a good experience,” she added.

Closing out the girls’ night was a tight matchup between Springfield Central and Central Catholic. In the end, the Raiders defeated the Golden Eagles 38-36.

“It was an honor, really, because we’ve worked so hard over the past couple years to improve and get better.

It was just such a great time and experience,” Adrianna Niles said, after finishing the night with 11 points.

Similar to Gameroni, it was the little details that meant the most to Niles – specifically, playing with her teammates.

“Just playing with them on the court, it was really good just to play against a really tough team,” she said.

“They really challenged us in all aspects of the game.”

Although the girls only took over for one evening, they made sure to leave it all on the court of Blake Arena for their day at Hoophall.

January 20, 2020 Graphic courtesy of: Danny Priest/The Student

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January 20, 2020

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Day 3: Prep Day #1 Hoophall 2020

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Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020 Nnanna Njoku (left) Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020

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January 20, 2020

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Photos Courtesy of: Joe Arruda, Gabby Hoophall 2020 Hoophall 2020 Guerard, and Evan Wheaton

January 20, 2020

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Photo Courtesy of Britannica

Hoops and MLK: The Great Springfield College legacies A look back at Dr. King’s connection with Springfield College on the day that is named in his honor.

By Marty Dobrow, Professor of Communications @martydobrow

In Coretta Scott King’s biography, My Life With Martin Luther King, Jr.—published in 1969, just one year after his assassination— she shares a lot of powerful information.

She recounts sweet stories of their courtship when they were both graduate students in Boston—how he “radiated charm” and “became increasingly better-looking as he talked.”

She provides personal perspectives on some of the signpost moments of the civil rights movement, such as the relentless stream of hateful phone calls they received in Montgomery during the bus boycott.

She shows us Dr. King’s enormous courage in summoning nonviolence amid such hatred, and she shows us glimpses into a private man filled with conflict. (“My husband was what psychologists might call a guilt-ridden man.”)

#HHClassic

January 20, 2020 She also lets us in on a little secret: Martin Luther King “loved to play basketball.” Even as the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, “he used to play basketball with the staff…and he delighted in teaching our sons.”

Today, January 20, 2020, marks the observance of the holiday for Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, as well as the culmination of the Spalding Hoophall Classic.

Even as Hoophall markets the days ahead (the tournament’s program is entitled “Stars of the Future”), today harks back to the past at Springfield College.

It’s the perfect fit on a campus whose grandest history involves both basketball and MLK, who would have turned 91 this month.

The basketball part is pretty well known, of course. Back in ’91 (we’re talking 1891, of course), Dr. James Naismith—the original Dr. J—hung up a couple of peach baskets. The rest is hoop history: from Naismith, to Rebecca Lobo (who grew up just a few miles from here in Southwick), to LeBron James, whose son plays here today.

Side note to LeBron: we know you play against the Celtics tonight across the Commonwealth, so we just wanted to let you know that the door is always open. Moreover, since you care so much about

PAGE 19

This letter was written in 1964 by alumnus Douglas Schwarts who graduated in 1949.

In it, he writes to Springfield College’s eighth president, Dr. Glenn Olds, exclaiming his excitement and pride over the campus hosting Dr. King for the commencement speech in 1964.

Photo/Information courtesy of Springfield College Digital Archives.

the connection between basketball and social justice, we figured you would want to know a little bit about Martin Luther King’s connection to Springfield College. So here we go.

Back in 1964, right at the height of the civil rights movement, Dr. King came to campus to be the commencement speaker. It was an amazing story in a couple of ways.

First, there was significant pressure brought to bear on former Springfield College President Glenn Olds to

renege on his invitation to Dr. King. The pressure came from a number of places, including the FBI. Olds, to his great credit, did not yield. But that did not end the drama.

On June 11, just three days before King’s scheduled commencement speech, he was arrested in St. Augustine, Fla., for having the audacity to order food from a whites-only restaurant. King was in jail in Florida on the 11th, the 12th, and the 13th—with graduation pending the next day.

There was great uncertainty as to whether he would make it.

But make it he did.

He delivered a stirring commencement address that day. He said that he “felt a deep sense of appreciation for all that this college has meant to the cultural and humanitarian life of our nation and the world.”

He challenged graduates to cultivate a “world perspective.” He reminded people that “we must learn to live together as brothers, or we will all perish together as fools.”

He was only on

campus for a few hours, but it was an unforgettable experience for the graduating class. There is no account of him shooting hoops while he was here, but that sure would make a nice story.

Regardless, Dr. King’s appearance on June 14, 1964, stands with the day Dr. Naismith hung up the peach baskets in 1891 as perhaps the two greatest days in the history of Springfield College.

Today, though, looks to be a pretty good one, too.

#HHClassic

January 20, 2020

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The hall of fame experience A first hand look at IMG Academy’s trip to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

By Joe Arruda @joearruda9

After their preliminary practice at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Moussa Diabate, the eighth ranked player in the ESPN Top 60 for the class of 2021, took off sprinting toward the “basketball through the years” exhibit.

Dribbling the ball in his right hand, the 6’10” power forward cocked back as if he were going to slam the ball through the peach basket.

“Moussa! There was no dunking on the peach baskets!,” IMG Academy Head Coach Sean McAloon shouted from across the practice gym.

For McAloon, the history of the game is an important aspect to teach his players. He understands the importance of embracing the past greats who played the sport.

“You try to explain to the guys the history of the game and everything. It’s kind of a ‘right now’ society. If it were up to them they would probably be in (the SLAM x Spalding Lounge) for the rest of the day,” McAloon

recalled. “You let them view it on their own because that’s their favorite way to do it.”

The team made their way to the SLAM x Spalding Lounge where some made their way straight to the gaming chairs, and others opted to enjoy some time to relax.

Lynn Kidd, a junior, faced off with Diabate in NBA 2k20. A game that they both enjoy playing, and hope that they will one day be able to control themselves as characters in the future.

“Nobody’s beating me in 2k,” Kidd joked.

In his first time at the Hall of Fame, Kidd was pumped to look around at the enshrinements of some of the greatest players to ever play the game he loves. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, the No. 22 ranked player in the ESPN Top 25 for the class of 2022, expressed a similar take.

“It’s kind of surreal.

To get to see the game I’m playing and all of the greats and see what I could be when I get older,” he said. “My dream is like a step away, a shot away. It just makes me keep working hard.”

For Eric Dailey, there was another layer in

visiting the Hall.

After playing the virtual basketball game that all of the players, led by Jaden Springer (Tennessee commit), were determined to find, Dailey went searching for something else.

Actually, someone else.

His mother, Shell, played college basketball at the University of Texas under coach Jody Conradt who was inducted into the Hall in 1998.

“My mom was coached by a Hall of Fame coach. To see people that I have seen before – especially coach Conradt, I met her a few times before – to see her in the Hall of Fame is inspirational. I’m just taking it all in,” he said. “This is one of the places that I want to be someday.”

Dailey facetimed his mother to get help in finding the display.

When Coach McAloon walked by, he joked, “Make sure you tell her I’m not letting you play tonight after what you did to me earlier.”

Dailey responded, “Yeah, mom, coach said I can’t play because I dunked on him in practice today.” As

Eric Dailey of IMG. (Joe Arruda/The Student) high school players with blindingly bright futures ahead of them, witnessing what they could be someday is a tool for inspiration.

“We want to be Hall of Famers one day, we all want to go to the league, we all want to be great, so seeing people before us that were great motivates us,” Dailey said.

The IMG staff and coaches understand the magnitude of the Hall of Fame for their players. Though they travel to many tournaments throughout the season, the Spalding Hoophall Classic provides them with an opportunity to visit the birthplace of the game of basketball.

“It is a cool perspective for the kids to see.

Especially just knowing that it is much bigger than basketball. Seeing the people that came before them, to pay respect to them, and also to create new goals for themselves, a new vision for themselves to hopefully one day to have their name in this building. So when their kids and grandkids come in here they get a chance to see their name imprinted inside the game of basketball,” Jonathan ‘Coach JT’ Thomas, an assistant

coach at IMG, said.

“It’s a blessing (especially for Eric Dailey).

I know that it’s a new perspective for him, opening up his eyes, I’m pretty sure they (his mother and his aunt who was enshrined) probably gave him the will and the desire to go even harder.

That’s two generations, that’s his mom and his aunt. Nothing but positives you can take out of that,” Thomas added.

The IMG team that is ranked seventh in the country by ESPN can joke around with one another like regular high schoolers, but they know how to be professional too.

“They’re used to it,” McAloon said. “They’re grateful, they’re respectful of people’s time, they answer questions the right way. They thrive in opportunities like this to play in large settings with media and TV. That is why they’re here.”

IMG Academy will take on the No. 1 ranked player in the ESPN Top 60 for the class of 2021, Jonathan Kuminga and the Patrick School, at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday night at Hoophall.

#HHClassic

January 20, 2020

Late bloomer Lance Ware wasn’t always sure that he loved basketball, now he’s on his way to Kentucky as a top player in the country.

By Kris Rhim @krisrhim1

When Lance Ware started playing basketball in the eighth grade, he was unsure if hoops was the right sport for him. In his first workout, Ware, standing six-feet five-inches tall, skinny, and nervous couldn’t make a jump shot; barely could dribble and was frustrated working on basic basketball drills.

“At first I didn’t have a love for it. I was kind of like, ehh I don’t know,” Ware said. “Then out of nowhere, I saw myself getting better and I just stuck with it.

I’ve been getting better ever since. I love it now.”

Fast forward four years later, the now six-foot-nine, 215-pound senior forward is one of the best players in the country. The Camden high senior is currently the 43rd overall recruit in the country according to ESPN’s 2020 high school class rankings.

In November, Ware

signed his National Letter of intent to play college basketball at the University of Kentucky.

The Wildcats have one of the most storied basketball programs in the country with eight national titles all-time, second only to UCLA’s 11.

Along with a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee at head coach in John Calipari, the Wildcats become an easy school to pick for most recruits.

For Ware, however, he wasn’t looking to go to the biggest name or the school with the most pedigree. The four-star recruit wanted to make sure that whatever school he chose to attend he could feel comfortable and learn the most to improve his basketball career and overall life.

“He didn’t talk much about basketball, it was really a normal conversation, it was more about

life,” Ware said. “He’s one of the best basketball coaches in the nation, so he can teach us life lessons and basketball lessons at the same time. Can’t beat that.”

He ultimately chose Kentucky over a bevy of other schools including, Miami, Michigan, Providence and Ohio State.

Ware is currently in the midst of his senior season at Camden High School in New Jersey and feels that his last year will be his best to date.

“This is my favorite team I’ve ever played on,” Ware said. “From AAU, to high school, to camps, it’s the best.

I’m having a great time, especially with the youngsters. I see a lot of potential in our younger

guys because they’re really not lazy and they work hard every day.”

Another aspect that Ware loves about his team is the standard that first year head coach Ric Brunson holds all his players to. Brunson, a former NBA player and coach, brings knowledge and experience that would match any coach in the country.

At Camden’s practice prior to their matchup with ESPN’s No. 18 ranked team in the country, Rancho Christian, Ware was late on a shift in the defensive zone.

Brunson stopped the entire practice to yell at Ware and let him know that plays like that could lose them games.

“Coach keeps me humble,” Ware said

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laughing. “He keeps everybody on the team humble. He doesn’t show favorites to anybody, and by him being so real with us — all one through 13 — we know that there’s nobody more important than the other person at all.”

On Saturday, Ware matched-up against the consensus No. 1 player in the country Evan Mobley live on ESPN3.

Camden got the win 61 59 in front of a sold-out crowd and Ware earned the most outstanding player award finishing with 18 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals and 1 block.

So much for that nervous eighth grader that felt “ehh” about basketball.

Lance Ware throws down a dunk during Camden’s win over Rancho Christian at the 2020 Hoophall Classic. (Joe Arruda/The Student)

January 20, 2020

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The legacy of hoops in the dmv The DMV is home to some basketball greats and the talent from the area continues to improve with time.

By Jack Margaros @JackMargaros

The District, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area has long been the epicenter for some of the best high school basketball in the nation. It consistently features the best players and teams across the country.

That talent has translated to college and even the NBA. Kevin Durant, arguably the most accomplished player to come out of the DMV, is from Suitland, MD and was one of the top ranked players at Montrose Christian his senior year in 2006.

Carmelo Anthony grew up in western Baltimore and attended Towson Catholic before transferring to Oak Hill Academy — a perennial powerhouse in southern Virginia.

Jeff Green and Michael Beasley were each born in Cheverly, MD. Green played college hoops at nearby Georgetown, whereas Beasley bounced around several high schools in Maryland before eventually getting drafted No. 2 overall in the 2008 NBA Draft.

“We recognize from all levels of basketball the D.C. area provides a

lot of talent,” DeMatha Wootten, a Hall of (then Lew Alcidnor) basketball my whole Catholic head coach Fame coach, had never and Power Memorial to life and it just keeps Mike Jones said. “Look endured a losing season break the streak in 1965. getting better and betat all the guys in the in 46 years and won five He is credited with ter,” DeMatha forward NBA from our area. national titles and 22 putting DeMatha on the Hunter Dickinson said.

Look at the college basD.C. championships. map, as a basketball and “Somehow we just alketball teams filled with At one point during athletic program, and ways have a lot of talent DMV players.” his tenure, DeMatha establishing a tradition around us and we just In the latest ESPN had amassed a 71-game of excellence throughlove competing against Top 25 high school winning streak. It took out the DMV. each other.” rankings, six teams Kareem Abdul-Jabbar “I’ve known DMV Jones took over in listed reside in the DMV area. DeMatha is ranked the highest, coming in at No. 5. Ever since high school basketball has risen in popularity to a national scale, the DMV has been well represented and respected among the basketball community.

“It’s the best basketball in the country,” Dematha small forward Earl Timberlake (No. 30 in ESPN’s Top 100 for the class of 2020) said. “You can look at the numbers. Numbers don’t lie.”

Dematha has long acted as the poster child for high school basketball dominance. It not only cultivates outstanding individual players, but has routinely found itself among the top tier of high school basketball teams. Jones had some big shoes to fill when he DeMatha’s Earl Timberlake Jr. flushes home a dunk during the 2020 Spalding took over for Morgan Hoophall Classic. (Evan Wheaton/The Student) Wootten.

#HHClassic

January 20, 2020

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DeMatha’s Jacoi Hutchinson at Hoophall. (Gabby Guerard/The Student) 2002 and has followed suit ever since. In his 18th season at the helm, he owns a 484-118 all-time record. He’s won nine Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season titles and four Maryland Private School Tournament championships while seeing six former players reach the NBA. Although, Jones had never coached a player quite like Dickinson — a 7 foot, 1 inch center who transferred to DeMatha from Rock Creek Christian before his sophomore season.

“That’s part of the reason why I came here,” Dickinson said. “I wanted to be the next one. There’s definitely a standard of excellence when you walk around Dematha. Wherever you are, (people) always know that’s DeMatha from Maryland.”

It doesn’t stop with DeMatha. St. John’s College, St. Frances Academy, Paul VI High School, and Gonzaga College are all nationally recognized DMV squads.

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“Our talent is so widespread around I think a lot of teams get to get a sense of what DMV basketball is like. I think it’s pretty well dispersed so that no team is too stacked. I think everybody is pretty even,” Dickinson said. We don’t all come together at one school.

Everybody stays and tries to win at their own school.”

Dickinson and Timberlake have combined to create one of the most exciting front courts in the country. It was on display on Saturday night at the Spalding Hoophall Classic presented by Eastbay.

Timberlake had 24 points, 11 rebounds and three assists while Dickinson finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a 57-49 victory. Timberlake jolted the Blake Arena crowd with emphatic dunks, while Dickinson bullied his way to buckets in the post.

“They’ve been around so long it’s like we’re cherishing every moment we get with them now because we know they’ll be gone soon,” Jones said. “For two winners, two champions, the way that they’ve represented themselves and their families, it’s a lot of pressure on us as coaches to make sure that we do everything we can to make sure they end their careers at Dematha the right way.”

Dickinson and Timberlake are the latest wave of seemingly nonstop DMV talent, and they’re looking to add to the legacy.

“It’s something that we take pride in and something we know every time we go out, whoever we play against is going to recognize that they’re playing a D.C. area team and come at us a little bit,” Jones said. “There’s places all over, but we feel like we’re the best and we enjoy having opportunities to prove it.”

Until next year...

Complete tournament coverage can be found on: scstudentmedia.com

Sierra Canyon’s Bronny James following the team’s win over Dominican.

Joe Arruda/The Student