In partnership with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, The Springfield Student staff has been providing in-depth media coverage for the last three Spalding Hoophall Classics. This year, our 12-person staff has put together several different forms of content, including photospreads, feature stories, highlight videos and much more on our website and social media. This special 24-page edition of The Springfield Student incorporates our work from the first three days of the event. To see the rest of our talented crew’s coverage of the weekend, visit scstudentmedia.com.
The 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic presented by Eastbay is once again an event that showcases the best of basketball while honoring the game’s beginnings. As the buses arrive on campus and drive down Alden Street, the next generation of the nation’s best basketball players pass under the arch that reads, “Welcome to Springfield College – Birthplace of Basketball.”
Some of the best NBA and WNBA players competed at The Spalding Hoophall Classic when they were in high school. Kevin Durant, Elena Delle-Donne, Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum all played on the same court in Blake Arena that the next generation of future pros are gracing this weekend.
It is a special trip for everyone involved. Those traveling from far away get the once-in-alifetime opportunity to visit the birthplace of basketball. Each team has the chance to visit the Basketball Hall of Fame and walk through the timeline of history that allowed them to get to where they are now.
The Hoophall Classic provides a full-circle experience, encompassing not only the competitive aspect of playing the best of the best, but also the chance to appreciate the rich history behind the sport of basketball.
The 2023 Hoophall Classic, per usual, welcomed the top teams and players from across the country, including several returning schools. IMG Academy (FL), Sunrise Christian Academy (KS), Sierra Canyon (CA) and Montverde Academy (FL) are among the top programs
that continue to come back to play at the Birthplace year after year.
“I think the Hoophall is one of, if not the biggest high school event of the year because 10, 12 of the best high schools in America play on the same weekend,” Montverde coach Kevin Boyle said. “As a basketball fan or college scout or NBA fan, there are really few places that are better to see the better kids in one weekend and also see them against each other.”
Montverde has been a long-standing participant at the Hoophall Classic, attending since 2013. Its consistent presence shows why Hoophall is such a special event.
Boyle not only wants to compete at a high level and showcase his team’s talent, but also take the time to soak in the history of Springfield and its impact on
the game.
“It’s something you try to educate the kids on, because I don’t know if, when you’re young, you’re that much into history,” Boyle said. “I think some kids are thinking about how the NBA was established, how basketball was established, who were the people that were the cornerstones of it becoming such a great sport and … [who] make it continue to shine. You want to educate the kids on that and understand what you love and where it came from, and pay homage to some of the people responsible for it.”
Although the event features teams from across the country, local teams also have the opportunity to compete at Hoophall and represent New England – including Springfield Central High School (MA).
Springfield Central typically competes at the Hoophall Classic –usually playing multiple games over the long weekend. The Golden Eagles are unique in that they are both local, as well as skilled enough to compete with top schools from other areas of the country.
“I think, first and foremost, we’re fortunate and excited about having the opportunity to represent our area. You have one of the biggest tournaments in the country, if not the biggest tournament in the country, right here in your backyard,” Central coach Bill Watson said.
“You definitely want to have some teams from this area representing the city, the region, the state. We’re happy to be one of those teams that are in there annually, and it means a lot to the kids as well.”
For local schools, the Hoophall Classic is a chance to showcase their skills on a larger stage while staying close to home.
By Ty Coney @tconey_The 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic, known for drawing the best high school teams to Springfield College, also grants an opportunity for local high schools to display their talent in one of the biggest basketball showcases in the country.
Some of the teams that competed during the first two days at the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic will face off at some point in their high school gyms as well. But Springfield College and the Basketball Hall of Fame turn what would otherwise be any other regular-season game into a game circled on every player and coach’s schedule.
Players and coaches from Springfield and
nearby towns in Massachusetts and Connecticut get a chance to play in front of a full crowd at Blake Arena, along with appearances from celebrities and professional athletes both past and present.
Windsor (CT) High School’s head coach Kevin Smith realizes how meaningful it is for the players to compete in such a high-profile event.
“This is important to them. They want to say they played in [Hoophall],” Smith said.
The event presents a rare opportunity for athletes to show their best work on a big stage.
For Putnam Vocational’s (MA) Andrew Mabry, it’s something that he’s been waiting for since his first taste last year as a sophomore.
“I look forward to this every year because it’s another opportunity to
Springfield Central is one of the many local teams who compete at Hoophall each and every year. (Jamarius Russell/The Student)
show my game, present my play, and show how I am on and off the court as a person,” Mabry, now a junior, said. “I always try to stay humble and just stay confident in myself and never bring my teammates down.”
Mabry led the Beavers in scoring with 29 points in their game against Springfield International (MA) on Thursday night, which was the most points scored by a player on the first day of competition.
The Hoophall Classic also provides the opportunity for local athletes to gain attention from colleges around the country. As scouts travel for the national games, D-I colleges get a chance to have a look at some of the local talent in the Springfield area.
For local D-II and D-III colleges, it allows for an easy recruiting trip.
“That’s how it is. It’s like that. Last year I had a guy (Primo Spears) who now plays at Georgetown, taking pictures with Rod Strickland,” Smith said.
The Birthplace of Basketball is the host of the Hoophall Classic, as it’s an easy way for stars around the country to appreciate the history of the sport they love by playing at the place it was invented. On top of that, they get to have an entertaining experience.
“A few of the guys who are playing over this weekend, about four to six guys who are playing in this event, we’ve already been in contact with them all year,” Springfield College men’s basketball coach Mike McClendon said. “So, this is really like you get to watch good basketball, you get to have a great weekend at the
Birthplace, and add some names that we haven’t noticed throughout the year.”
This event for Springfield is used as a recruiting event for the team by showing that extra support for the guys they want.
“For us, it’s about keying on the guys we have a relationship with already. Letting them know we’re here and we’re showing love and that we really want them to be here next year,” McClendon said.
At the end of the day, players and teams are simply at the event to get a win. All the teams who take the court attempt to block out the noise, while also getting the experience and opportunity of a lifetime.
Pope Francis Prep’s 62-58 win over Longmeadow on Thursday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic continued a theme that’s been established in multiple Cardinals sports for over a year. Wherever you looked on the court or pitch or diamond, a player named “Vedovelli” was making an impact.
It may have been Cam leaving the opposing defense in shambles with a combination of relentless driving and knockdown 3-point shooting. There was also the possibility it was his younger brother Ryan being a factor all over the court, whether he was running the offense, swooping to the inside for rebounds, or contesting at the rim.
Competing athletically is all the brothers have ever known, and it began against each other.
“[My first memories playing together were] the battles in the driveway,” Cam said.
The athletic skills of the Vedovelli brothers are not limited to the hardwood. Along with being the current leaders in points scored for the basketball team, the pair were the two leading goal-scorers on their soccer team. They are also positive contributors to Pope Francis’s baseball team.
No matter the sport, having the familial connection adds significantly to their play.
“We know each other and we know our strengths, so we don’t really have to talk much,” Cam said. “We know what we’re gonna do. If we make a cut, we know we’re gonna make that cut, and we’ll make the pass — it just makes it easier.”
Being in the same house makes it less difficult to find a training partner. When school gets out and no Pope Francis teams are playing, the Vedovellis continue to push themselves.
“In the summer, we have workouts, and we try to get ourselves better. We start working on different things, like our weaknesses — like he needs to work on his dribbling a little bit and I need to work on my shooting,” Ryan said with a laugh.
Cam is a senior at Pope Francis, whereas Ryan is a sophomore. It is a cliché that the older brother is the younger’s biggest motivator, and the Vedovellis follow that stereotype in a positive manner.
“He pushes me. He wants me to do better. He helps me when I’m doing something
wrong,” Ryan said. “He’s always there for me.”
The connection between the two has carried multiple Cardinals teams to successful seasons. The 2022 boys soccer team made it to the Elite Eight in the Division IV Statewide Tournament, and this year’s boys basketball team is 8-3 to begin the year — the eighth win coming on Thursday night over Longmeadow.
Cam started with the hot hand. On Pope Francis’s first offensive possession, he sank a 3-pointer from the right wing. Then, he hit another one from the same spot to make it 6-2. After that, he drained a corner three for the Cardinals’ seventh, eighth, and ninth points. Following that was another corner three, then a floater to make it 14-5 Pope Fran-
cis, with every Cardinal point coming from Cam Vedovelli.
Cam finished the first half with 20 points. After halftime, it was Ryan’s turn. Pope Francis’s first five points of the second half were scored by Ryan, off a 3-pointer and a contested layup. Soon after, he took a charge that invigorated the team and its student section. Up 42-31, Ryan sank another three to extend a large lead. However, Longmeadow came back to take a 57-56 late in regulation. With less than a minute to play, one of the Cardinals missed a three-pointer, but Ryan flung himself under the hoop to grab the rebound. His feet were not on the ground long after he got it, as he jumped from the right side of the hoop to the left and
sank a layup for the lead. The Cardinals earned a stop, and Cam was fouled. He had a 1-and-1, but hit both free throws. The Lancers responded with a free throw to make it 60-58, then fouled Ryan for another 1-and-1 with 10.8 seconds to play. Ryan made both at the charity stripe, and made it nearly impossible for Longmeadow to come back.
Thursday night’s game at the Spalding Hoophall Classic was exemplary of what has become familiar at Pope Francis. The Vedovellis are consistently a problem for other teams to deal with. Along with their wide skill-set, there is a connection between them that can only be built through brotherly love.
Pope Francis Prep brothers Cam and Ryan Vedovelli have excelled in each sport they’ve played for the Cardinals. The two use one another as motivation to become better players and better people.
Brendan Durkin has served as equipment manager for Newton North High School (MA) since 2008. Durkin, who has Down’s syndrome, ‘brings so much love and joy to the team,’ according to Tigers coach Paul Connolly.
By Luke Whitehouse @Lwhitehouse12
When the phrase “heart and soul” of a team comes to mind, it usually involves a player or coach who exemplifies what the team is all about, and provides a shot of energy to the team when it needs it the most.
But for the Newton North High School (MA) basketball team, the heart and soul of the team is sitting right on the bench.
That man is team manager Brendan Durkin.
Durkin has made an impact on the program that goes far beyond the court. His presence alone has propelled him into the main morale booster and joy to the program for over a decade.
To outsiders, he might just seem like someone who helps out the players and coaches.
But he is so much
more than that.
Durkin, 28, was born with Down’s syndrome. He became infatuated with the game of basketball early on. He moved from Denver to Newton, Mass., in 2008 during his sophomore year of
high school. He was new at the school, and didn’t know how it would go.
After the move, the prospect of being a team manager never crossed Durkin’s mind, but he knew one thing: he loved basketball.
He doesn’t just cherish the game, but he loves everything about it. From Jayson Tatum’s spin move (his favorite), to all the crazy dunks and everything in between.
“I fell in love,” Durkin said. “It’s
taught me how to be a team leader…[out of all the sports] basketball is my huge favorite.”
When Walter Lyons, the former principal of Newton North, approached head coach Paul Connolly about a possible role on the team for Durkin, Connolly, a special education teacher, did not hesitate.
“[Lyons] introduced me to his mom and said that the family had just moved from Denver and Brendan, their son, loves basketball,” Connolly said. “And he asked if maybe there’s any way we could get Brendan involved in our program. I said, ‘Absolutely.’”
Durkin became a student-manager while still in high school, fulfilling his dream of being around basketball all the time. Howev-
er, that was just the beginning.
He received his certificate of retainment from Newton North, completed the Transition Scholars Program at MassBay Community College in Wellesley, Mass. and now works at Boston College as an equipment desk attendant.
But even with a job at BC, Durkin kept his manager position with the basketball team that gave him the opportunity to chase his dreams.
“He’s the guy who brings so much joy and love to our team,” Connolly said. “He motivates the guys, he comes to practice with us, he even raps with the kids on bus rides.”
Durkin has befriended many of his teammates over the years – teammates who turn into family.
“I’ve had so many players come through our system that are his friends,” Connolly said. “Over time, his support system became his teammates.”
The impact Durkin makes has been felt by all his teammates, both past and present.
“The overall
energy rises when he’s around,” senior Adam Landry said. “When he’s in a good mood, he puts the whole team in a good mood…I just love the kid.”
Out of all the memories that he’s made over the years, one seems to stick out the most: getting to play at TD Garden.
In 2014, against Needham High School, Connolly subbed Durkin into the game. Durkin then proceeded to make a basket, and the team rushed around him. He even did post-game interviews.
“In 2014, I went to TD Garden,” Durkin said. “ I never got to be on the court playing for Newton North [before]… so it was awesome.”
Just prior to their game at Hoophall, the Newton North basketball team toured the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, where Durkin gave a speech in front of the whole team as it “inducted” him into the Hall of Fame.
“Last year Brendan was awarded a hall of fame award in our Hall
of Fame,” Connolly said. “So he’s kind of a Newton North Hall of Famer, and now, a Basketball Hall of Famer.”
During his visit to the Hall of Fame, Durkin continuously displayed his favorite spin move on center court, as well as dunked on a lowered rim with many of his teammates looking on. The infectious joy on their faces captured the essence of what Durkin means to this team. Each player went over to take videos, pictures and cheer him on as his bright smile never dropped.
Day one of the Hoophall Classic tipped off with the Newton North basketball team battling it out with Northwest Catholic. They
emerged victorious with a thrilling 6759 win in double overtime.
As the Tigers warmed up pregame, Durkin, sporting a bright orange “Newton North” tank top, took shots with the team.
And during the game that same man could be seen get-
ting water for all his teammates, and cheering hard on the bench at every made basket.
“He’s definitely the heart of the team,” senior Jose Padilla said. “He brings us all together, and we all love him.”
Mya Pauldo is a floor general. There’s no better way to describe her. She sets her teammates up with pinpoint passes, controls the tempo of each possession with ease and lets the game come to her.
Her twin sister Mia, who is older by one minute, is ranked No. 8 in the 2025 espnW Terrific 25, and her game is undeniably built for the spotlight. She makes the highlight plays, possesses an unmatched swagger and oozes confidence with every dribble.
They both make basketball look effortless.
Although they carry themselves much older, the Pauldo sisters
are only sophomores at Morris Catholic High School (NJ). Despite the polar-opposite playstyles, their games complement each other to perfection – and they combined for 31 points in last year’s New Jersey state championship game victory.
“I’m always looking for our players, I wanna create a play for them,” Mya said. “Mia’s one of our main scorers, so I definitely have to look for my sister and give her the ball. We complement each other because we can also switch positions. She can play point guard and look for me as well. We’re two point guards that really don’t turn the ball over.”
Growing up, Mia and Mya were simply miles ahead of the girls their age in the peewee circuit, so they started competing against boys.The Pauldo twins dominated them, too.
In response, they moved up to play girls several years older than them – which ultimately prepared them for competitive games later on in their careers.
“They used to be like, ‘Who are these girls, yo?’” Mia recalled about playing against boys. “Everybody thought we were tough because we were small and beating these boys. And because we’re small and crossing over and scoring all the
time.”
It became evident to DJ Pauldo -- Mia and Mya’s father -- that basketball was what his daughters were born to do. So when they were seven, he sacrificed the family’s garage in Paterson, N.J., to build a full-sized basketball court next to their house. It had to be done; the garage was collateral damage in DJ’s master plan.
“We fell in love with the sport really young because we was around it our whole lives,” Mia said. “It was really important because we was out there every day in the summer. We would always be out there getting shots up, developing our handles. My dad used to coach (NBA players) Kyle Anderson and JR Smith. All of them used to come to the house and play with us and hang with us.”
“They’re big bros to us,” Mya added.
If it hadn’t already been well worth it before then, DJ’s decision to knock down the garage for a basketball court paid off in September when Mia and Mya each signed Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) sponsor-
ship deals with Puma. What started on those hoops in Paterson now has Puma on board the twins’ train that’s chugging full steam ahead.
Puma’s stable of athletes already included stars like LaMelo Ball, Breanna Stewart, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Mikey Williams. To have their names mentioned in the same conversation as some of today’s biggest athletes is an indescribable feeling.
“We started to understand what this was really about, and now our name is in that group of people. It’s amazing,” Mya said.
As they took the court at Springfield College’s Blake Arena for Morris Catholic’s game at the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic on Friday afternoon, it was officially Mia and Mya’s first time playing at the birthplace of basketball. The two had attended the Hoophall Classic before, as spectators to watch their dad coach.
Mia took full advantage of the opportunity, dropping a game-high 21 points in Morris Catholic’s 54-44 loss against St. Paul VI Catholic High School.
Morris Catholic sophomore guards Myaand Mia Pauldo, better known as the TwinBackCourt (TBC), used their basketball prowess to obtain a sponsorship deal with Puma. The Pauldo twins during a timeout. (Nico Fiscella/The Student
Mya, on the other hand, struggled to get things going. She scored only two points while grabbing four rebounds and adding three assists. Knowing this might not be the last time they play at Springfield College, Mya is determined to get back and show what she’s truly capable of.
“I wish I played a little better today, but I hope I get another chance to come back and show everybody what I can really do,” Mya said.
Morris Catholic head
coach Billy Lovett is the perfect person to lead these basketball prodigies. Lovett played and coached under one of the game’s greatest coaches, Bob Hurley Sr., at the now-closed St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, N.J. Hurley Sr. is well-known for his strict and rigorous coaching style – he treated every player the same no matter the talent they had.
Because Lovett witnessed Hurley Sr.’s tactics front and center, he
can implement a similar style with Mia and Mya to keep them hungry and humble.
“We try to make sure they’re reeled in. They do a great job of finding teammates and getting them open shots, it’s never about them, always the team,” Lovett said. “They’re well-rounded basketball players, but they’re better people.”
Considering Mia and Mya have been by each other’s side since coming
into the world, they’ll be faced with a difficult and important life-altering decision: where they want to attend college. The two have offers from Rutgers, Mississippi State, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Miami among many, many others. Yes, they’re only sophomores, but this choice is waiting for them around the corner.
Do they stick with what’s worked for them their entire lives – play-
ing alongside one another – or do they go their separate ways? To them, there’s no debate.
“We’re trying to dominate together, no question about it,” Mia said.
The Pauldo Twins are taking over the high school basketball landscape, and they’re doing so in their own way. Mia and Mya are social media contributors (11.2K followers on Instagram and over 3K on TikTok)
and they have already scored deals to become Ambassadors of Puma as sophomores in high school.
There is certainly no limit to what these young stars can do. But one thing’s for sure, they’re enjoying every step side-by-side.
“It’s really special [to have my sister with me],” Mya said. “Usually people are on their own for this type of journey, they don’t have no
to back them up or help them when they’re going through it mentally. We have each other to pick each other up on and off the court.”
Mia added: “To have someone else push us to our fullest potential, it’s nice to have. And having that with us together, that’s unstoppable.”
one
“
They’ve just been a delight to have around, and a delight to coach. They don’t big-time anybody. They’re tremendous basketball players, but they’re even better kids.”
- Billy Lovett
La Jolla Country Day (CA) guard Jada Williams not only dominates on the court, but her massive fan base has garnered her multiple elite sponsorships.
By Carley Crain @carley_crain12A point guard in basketball is the director of the game. Someone who was born to lead. A player who knows how to lift others up while remaining focused and poised. Headline after headline, she is often labeled as a “basketball prodigy” or a “natural born leader.”
Her bright smile and confidence that is noticeable from a mile away, paired with the ability to dominate on the basketball court, makes La Jolla Country Day School (CA)’s Jada Williams from the perfect point guard.
Williams’s laser-focused look sends her competitors into a frenzy. She isn’t afraid to get in opponents’ faces and make them nervous. She makes her presence felt from the moment she steps foot in the arena – and that was exactly what happened at the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic on Friday night.
Williams’ ability to think quickly on her feet – while simultaneously being able to control the offense both vocally and physically – helped La Jolla Day Country School defeat Christ the King High School (NY) 64-47. Williams earned the game’s most valuable player award, posting 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
She’s been criticized by the media for having an “attitude” and a “big mouth,” but Williams sees her personality as one that breeds confidence. Silence simply isn’t in her DNA.
“As a point guard, you can’t be out there hesitant or not believing in yourself,” Williams said. “My godfather taught me from a very young age that if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody will for you. That has always been something I have lived by on and off the court.”
Williams’s faith has helped her develop a greater purpose outside of basketball. Before every game, she says a quick prayer, putting trust in God that everything will work out.
Williams running the offense. (Carley Crain/The Student) University of Arizona next year to continue her basketball career and pursue a Bachelor’s degree in communications.
“I know I am built for this moment. I have been on millions of big stages, so I know I am prepared,” Williams said. “God gave me this platform to use it, so I have to do so in a positive way.”
Williams has proved time and time again that she is one of the best high school girls basketball players in the country – and that her name should be discussed among the game’s elite. But aside from basketball, Williams has a verified blue check mark next to her Instagram handle, and casually has over 600,000 followers at just 17 years old.
Gymshark, Spalding, and DICK’S Sporting Goods are just a few businesses that Williams has partnered with, earning her a six-figure salary while still in high school. After she finishes her senior year at La Jolla, she is headed to the
Williams also recently started her own foundation, Greater Purpose, which incorporates her passion for God through mission trips and encourages individuals to find a deeper meaning in their lives.
“Basketball and God have always been two things I can fall back on and have stayed consistent in my life,” Williams said. “They have never left me and I know that all the trials I go through in life, I am a strong warrior.”
Williams bet on herself at a young age and capitalized on numerous Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities after California became the first state in the country to allow high school athletes the opportunity to pursue NIL deals. Young women like Willams are helping grow basketball tremendously, as The Gist reports that women’s sports are currently outpacing men’s sports in regard to NIL deals.
Female athletes being able to profit from marketing deals based on their student-athlete status has been transformative for women’s representation in basketball, and in all sports overall. Williams is re-writing the narrative of what it means to be a high school athlete, and she is certainly not afraid of taking risks in order to enhance her career.
She’s the first to high-five her teammates after a basket, but not the last to offer them advice on how to improve. Williams holds herself accountable too – and at times can be her biggest critic. But Williams’s intentions are always to improve and be the best basketball player – and person – she can be.
Williams will rely on her strong sense of self-esteem and confidence to help handle the large spotlight and take care of her mental health.
“I think it is important to know my worth,” she said. “I just understand my body and when to do what.”
Christ the King head coach Bob Mackey is the definition of a lifer when it comes to the game of basketball. Whether it’s leading his team to a plethora of state championships, or coaching legends like Sue Bird and Tina Charles, Mackey has seen – and done – it all.
The thing is, coaching wasn’t always his plan.
“I had an argument with my high school coach and quit (playing),” Mackey said. “So then I got bored and I went down to a local high school and became the JV coach.”
Mackey, who returned to the Hoophall Classic this year for the first time since 2018, is in the midst of his 40th total season as a coach - 33 of them being at Christ the King. He credits former Villanova head coach Jay Wright, UConn women’s head coach Geno Auriemma and former University of Virginia head coach Terry Holland with piquing his interest in the profession and showing him the ropes.
Mackey doesn’t just limit himself to coaching.
He also serves as the athletic director at
Christ the King and teaches honors chemistry, where he has led multiple science research projects.
Despite the countless wins and devastating losses, Mackey’s real pride and joy of coaching lies in the impact he has on his players.
“When you see them light up, that’s the best part,” Mackey said. “When you see a kid who just picks it up, whether it be Tina Charles or Sue Bird or even (current freshman) Olivia Vukoska, when you see them light up when they make a shot or after they make a stop…that’s what it’s all about.”
Mackey has enjoyed success since the moment he took over as head coach of the Royals’ girls basketball program 22 years ago, compiling many wins and so few losses.
In 2018, he led CTK to its 25th state championship overall, posting a 26-4 record – earning Mackey the USA Today All-USA Girls Basketball High School Coach of the Year award. It was the third time thatMackey’ received the award; he also won it in 2005 and 2006 – when his team
posted a perfect 30-0 record.
One thing that truly personifies Mackey’s impact are the members of his coaching staff throughout his career.
Countless alumni have come back to help coach at CTK, both in the past and to this day. Whether it be Clare Droesch, who coached with Mackey during his 2018 run and played under Mackey before going on to play at Boston College, or current assistants Joe Deluca and Sharod Tomlinson, both of whom played for the men’s teams and were students of Mackey, his impact has been felt.
“It’s great to have them back,” Mackey said. “They’ve done a phenomenal job all year.”
A large part of what has made the program successful is the culture Mackey created at CTK.
“We’ve had some great people come through this program,” Mackey said. “We’ve had great players play at the professional level… that’s just what the good programs do.”
That culture came full circle for the Royals’ family during one of Bird’s final WNBA games when Mackey and former CTK alumni came to show support.
“With Sue’s last game
in Brooklyn, we were all there,” Mackey said. “It was special, and it’s still so fun to talk to her.”
Although his team lost 64-47 to La Jolla Country Day (CA) at the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic on Friday, Mackey’s influence on the next generation of young women’s basketball players was apparent. Some things remain the same no matter the game’s result. Whenever Mackey is on the sidelines, he will be seen sporting his signature black, gold and maroon sweater vest, pacing back and forth - encouraging his team until the final buzzer sounds.
Christ the King head coach Bob Mackey is in his 40th season as a coach, and has been a mentor to the likes of Sue Bird and Tina Charles.Mackey on the sideline. (Luke Whitehouse/The Student)
Julie Bahati moved to the United States from Kenya when she was nine years old, and now brings unparallelled passion and pride to the Springfield Central girls basketball team.
By Braedan Shea @braedan_shea
Springfield Central girls basketball program’s drive and passion is clear from the opening tip. The Golden Eagles are vocal on both ends of the floor, hustle as hard as they can every play, and, most important, they have fun doing so. The way they play the game would certainly make James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, smile.
It’s fitting that Springfield Central brought its high-energy game to the birthplace of the sport. On Friday, Springfield Central opened day two with a 60-54 victory over Sacred Heart Academy (CT).
While every player is into the game, one stands above the rest – literally. Julie Bahati, Springfield Central’s superstar starting for-
ward l, has cemented herself as the team’s unquestioned leader. Every possession, whether on offense or defense, Bahati’s voice echoes the loudest. Wherever the ball is,
she can be counted on to be in the area. And when a teammate hits the deck, she will be there to lend a hand.
Not only does Bahati present herself as a leader, but the statis-
tics back it up as well. Bahati leads the team in rebounds (6.5 per game) and blocks (1 per game), as well as being third in points (7.6 per game) and assists (1.8 per game).
Bahati’s leadership could not have been more evident during the game. Early in the fourth quarter, she went down with a lower-leg injury, and had to be taken out for the first time all game. After getting her ankle taped, she returned to the front of the Springfield Central bench, cheering on her team louder than anybody else. Just minutes later, when her team needed her most, Bahati made her way back to the scorer’s table, re-entering the game.
With just 30 seconds remaining in the game, and Central Springfield up by six, Bahati closed out hard on a corner 3 by Sacred Heart. Immediately after the close out, she crashed to the basket and soared high to grab the rebound. As she came down, Bahati quickly fired the ball to guard Heaven Mor-
ris, who raced down the court and finished anand-one to put the game out of reach for Sacred Heart.
“I felt like we needed a strong finish,” Bahati said. “And I feel like that’s what I gave them, even with a hurt ankle. I can push through that and I feel like that’s what basketball really is. The love of basketball; it just brings that out of somebody.”
Bahati’s heroics not ony gave her team a great win, but she was also named the Most Valuable Player of the game, leading with 20 points, despite being injured. The injury is not something that she finds is too big of a deal, however.
“I’m stable right now,” Bahati said. “It just needs a little icing just off the pressure a little and I’d be fine.”
Although she appears confident in her role on the team, Bahati has not always felt this way. She moved to the United States from Kenya when she was 9 years old, which was when she first picked up the game of basketball. She first approached it with timidness – hiding in the corner, afraid to touch the ball.
The adjustment to life in America went beyond basketball.
Making friends was never a struggle, Bahati said, but, ironically, communication was. Bahati was fluent in English before the move, but the speed at which Americans talk made things difficult.
But with time, life got easier for Bahati as she became more used to daily life in a new country. Basketball also was becoming much easier. With her towering 6-foot-3 frame, Bahati stands above most. Combined with a relentless work ethic, Bahati has become one of the best players in Western Massachusetts.
During the 202122 campaign, Bahati led the Golden Eagles past top-seeded Andover to their first Division I state championship victory since 2017. After losing their second game of the season, Springfield Central won its next 20 games on the back of an impressive season from Bahati, whose efforts earned her an All-Western Mass. first-team nomination.
Along with the victory, Bahati and her teammates were awarded a key to the city from Springfield mayor Domenic Sarno, and he also proclaimed March 24 as Central High School Girls
Basketball Day. Coming into this season, Bahati’s game has drawn more than just attention at the high school level, but also collegiate. She had amassed over 15 total Division I offers to play collegiate basketball, before finally deciding to play
at St. John’s University. Bahati made her announcement during a school pep rally back in September.
Even with such an impressive and colorful career already, Bahati makes sure the focus is on her team.
“It’s my senior year, and I want to play
hard,” she said. “Winning (the championship) last season was great, but I want to come this year stronger and show them again who I am, and give it all my best.”
Oak Hill head coach Yerrick Stoneman is in his first year with the team, and takes over after coaching legend Steve Smith, who led the Warriors to nine national titles.
special,” Stoneman said. “He’s always willing to give me advice, and most importantly I’m always willing to ask for help too.”
youth of the program is recognized.
Stoneman
(Nick
By Daniel Curren @daniel_currenFollowing the retirement of legendary coach Steve Smith, new Oak Hill Academy (VA) head coach Yerrick Stoneman looks to continue his predecessor’s legacy.
Stoneman served as an assistant coach under Smith from 1996-2007. In 2016, Stoneman was hired to coach the boys basketball team at Ridge View High School (SC). He led the Blazers to three consecutive South Carolina 4A State Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Finally, Stoneman was hired by Oak Hill in 2022 following Smith’s retirement.
A Virginia native,
Stoneman had long dreamed of becoming the head coach at Oak Hill. He developed a close relationship with Smith during his tenure as assistant coach.
“He wasn’t only a mentor, but he was a father figure to me,” Stoneman said. “Even my daughter sees him like a grandfather.”
Smith took over at Oak Hill in 1985 and is regarded as one of the greatest high school basketball coaches of all time. With a career record of 1,228-97, he ranks third on the alltime wins list and led Oak Hill to nine national championships.
Smith’s Oak Hill teams were named “team of the decade” in the 1990s by MaxPreps, going 314-20 during that time span. Smith coached several future NBA draft picks, including Carmelo Anthony, Jerry Stackhouse and Rajon Rondo.
Smith and Stoneman have remained close after the transition of power. This relationship has been key for Stoneman as he navigates the trials and tribulations of his first year on the job.
“When you have one of the top high school coaches of all time in your back pocket, it’s
As a member of the Army reserve, Stoneman was on duty at Fort Knox in Kentucky last June when he got a call from coach Smith. Smith informed Stoneman that he would be retiring at the end of the year and that he wanted Stoneman to take over. Stoneman was excited to have been Smith’s choice, and he was also excited for what this meant for his family.
“It was a lifelong dream of mine, but also I was able to bring my wife back near her mother,” Stoneman said. “My daughters also teach elementary school, so they were able to come back and find a job in the area. More of it was a family decision to bring my family back together.”
Stoneman pushed his own coaching philosophy immediately after taking over. His first order of business was to hold an open forum for the players on Oak Hill’s White and Red teams to ask questions. These two teams are built up of younger players who play regionally, and Stoneman is committed to making sure the
“I’m trying to build some sort of feeder program where a couple of those can move up,” Stoneman said. “If I only take to my gold team, you’re not gonna have others on campus buying into the whole process.”
While winning a championship is always the goal, Stoneman’s priority is to make an impact on player’s lives and shape them into better people.
“Every team that I’ve put together, I’ve determined the success of that team five-six-seven years down the road,” Stoneman said. “Are our guys being good guys within the community? Are they being good father figures? Good husbands? Can they hold a job? Those mean more to me than winning ballgames. Five, six years down the road, then I can tell you if this team was successful.”
Stoneman is grateful to follow in Smith’s footsteps, and his mission is to continue what he started.
“I just want to keep what Coach Smith built,” Stoneman said. “I’m sure I’ll set my own legacy, but because he’s a mentor and a father figure, my main goal is to keep what he built.”
Six teams from Florida and Georgia are playing in the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic.
By Luke Whitehouse @Lwhitehouse12Florida and Georgia are separated by the 126-mile Saint Mary’s River that rides along the border and into the Atlantic Ocean. Sports have always had a huge role in both states, creating a track record of elite athletes at all levels across many different sports. However, recently, the plethora of sports talent it produces year in and year out － especially on the hardwood － has become noticeable.
That talent is especially evident at the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic..
Florida and Georgia combined have six teams competing. Representing the Sunshine State are Gulliver Prep (FL), IMG Academy (FL) and Christopher Columbus High School (FL), Montverde Academy (FL), while Newton High School (GA), and Wheeler High School (GA) are representing the Peach State.
The individual talent is off the charts. Wheeler High School’s Isaiah Collier (No. 6, Class
of 2023), Montverde Academy’s Sean Stewart (No. 7, Class of 2023) and Asa Nowell (No. 23, Class of 2024), Newton High School’s Stephon Castle (No. 23, Class of 2023), IMG Academy’s Bryson Tucker (No. 2, Class of 2024), Jameir Jones (No. 10, Class of ‘25) and Amier Ali (No. 13, Class of 2024) are just a few of the stars from the two southern states.
The fact that this batch of talent is happening concurrently may come as a surprise to some, but many who have a front-row seat have seen this coming.
Newton High School head coach Charlemagne Gibbons has coached for over 20 years, both at the high school level in Georgia and at the Division I college level in Florida, so he knows first-hand how both the hoops talent and the coaching have progressed.
“I think you’re seeing a lot of (successful) basketball players because basketball in the south
is taking more steps to the forefront,” Gibbons said. “I’ve really seen an uptick in the level of coaching in AAU and high school.”
IMG coach Sean McAloon echoed those sentiments.
“First off, the coaching has gotten considerably better,” McAloon said. “Secondly, you got people invested in the gym year-round. The talent and athleticism has always been there. You could see it in football and now it’s being honed in for basketball.”
With the recent influx of basketball talent, comes the opportunity to play professionally.
Current NBA players like Anthony Edwards (GA), Jaylen Brown (GA), Scottie Barnes (FL), and Anfernee Simons (FL) all made their mark on the southeast-
ern part of the country over the past decade, and even made their presence known at Hoophall.
This type of success has shown players what is possible if they put in the work.
“We have a wall with everyone that plays in the league,” said IMG sophomore Jamier Jones. “Every time you walk in the gym you see it and it makes you believe ‘I could be there one day.’”
Newton does something similar. Players there walk past a board with all the Division I athletes on it to show that it can be done.
“When those guys come down the hallway they see guys that they tangibly know, or maybe are even related to, and so it really makes the dream more real,” Gibbons said. “Sometimes about dreams, you have to have some type of
conformation at certain points and so having that conformation that it can happen, you start to see that with that conformation, comes the influx in basketball (talent).
Because Georgia and Florida abutt each other, the talent bleeds over the border, creating some healthy competition between the two neighboring states.
“It’s so transient now,” Gibbons said. “Now with the internet, and AAU programs, you know who these kids are and so it creates a natural rivalry between the athletes.”
That rivalry showed on the hardwood, as Jones and Ali led IMG (FL) to a 61-52 victory over Castle and Newton (GA) on day three of the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic.
Duke commit Jared McCain was named the 2021-22 California Gatorade Player of the Year. Now, the Centennial senior is looking to add to a list of accomplishments before going to college.
By Sean Savage @SeanSav13
Picture this: Threeyear old Jared McCain had one aspiration –to play on his brother Jayce’s team. “Jared went to everything Jayce went to in relation to basketball,” said Jared’s mom, Jina. But, there was a catch: Jayce was four years older than him.
Jina and her husband, Lance, came up
with an agreement.
“Once you [Jared] can make it in a 10foot hoop three times in a row, we will put you on a team,” Jina said. “He worked relentlessly.”
It wasn’t long before Jared sank one, then two and then all three shots. He ended up playing on a team the same year. His
first bucket just so happened to be on his own hoop.
Now, picture this: Jared McCain is in high school. It’s the crack of dawn in Corona, a small city on Los Angeles’s outskirts, and he is starting his morning routine. He wakes up and heads over to a small, bright-yellow piece of paper he calls his “dream board” – and he intensely stares at it. Listed are his aspirations, with
checkmarks next to each goal he has completed.
“We always talked about goals growing up,” Jina said. “Once he saw the board was something he could one day achieve, it was really exciting.”
Then he enters his living room, where a pink yoga mat awaits.
Relax, concentrate, and breathe. McCain goes through his morning yoga and meditation routine.
After he finishes,
he gathers his backpack and gym bag, slips on his rainbow-colored crocs and pink Nike shorts, and steps into his mother’s car to make his two-hour trek to PJ Performance to get in a workout before the school day starts. He repeats this every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
That routine propelled him to become the phenom he is today: a 6-foot-2,
195-pound shooting guard for Centennial (CA) High school and the No. 16-ranked recruit in the Class of 2023.
Josh Giles, the 2021-22 MaxPreps National Coach of the Year, has served as head coach at Centennial for nearly two decades and owns a 447-136 record. During that time, has seen his fair share of Division 1 prospects, coaching several future college stars.
From the moment he first became acquainted with McCain, it was clear to Giles that he was witnessing something special. He saw a player with exceptional talent, prompting him to make the rare call to make extra space on the roster for McCain. Immediately, he and McCain got to work. Day in and out, McCain became a more skilled and efficient guard. He developed value as a spot-up shooter and efficient floor-spacer within offensive structure.
“I have seen him learn the game very well. Each day, he very intently tries to make his team better,” his mom said. “It is more about making
the team better.”
In addition, he learned to have a very compact release on his jumper, with almost no dip prior to his release, which gives him added gravity around the arc.
“He is incredibly coachable,” Giles told The Grind in June. “Everybody loves him. He’s a great teammate, he does not cut corners, and he out works everybody.”
McCain’s consistent work sparked him to check more and more boxes on his “dream board.” Because of his play on the court, McCain was named the 2021-22 California Gatorade State Player of the Year. Additionally, he won gold with Team USA U18 National Team in Mexico and, in 2023, and accepted a scholarship offer to play for one of the most prestigious programs in college basketball, Duke.
And now, after pouring in a gamehigh 27 points in Corona Centennial’s 6662 win over Camden (NJ) High School on Saturday at the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic, he can add something else to his dream board.
Outside of hoops, McCain is also a social media sensation, with
1.8 million TikTok followers. After many games, practices, or school days, McCain can often be seen dancing away. However, being an influencer also comes with backlash.
“He is really conscious when he puts things out,” his mom
said. In hopes of avoiding negativity, McCain puts out his video pre-games. Any time he misses a shot, loses a game, or does not play up to par, haters let him hear it. But McCain knows to tune out all distractions when he is
on the court. Just like the 3-year old version of himself, he is still all about working relentlessly and knocking down shots.
(Photo by Garrett CoteThe Student)