Max Huff

THIS IS MY LAST POST, Sound the trumpets. I tossed and turned last night over the 80's Baller. During my tenure with Gary, Mark and Bill, I never ever wanted to detract from the accomplishments of those young coaches and the players. I rarely ever got in a team picture (kind of like when I was a cop we were told do the job-stay out of the photos). I was the first coach certified at Oneida as Non-Faculty FYI 80's Baller. Those guys from the 90's Jacob included have been upset due to the mediocrity of our program. They have continuously encouraged me. I have supported them. We just played Upperman this year. Their young kids were fundamentally sound players. YES Derek and Steve we all have to work harder to have our kids ready for high school ball. Sure you all have made a big deal about it, but you can't look at the high school teams and say mediocrity is 100% the result of all the high school coaching. Last years Freshmen were not as fundamental as I would have liked but they believe they can beat anybody. They believed they could have beaten the varsity this year. That may upset You Dont Know Me, but believing and expecting to win was exactly the same mentality I discovered from the 1991-1992 team (yes we also had some cocky type issues this year and I agree with you). 80's Baller's thoughts and verbal assaults are a minority. Sounds of a want to be high school coach who had been a junior pro coach. I have received three calls from parents and players upset over the pompous and naive comments. However, maybe 80's is right, I turn 48 this year. I have multiple obligations outside of hoops. My commitment to the school, program and the guys I was with brought me back this year. I don't accept mediocrity neither does our Town. I told the boys all year I hope to be sitting in the stands in a couple of years watching their success. I have never wanted to cast any light on my efforts or involvement because it detracts from our kids and good young coaches. The comments assailed at me show a negative attitude. A "look at me" screw you Max. You are not needed at the high school. I view Junior Pro and Middle School as training grounds for high school hoops. Important in laying the ground work for the future. Drawing negative comments and negative light and latent resentment on our program is something I never envisioned when I put my name here defending Jake. I didn't realize so many adults put their hidden thoughts on here. More adults than kids. Currentz, Thanks for the nice comments. I thought a lot about Ms. Cox in college and law school. The cop thing is way in the past but was a turning point in my life. I can't have Oneida Basketball cast in a negative light due to resentment towards me.

Derek, Sean has been a great addition to Oneida. He was not very knowledgeable on hoops at first but was a great people person and manager. He took a challenge to be a good coach and was a great asset to our school, town, Jake and me. He was forced to address a parent in the dressing room at Cumberland Gap who seemingly wanted to blame coaches for his childs antics. He cut his teeth this year and was always professional yes what a pleasant surprise for our school and team. My efforts have always been to improve the OHS boys basketball-in whatever way needed. I usually never went to a middle school game after 5-6 days a week with the boys varsity and with work this was usually enough hoops for me. I know that our Varsity Boys need to have better fundamental instruction. It has been evident particularly the last few years. I dont think any one finger can be pointed at any group. It is our job, our task, and our basketball future, that we get better. Taking the position that our jr. pro and middle school instruction has no part in our most recent mediocre teams is like saying,"I done my job, it is all you high school coach". 6 months later after I discussed this openly, I have been forced to defend what everyone knows but was afraid to say. I feel confident that all readers of my ramblings either agree or mad at me for stating it publicly. I am not a coacht kind of guy but I have now become obsessed after the 80's ballers psychotic attack on me. I have always been a back room guy so this is new to me. You can re-read all of what I wrote, I have attacked no one individually. Yeah, Kazam, as a cop I was described as "driven". That is what I am now. Ms. Cox and Ms. Brewster would have failed me with my runon sentences.

Yes, I am proud of the Sophomore class, past and present. I had a parent stop by my office and tell me that Braxton was transferring to Wartburg. I hope that is not true. He did things he should have not done this year. I never gave up on him as he is a kid and I also felt he can be an impact player in our district. What players end up at Christmas in the rotation is I guess anybody's guess. That is what I always believed Coacht was about. Mark Miller will be all district as a junior. How he fares next year will be fun to watch. Holden amazes me. He takes plays off but when it is on the line, the ball seems to be in his hands. P-Diddy was behind this year but the last week of practice Coach K began working hard to play Harriman. He was assigned to D Chuck Jeffers who responded like a man against Harriman. That type of practice contribution makes a team. Chuck played zero Jv, Caleb was kept out some and so was Lewallen. Torrey and LaFreak did carry us along with all of the past Freshman. We have some impact players coming in from middle school. Whether they cut it in practice remains to be seen. They will have some adjustments but they certainly believe they can play and so do I.

"Max and those people might be right and Steve and I don't know how to teach basketball, but when no one else wanted that job Steve and I stepped up and gave our best. teaching. I know the past two years have been criticized here, but what about three years ago? I realiI have coached with Steve in Jr Pro, AAU, and at the middle school level, but I have never said or feel that made me a good coach. . Max has been around OHS b-ball and tried to help more than anyone that comes to mind from the nineties to present. I haven't agreed with everything he has done or said, but he was there to help. I did agree with the post about the comment Max had made about the fundamentals never being taught to these kids in Jr Pro and middle school. " Derek, I have spent more time being ticked off over 80's Baller,and as you figure "ticked" is a nice word for 80's baller with my vocabulary. In fact, there was nothing good that he could point out, just simply an ignorant jealous attack on me. I have never said you nor Steve knew how to teach basketball. I frankly don't know where you could have gleaned that from what I have said. Because I made the statement that our youth leagues and middle school need to do a better job with fundamentals, is not a statement that Oneida had bad coaching so to speak. Coaching and winning basketball games can be done without any fundamental instruction. As Jacket24 points out, for us to move further through tourney play, we need fundamentally sound basketball players (as well as good athletes and a lot of lucK). I had pretty much forgot you even coached Junior High and that is what I told you that day in the locker room. I never indicated anyone in particular when I referred to the pre-high school instruction. I can't remember when you coached, who you coached, and who even helped you. I am sorry that I had forgotten your reign as middle school coach. I have always been focused on high school and everyone knows that.

Big Orange, Good hearing a young guy talking 07-08 hoops in March. If you read what I have wrote earlier, I believe of course, Alax will continue to improve and be at least all district next season. After that, Jared and Chuck will be given the nod at this writing and I think they both will work hard to improve. After that, Caleb, Torrey, and LaFreak will have to be figured in along with perhaps John Lewallen. After that, Mark and Dyl would be next in line at this writing and you can throw Braxton in there. After that, Holden and Cody. After that Dakota, Freels and Daniel Williams and you would have to throw Tyler in there behind them. Preston Watson is a good athlete and I have worked with his defense. He needs to play all summer and work hard. All of these kids will need to condition and work on their skills. The Freshman will have to come in here and work hard. All jobs will be open. The "pecking order" that I mentioned will not necessarily be Coach's and that is kind of how I viewed it as we finished in preparation for next season. Coach King is looking forward to an interesting and competive summer with all of these young guys. We lost four hard playing seniors. Coach will expect the same from their replacements.

Kazam, I began with talking about our young players and ended up defending the now infamous fundamental discussion with parents. You have valid points about todays kids, it is tougher than before. The parental involvement has increased more than ever. That was part of my reasoning that we all have to address this as youth coaches in emphasizing fundamentals. I am sorry it broke some bubbles with folks but facts are facts. Our county and Oneida schools need to improve our young kids skills. My kids included. We all have to work harder, top to bottom, to have our kids competing again for State tourneys. To be so naive and pompous to believe that our youth leagues and middle schools have been successful in producing fundamentally sound kids or even dare go there "gym rats" is a big part of the problem. Kids listen to coaches more than their own parents (however we do have a couple at Oneida that would rather listen to their parents).I also discussed the video game issues with the parents in the same meeting and with other parents and kids later. My positions are the same. The efforts will be the same. 300%. Our boys believe and they are working hard. 80's Baller broke my fence. Ticked me off. I have taken 2 calls this morning about 80's Baller already. I think you will be hearing from some ex-players over it. I do not know many 80's ballers so to speak who have been around the program since 1993 when I was with Bill.

CURRENTZ, Thanks for the nice comments. As you can see 80's Baller thought I hurt the program and a couple of folks are upset that I believe our youth coaches as a whole need to do a better job emphasizing fundamentals. Jacket24 knows what I am talking about. I appreciate the nice comments. I pushed the freshman hard this year and most of them at first, I guess believed that I had came from Old School Hades, but they all came together and played hard. It should be interesting this summer how they fare competing for starting spots with the older kids. I thought back when I read what you typed--yes our tradition has been around for a long time but a lot of folks really could care less. I have been here for a long time. I presume I had your kid this year from your comments. I look forward to his continued improvement.

Derek, good hearing from you. I don't know what you have disagreed with me I really havent been around you that much. That is ok. I am forceful with my passion and opinions for the school. Sometimes I am wrong. The first difference you notice from the recent teams is their lack of fundamentals. My comment to the parents was exactly that. Our community, jr. pro, middle school, me others have to do a better job. This is county wide not just Oneida. I am sorry you took it personal as I told you but ignoring a problem only leads to more problems. That was not directed at any one coach, jr. pro, middle school, parent whoever, it is an indictment on our who county youth system. You may take the position that Oneida and Scott High have fundamental ball players. Do you honestly feel Oneida has had a lot of fundamental ball players? Maybe more so after last year as Coach and I worked hard all year on so much. There is much more work and repetition to be done. Lastly, I did not say that there was "never any fundamentals". I said we haven't done a good job teaching them and emphasizing them at Jr. Pro and Middle School. We have to get better as a community. There were a lot of parents particularly the freshman who told me they wholeheartedly agreed and most of them thanked me for taking the time to emphasize that with their young men. I guess it is some sort of joke with some folks and believe that I am clueless about fundamental instruction, but I havent considered losing and mediocrity a laughing matter at Oneida High. Neither do the ex-players who have complained to me as well about our kids lack of fundamentals. Prospectively, there is a ton of enthusiasm. I am not going to comment on 80's Baller anymore as I raise my blood pressure. That will be dealt with one day.

You seem to understand Jacket 24. I have been fortunate to have worked with some fine young coaches who are not that young anymore. Jacob King is another one and hopefully he can survive a few more seasons with such fine support from the wise one, 80's Baller, and with me not "hurting him". The roads he crossed this year never had to be crossed by my previous coaches. Calling me "coach" is something I never pushed on the kids and I told them to call me Max. Maybe if I had got me a big basketball board, got me a shirt that said "Coach", and coached jr. Pro 8 yr olds, had an inbounds box set play called "one",and made every kid call me "Coach". 80's Baller might have thought that I was a coach rather than the dangerous "want to be coach" he played me to be. As you know, I could care less what title you bestowed me, my job was to help. I bet you money Jacket 24, 80's Baller is or was a Jr. Pro Coach in Scott County of recent. Nothing wrong with that, just stay in your niche. I have stayed in mine. I am going to print all of these comments for future reference. Yes Kazam, I am ticked, ticked and still ticked. I appreciate the nice comments about my daughter. Razz me or whatever I put my name on here have at it, take your shots, but don't accuse me of hurting the school nor Jake. I know you Jacket24, when you need my help with things call. Thanks for being so kind.

Just got back from Court, I was so upset with the parent call telling me to get on here and then reading all of that from the 80's baller, I could not even concentrate, d, I have spent a great part of my adult life trying to be an asset to the basketball program and then to have someone tell me that I hurt Coach King and the school just totally blew me away. Goofing with me is one thing because I guess when it comes to basketball I get intense but to make statements like that devastated me. I gave 300% to the school this year not 100% and to say those things pretty much were fighting words to me. The kids are the program, but the coaches provide the leadership and direction. I am clueless as to who said such awful things; however, I guess coaching world, like the legal world has folks sitting quietly waiting for that chance to hurt you.

80's BALLER, I received a call from a parent about an hour ago to check this out. At first, I was really mad, I signed off to take a fax and now I guess I should answer these comments: 1) Last Friday, I signed off for the last time after receiving some junk from GSJ who I now know is Steve. I know Steve is just messing with me. I have known Steve a long time. 2) I initially got on Coach T do defend Jake. He told me I was crazy for putting my real name so did Bubba. Now I guess I have to state he is right. 3) The parent meeting: you can perceive and hear what you want but I told the parents that our Junior Pro and Middle School and youth teams need to do a better job of coaching fundamentals. (County wide not just Oneida). Oneida and Scott High both have lagged in hoops compared to other counties. I am concerned about Oneida most as you know. That includes me and every basketball mentor so to speak. That comment might have hurt you but all of the coaches at the high school level know this. Evidently you are not one and probably will never be one. I guess the fundamentals comments has became a joke or sore spot at the middle school and lower levels, I am sorry it is not a joke to me. I do not want nor will the Town of Oneida continue to accept mediocrity and you cannot continuously point the finger at the head Oneida Basketball Coach. 4) TECHNICAL: I have never gotten a technical since High School. One game when Gary was coach the bench got a "T" and the ref pointed to Marv; however, I contributed to it so it might be called a "Co-T". The State Tourney Game, I got warned vs. BGA. I also got warned at Wartburg this year after Jake got a T. 5) Hurt Coach King? I don't have a clue what you are talking about. Hurt OHS, well that hurts nor do I have a clue there either. If Jake had an issue he would tell me. 6) Attitude of the player. I guess you forgot that I made a ton of positive statements about a kid who can impact my school. His attitude was no secret to anyone at Oneida High School. My attitude is about having our players improve and further that our goal is Murfreesboro every year if that bothers you then maybe you should go back to Junior Pro. We deal with young teenage men at high school not 8 year olds. 6) "new found authority" "attempts at coaching", FYI I have always had the authority since the mid to early 90's, I just didn't take a JV job or Middle School job (oh you probably were not aware-you missed the memo) due to the my failure to just totally commit. I liked the idea of being there/ not being there. You can call Gary if you like I have his number. Bill and Mark are easy to find. Ask them what my role was? I have had different relationships with all of the coaches. My roles have been different each year. I have supported all of my coaches and the school since I moved back here in 1991. It gravely hurts me for you or anyone else to believe that I have hurt OHS. I have sacrificed a lot in my life since 1991 for the school and the teams, "Floor coaching" now that was new to me. I always had the kids call me Max even this year. Jake and I committed ourselves to work to put the Oneida team back to 1996 as I referred to in W's and pride in the team and school. We both took a direct attitude. The kids have responded. They are working hard to get better. We are all proud of the work and attitude. No one wanted to end the season this year. I guess I should take a step back and look. Times have changed. I looked back at what I wrote previous and I directed no digs at anyone. Yes some kids lack some fundamentals but that is no indictment of any one person. Maybe I should back off from helping the High School. I guess I could go to Coach Junior Pro or AAU and pad my coaching resume while I satisfy some "coaching" thirst you think I might have. What in the world do you think I was doing at Oneida in the past? Not floor coaching that was for sure. If I did that, maybe you can help Coach King and share your basketball knowledge and maybe all of your buddies will be happy that I am gone. You can get old mean old max out of the way. You know, I have not been one of these guys following their kids through Jr. Pro, Middle School and involving myself with them through coaching. I was there when I had no kids in the system. I came back to help Jake anyway possible. The ex-players and families, have all called and supported both me and Jake throughout the season ( now when they call me maybe I will think differently after reading your stuff).The majority of people you know-I guess I dont know or at least I didnt know they felt that way about me. Yes Kazam, I was rambling but you know, it hurts that someone thought of me that way and it would you too. I have work to do.

That is exactly right. I disagree with you about some of the freshman later in the season, I felt some were ready to contribute particulary in practice (of course I am biased I guess with that opinion as I spent most of the year with them Ha) Big Time is exactly right, Coach King makes those calls and further, I wasn't going to elaborate on some of the issues that Big Time did as I felt basically they should have stayed internal. GSJ evidently has some sort of grudge against me (which is ok with me-I can take the heat I put my real name on here so I should expect it). Coaches King, Barnes, Eldredge, Hall and the numerous assistants know what I have contributed at practice with instruction and I presume GSJ has never been there to understand. If Coach Jeffers asked me to come one day and assist in any manner I would be happy to help him and so would Coach King. It is the goal for all to have more fundamentally sound kids at the high school level and knowing how to pivot, hedge, screen, seal, chin, close, and play help defense are just some of the things that we cover. The little things that seem silly to some are what helps makes State Tourney teams (and talent too of course). GSJ, you are welcome to come to some practices next season and observe, you can set that up with Coach King. I have done whatever the coaches and school has asked me to do since 1991 and I will continue to do so. I took on more responsibility than ever which took time away from my family and my work. I could have done that many times in the past-Coach Jv or Middle School or whatever but our programs were cruising along and winning districts and regionals and I declined to do so. This year, instead of sitting back and hearing the criticism of the program from former players, I made the commitment to forsake my kids ballgames, their lives in general, and my businesses to help Coach King realign Oneida Basketball as he knew it in 1996. I firmly believe that the train is rolling and that hats off to the seniors for helping as well. You Dont Know Me is right about the attitudes and those cocky attitudes kind of chewed on me at me at the beginning; however, those young guys including the 8th graders believe they are going to beat everybody they play--they expect to win and that goes a long way in winning districts,regionals, and going to the Glass House. That is a tribute to their prior coaches. Lastly, those 9th and 10th graders learned alot about basketball this year, just ask them. Freak learned to seal. He learned to pivot in the paint and why he needed to pivot. He learned to chin and check the basketball when thrown to him. He learned to play interior defense. He learned post moves. He and the other 9th and 10th graders learned there was more to high school hoops than running up and down the floor and just shooting it. Heck, most of the 9th graders didn't even know how to pivot when they started high school practice. Those same kids are all in the gym fired up for next year and that is a tribute to Coach King.

KAZAM, I did leave out Caleb. Caleb will be an integral part of our team next season. I could talk for an hour about Caleb. He should be included in the Abbott, Orick, Jeffers, Freak, and Slaven group but I did mention him previously. You seem to know a lot about our boys. Braxton does intrigue me as he has not developed as I wanted this year. I don't want to elaborate upon everything for the world to see but his decision making on the ball on d, and with the ball on o hurt his game and unfortunately, I dont believe he realizes it. Our school appreciates astute basketball fans. Miller I thought was ready to contribute to the varsity this season. He improved all year long. He had some tremendous games in JV and Freshman ball. He has better inside moves than Jason did. Jason of course shot the ball well and Mark is improving with the 3. Mark kind of reminds me of a quicker Curt West with a touch of the Spaz.

TimeLTell, I don't really know Coach King's perspective on winning the middle school sectional, but you have obviously stated that to draw out what I think as I have made no efforts to conceal myself. Life is about stages, middle to high school is one of them, high school to college or workforce is another and inevitably you have to grow up. I know I fought it for some time. The appearance from the high school basketball team is that the middle school kids go from being on tv and on radio to freshman carrying water and racking the balls for the varsity. The Freshman and Jv games are not televised and we play much tougher teams particulary in Freshman ball. As you move up through the ranks, the officiating gets better and their is more pressure. It is hard for some high school kids to get out of the fact they are not still in high school when they are 20 years old. It has to be harder for a 14-15 year to grasp going from Sectional Champs to the bottom again at the high school level. Whether this has impacted the girls program, I dont know but I do know that I believe it is harder to swallow starting on the bottom again at 14. In essence, once you start high school it just doesnt matter what you did in middle school. When you leave home and go to college, it just doesnt matter what you did in high school, and when you start work, it just doesnt matter what you did in school period. Enjoy your middle school "glory" so to speak, but you start over again at ground zero for high school everyone starts equal. The middle school team should be proud of their accomplishments but the sectional is not a" true" state tourney and not every school participates; however, going as far as you can go as a middle school basketballer is a great start on your high school career and going to the final 8 in Murfreesboro where every high school team participates is the greater goal for you as a student athlete in basketball. TimeLTell, get a hold of Caleb, we open the gym a lot for our boys to play and you and your buddies are more than welcome.

Yes if the season started tomorrow that would probably be close. Hutson is physically ready to play right Now though. West is more mentally ready than Hutsonin that he would understand his role better and so would Cody Carson for that matter. They would probably have to be counted in the mix as well. As most of you know, young fellas bodies change rapidly, their skills develop in the off season as well. Hutson is an enigma as he is ready physically now to play and was this year in my opinion; however,his decisions on defense and offense and other things killed it for him. Had he cured all of that and improved his jumper which he did, and foul shots (could have been no worse than Lambert) (which he did) he would have and could have contributed this year at the varsity level in my opinion but all of the other things holds him down which no coach can tolerate and all of that I will not elaborate on. If West gets stronger physically and improves his shooting and ball defense and will not "watch the action" so to speak, he may contend for playing time next year with the varsity if not start at different times. Carson, Has anyone seen him shoot or Dalton Freels?? There is no current Oneida player including Chuck who can out shoot those guys. Carson is much closer to contributing to varsity playing time and probably will next season and Freels (right now he has a body like Jason Fultz) is a long shot but don't count him out. His off season work will tell the tale for him. Daniel Williams reminds me of a young Adam Wright--he doesnt say a word other than yes sir and no sir (much like Adam was). I hope he works and improves like Adam. Holden Sexton lays it on the line when he has to and makes plays when you need them. If Hutson ever gets in sync with what is expected from a student athlete on the court and off, he will be a player you will love to watch wearing an Oneida jersey. Right now, when he slides his feet, he can guard the ball as well as anyone who has played here since 1991 and that includes Josh Thompson. If he does it our way or any coaches way for that matter rather than his way, he will be all district next year and that my friends is a bold statement. CHAMPS 92, things have changed since you were here and if you were in the locker room. Your boys would have had a tough time dealing with the current attitudes of some of the players. Like for example, "Coach, I am not feelin' them sprints.", "Coach, I gotta poop" (every day in the middle of practice), "Coach, I don't feel like going in the game.", Coach, I am going if I am going to play only a few minutes and then get takin out, I dont want to play.", "Coach, I am dehydrated." (meaning I need to keep a water bottle in my mouth all practice).. We had one players mom come and get him out of practice last year because he felt bad. These are only a minority of players who cause these issues; however, they seem to believe that is how high school hoops are. That is what your boy King Ho has had to deal with this year and that is why I am balder.