Winner

All play very well at times and not too well at other times. DCA has been inconsistant, as has CPA and FRA. Goodpasture can definitely be beat if defenses can hold Ryan Daniels (a very good player) under double figures. Ezell will still have to show me something. AJ is terrific, but the two other seniors need to get on track big time for them to make a run. The district is strong due to tenacity alone. Goodpasture is the only one with size. This year... there's a lot of pitbulls in the ring.

Final score was DCA 47 Ezell 46

The main point of my original post was stated as the initial question.... Are the Ezell players being allowed to join the team mid-season without sanctions? I never said they should not be allowed to come back. I believe AJ blackburn has terrific potential to play basketball at the next level. I'm very happy he's back on the team. Note my original question "...without sanctions?" You've got to admit it causes several serious questions? Were there any negative repercussions for their initial decision to leave the team "high and dry?" Is it really right to have players vote on their return? What player would vote NO even if they wanted to? Peer pressure would certainly cause them to vote YES. How will the underclassmen feel at the end of the season when and if they still don't make the playoffs? How will they feel at the beginning of next season when the team struggles because players don't have the experience they might have had if the seniors hadn't returned? Will the same thing be allowed of them when they are seniors? It's a big can of worms. I pray it doesn't destroy all Ezell has built to this point. [Edited by Winner on 1-21-03 4:02P]

Are the Ezell players being allowed to join the team mid-season without sanctions? As this is a message board, I understand it may be rumor. On more than one occasion my sons had to sit out the first quarter or half of a game due to missing a day or a class FOR BEING SICK. One of them had to miss an entire game because he had an "unexcused" absence from school. (Due to his practice schedule he was unable to find clothing to wear for a "required" school function during business hours and had to take time away from class.) DCA players are required to lift and do conditioning during the summer months. They have to keep records and make 90% of the workouts. Players who do not meet the criteria have to sit out a certain number of quarters before being allowed to play. Because of this rule, players missed the early part of THIS season and it cost DCA a couple of games. It was the right thing to do. These rules are in place to see that there is discipline and order on the team. It is also there to teach the players that they must be "self-disciplined." Please understand where I'm coming from. I know each of the three players involved at Ezell. I think they are good kids and have great respect for their parents. I had a good measure of respect for their coach. But... Is it right for these young men to come back with no sanctions? NO! Should they be "asked" to come back as SENIORS and take playing time away from underclassmen? NO! Is winning more important than the lessons you teach and the example you set? NO! I was very sad when I heard that AJ, Antwain and Austin were not going to play at the start of the year. I thought they were being selfish and that they were letting the team and coach down by not playing. They were putting their needs above the those of the team. Bottom line... WINNING IS NOT EVERYTHING! I find it hard to believe this would not bring dissention among the team, the parents, the faculty and the alumni of the school. I would be greatly surprised if this was allowed to happen. Rules and guidelines are an essential part of the educational process. I've always thought basketball should be used as a means to teach discipline, sportsmanship, character, integrity and loyalty. If the rumor is true... I guess some people think differently.

I've heard two people in the last week say Antoine will not be eligible to play basketball this year for Ezell. They say it's due to his age. I hope it's not true. Can anyone shed any light on the situation?

I've heard two people in the last week say Antoine will not be eligible to play basketball this year for Ezell. They say it's due to his age. I hope it's not true. Can anyone shed any light on the situation?

When Superman was a sophomore... CHRIS WOODEN! Talent, strong, quick, great lateral movement, always has his shoulders pointed towards the endzone, very quick cuts, low center of gravity and drive strength, can take a hit, self-motivated, determined to succeed, great character and most of all... THE HEART OF A CHAMPION. SUPERMAN!

Wooden was not injured on Friday. He is a 16 year old MAN.

When Superman was a sophomore... CHRIS WOODEN! Talent, strong, quick, great lateral movement, always has his shoulders pointed towards the endzone, very quick cuts, low center of gravity and drive strength, can take a hit, self-motivated, determined to succeed, great character and most of all... THE HEART OF A CHAMPION. SUPERMAN!

Jason Herndon will be back and healthy against Ezell this Friday night. He can throw the ball and runs the team well. This gives them a whole new dimension with Calvetti in the pass patterns and running the ball. Ezell has a great team with many, many weapons. It will definitely be a game worth the price of a ticket.

I heard the DCA girls beat MLK pretty easily. I talked to one of their players and she said they really played poorly. The Wildcats should be really good this year.

Coach McCutchen, I have heard great things about your camp from several campers. I would like to send my third son Jason to your next one. Will you have one before next summer? Also, you've got two great kids in Nathan Aaron and Josh Haislip. I was sad that they were unable to play with me on my Junior Olympic team for the Tennessee Thunder but want you to know they both felt it more important to honor their commitment to you and the camp. Good luck with the season... take it easy on Trevecca... my oldest son Josh plays for them. God bless, Gary Herndon

No excuses, but you should note. Boomer had a severe high ankle sprain that the trainer thought may have been fractured. He was x-ray'd and cleared to play hours before the first game. He still averaged double figures in points and rebounds and about six to seven blocks per game. In the final against large and talented post players (3), he socred 30 on 12 of 16 with 6 of 8 from the free throw line. He also had 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Stanley Asumnu had a quiet 40 pts against the Martin Brothers Select team and showed tremendous athleticism throughout the tournament. He will be a force in the SEC. Go see him quick, he won't be there for four years. John Winchester is a great defender. See coach lon's post above. He has phenominal jumping ability as evidenced against the Ohio Stars. A guy broke away for a dunk... John caught him and went up to block the shot, hanging in mid air for what seemed to be ten seconds before spiking the guys shot to the floor. John had to put his off hand against the back board to keep from hitting his face against it. He took, and made key shots throughout the tournament and is a fierce competitor. Brian "Penny" Collins showed great potential and led the team well. He and Josh Goodwin will help put Belmont University on the map. CJ Watson, Billy May, Josh Goodwin, Mitch Webb and Danny Wicke, Yance Baker (upcoming senior), Bobby Jenkins and Ron Bowers all played consistently well and showed why they were chosen to be a part of this strong team. hoopscoopdre?... It appears you have formed opinions based on one or two games. I coached these guys over an entire summer. You are sorely mistaken in many of your "opinions." Gary Herndon coach - Tennessee Thunder

Simply stated... Tennessee AAU teams will have trouble competing on a national level because... 1) AAU teams that are SP0NSORED like NIKE Team This and ADIDAS Team That will always have the advantage of pulling in the better players because it not only costs them nothing to compete, they actually GET something in the way of NATIONAL competition, recognition and gear. 2) TSSAA locks the Tennessee players out of practicing anytime other than the window between the end of the State Tournament and the beginning of the school year. Other states don't have these restrictive rules on practice and competitions. I'm not saying TSSAA is wrong, just stating a fact. 3) I have competed recently with my 19U team against teams actually sponsored by the STATE they are from. It's pretty prestigious to represent your state on a national level. 4) In deference to a point already made in another post... Tennessee is a not a FOOTBALL state. It's not a BASKETBALL or Baseball state either. High school sports are not supported, promoted or tauted like they are in many other states. There are some county schools in KY and IN that have 8,000 fans at home games and are sold out a year in advance. A friend of mine who coaches Football in Texas says they routinely have 12,000 at their games. This kind of support demands success. There is a lot of pressure on high school coaches to produce. This culls out the bad coaches. There are some really great coaches and programs in TN, but most coaches don't care that much about building a program. The ones that really care either don't have the support or move on to places that do. In conclusion (did I say 'Simply stated' somewhere above?) Until these issues are addressed... and it would take years for this to happen... we won't produce the players that other programs/states/sponsors produce. If it's going to change, we need AAU programs that are successful to work hard for sponsorship and to continue trying to compete nationally. This will cause the programs to proliferate themselves and to grow into national competitors. Keep working hard AAU coaches. We will get there eventually. We're doing it for the right reason... the kids. Thats my opinion... oughta be yours.