Coaching high school basketball is not standing and calling plays - it’s TEACHING the game and assisting young people in their development into quality adults.
“’C’mon Coach, I just wanna hoop … Six years later, I'm playing for Steve Kerr & we're doing the same dang thing. Coach DeBusk was on to something."
@KlayThompson
recognized his High School Coach at the 2019 Coaching Corps Game Changer Awards
Note to all of the players of summer travel teams: please thank the people who made your summer experience possible. All of them spent money, their time and/or worked hard to make this all possible.
HS coaches: remember many times there is a great resource nearby...the local retired coach. They have tons of experience and knowledge (and time) to come view a practice/game and give you a different perspective.
Today would be first day of
@NikeGirlsEYBL
. I feel for the girls who cannot play despite the hard work in preparing, the parents who sacrifice their love, time & money to support their daughters and the coaches/directors who dedicate so much of themselves to make it all work
Good to see all of the positive press
@JalenHurts
continues to receive. Many parents of HS athletes could take a lesson from this 19 year old on how to act when your son/daughter doesn’t get the playing time you think they deserve.
Good luck and safe travels to all of the boys and girls high school basketball teams moving around the country the next couple of weeks for holiday tournaments.
#lifetimememories
#teambonding
It is great when teams are on the road, HS coaches take their players to see points of interest in the area they are visiting. Development of the whole person is so important. The players may not appreciate it until they are older but the impression has been made.
#growth
Early big wins by Buffalo
@nate_oats
and UConn
@dhurley15
continue to show the successes of former HS coaches at the college level. C’mon AD’s, give more of them a chance - these guys can coach!
1990, I was a young head coach & my team was playing in same event as DeMatha in L.A. We just finished practice & they were coming on after. Coach Wootten told him he liked our practice. I felt like I just got my coaching license from the God of HS Basketball. RIP Coach.
#RIP
to Morgan Wootten,
#HSBB
's 1st Naismith HOF coach, from DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD). When I was real young & starting to read & study everything I could about
#HSBB
, besides the players, he was 1 of the 1st names that stuck & I remember. A huge loss for the
#HSBB
community 🙏
Toughest thing to do this time of year is trying to keep up with of all the Nike high schools during their respective state tournaments. I hate not knowing of a state championship, a big win, a tough defeat or season ending loss. Best of luck to all!
#nikefam
Love seeing all the senior night moments. Honoring those, starters & non-starters, who have committed their time, energy & sweat to their team, their school & their community. You are part of something bigger that you will be connected to for the rest of your life. I salute you!
I've been saying it for years
@DickieV
- if given the chance, there are many high school coaches who would be successful at the college level. Thanks for saying it on national tv.
@espn
Honored to speak last night at Boo’s Sneaker Gala, celebrating a man who has changed the lives of so many youth and been a leader/mentor of the adults who coach those youths.
#NikeFam
This is an amazing display of the life lessons a good high school can instill in their players. Teaching respect and humility of the school and community they represent. They are truly taking care of “their house”. Great job
@coachcho
!
#nikefam
. I’ve watched hundreds of HS sporting events/teams across the state of Oregon - this is the first time I’ve seen players help the custodian staff clean the gym after a game.
Not to mention, after Lake Oswego secured the league championship!
It is the best combination for college coaches to see HS players playing with their high school teams and with their travel teams. Can be evaluated in two different setting, both serve a purpose.
HS Coaches: these are "dog" days of the season. Some are in the midst of preparing for playoffs. You always think of others first. Today, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, physically and mentally - make yourself the priority. Your team will appreciate it.
#takeaTO4u
I’m at a loss for words hearing news about Tom Konchalski’s passing. A kind soul who never compromised his craft to the ever-changing world of grassroots hoops. Since he was east coast based, I feel many coaches out west missed out on getting to know this basketball savant. RIP
I think of all of the people working behind the scenes to make the bubble a success. Their sacrifice of 100+ days away from families and friends is extraordinary. Hope they get some well deserved rest!
The last pair for the last night of
#TheLastDance
. Original 1995 Jordan 11 Concord’s including
@TjDorado
first pair of Jordan’s - also an original 1995 pair. It’s been fun sharing throughout the documentary.
HS rankings DO NOT matter! That’s why I like the NBA - the buck stops there. It is just about contributing - they don’t care about anything else...
2019 NBA Draft: 9 1st-round prospects who beat the odds after being lowly rated HS players via
@CBSSports
Thank you to all female coaches, sports administrators, media, sports businesswomen, all in any other sports profession that provide a guiding light, mentorship and are role models to girls growing up who are learning they can be like you.
#NationalGirlsAndWomenInSportsDay
I heard this live on the radio and was like, “wow, high school players need to hear this”. Thanks for providing the video Matt. Those moments don’t happen because of wishing and hoping or having a sense of entitlement.
Great follow up story on the birth of the twins
@JillNoe
has been carrying for her twin. Incredible feat by this birthday girl. I hope you’re enjoying your special day.
"It was like a dream." Whitney Bliesner is a new mom to twins thanks to her own twin, Jill Noe, who carried the children for Bliesner due to a rare health condition that prevented her from doing so herself.
What a great celebration last night for
@OHACoachSmith
retirement! Amazing turnout of former players & their message was consistent, while he won, more importantly, he & Mrs. Smith changed their lives…and in some cases, literally saved their lives. Powerful stuff…
Just finished watching the Marquette-Creighton game and there is a lesson. High school players: as you work on your game...study the game - know the rules of the game. It could very well be the difference in winning or losing more than your step back or cross-over.
People ask, “how does Duke do it?” They expect to win. It’s their culture, the freshmen feel it when they get recruited and when they get to campus so it carries over from class to class.
#culturewins
This day, a year ago, John McCallum and
@reggieprimetime
were kind enough to honor me at the
@LSInvitational
. I wish we were all at Liberty HS watching the best in Oregon high school hoops playing against some of the nation’s top teams. Can’t wait for the 2021 version...
Happy 25th birthday to
@steph_dorado
! I’m so proud of you and the person you have become. Your passion and caring heart are taking you places!
#GirlDad
So many HS tournament championship games today. It’s been encouraging to see the good crowds supporting the teams and events. Tournament directors are doing an excellent job on social media with their coverage.
#supportHShoops
Sad, tragic news this morning out of Myrtle Beach with the passing of John Rhodes, Executive Director of the
@BBCbasketball
and former mayor of MB. John was a gracious person to work with and did so much for high school basketball - he will be missed. RIP.
Have said for a few years that coaching HS basketball is the hardest level of coaching. This list of realities is comprehensive and accurate. Throw in the increase of lack of support from school/district for HS coaches and it becomes a tough job.
Looking forward to watching these two go head-to-head tonight. They are part of 7 former Nike Elite high school coaches now D1 head coaches. Frank Martin, Jerome Tang, Stan Waterman, Tony Pujol & Bucky McMillan are the others.
Swooshes all over the place this basketball weekend: Nike teams in both boys and girls championship in
#GEICONationals
@WhosNextHS
and 3/4 in Women’s Final 4 and 3/4 in Men’s F4 (UCLA switching over to Jordan next year)
@nikebasketball
The health issues associated with Urban Myers should be a reminder to all coaches to take of oneself. The hours of the profession lend itself to late dinners or quick meals but remember to eat healthy, get rest and work out - your team needs you!
@CoachCho
So proud of these two - and all the former
@nikebasketball
high school coaches who are currently D1 head coaches. Keep telling anyone in college that will listen - HS coaches can coach!!
Fun to watch
@sabrina_i20
in action last night and then see her talk to, sign autographs and take pictures with all the young girls that waited for her after the game.
#ClassAct
#NikeFam
Every year there is going to be some High School State Associations that baffle me with decisions they make around their basketball playoffs/state tournaments.
Don’t know too many coaches as humble as Grant Rice at
@BG_Basketball
. But don’t mistake niceness for softness. 9 straight state titles and 500 wins shows his toughness! Congrats on a special season Coach!
#nikefam
Great talking on the bus with the legend Boo Williams. Stories about some of the players that have played on his boys teams: Toughest all time player: Zo, best scorer: AI, best shooter: JJ Reddick.
#NikeFam
@TDNike
joined the
@BallNGems
Podcast with myself &
@PBevBallNPrep
. We discussed a variety of topics. We will drop the full episode at 5pm today, but here’s a little bit. You will want to listen to this episode! Thanks Tony!