My car broke down at McEachern after I picked up our unis for
@NCAAGeorgia
today. Denmark coach offered and gave me a ride to our game at Marietta tonight right before he’s about to play us. A great example of servant leadership. Denmark you have a classy one in
@TylerWhitlock10
After college graduation I went to a well known private school in Atlanta and gave my resume to the AD. He proceeded to laugh and tell me I had no chance at a position there with no experience. As I start a new leadership role this year, I am reminded to treat ALL with respect.
As the final day of GHSA basketball is here, I believe the basketball coaches and GHSA should come together and talk about how we can make the “final four” a special experience. One location, reps to take care of teams, post game press conferences, etc. Let’s make it happen!
If you want to be a head high school coach you better have no ego. In one week I will do the following every day:
-practice gear laundry
-mop gym floor
-empty and clean water bottles
No G.A.s, managers don’t live on campus, some assts have other full time jobs. Gotta love it!
If a kid plays a grind of a varsity basketball schedule, then AAU travel, then summer ball, is a fall league really what is best for the kids? Never been a fan of fall leagues. We will not do them. Instead we will lift weights and work on skills in 4 man workouts. Too many games!
I have to give a shout out to my wife! 8 months pregnant, continues to go to work at Piedmont Hospital every day and help others during this Pandemic. Basketball “issues” don’t even compare. MVP!
We beat a great team tonight in Marist.
@WarEaglesBball
. Such an amazing rivalry. I have been a part of this rivalry since I was 5 years old and have best friends that went to Marist. It is the best rivalry in the state. Atmosphere was unreal tonight! On to the Elite Eight!
I love the fact that the HS football state championships will be back at the Benz. That is the right move by the GHSA. Now, it is time to fix basketball. We’re not asking for State Farm Arena. Georgia State University is all we need. It is time to leave Macon.
#MakeTheMove
When I watch Asia Durr have nights like tonight, I think back to when she was in HS and there would be a home football game going on and she would be in the gym, by herself, getting shots up at 9pm on a Friday night while others socialized. Good to see it’s paying off
@A_Hooper25
My man
@BuckyBasketball
in his first season as D1 head coach beats Belmont AT Belmont. No one goes to Belmont and wins. He is doing it not by x and o’s but by changing the CULTURE and creating BELIEF. Hey college ADs...High school dudes can coach.
I love St. Pius X Basketball. Now, it is time for me to focus on being the President of the school and a great husband and father. It was a heckuva 13 year ride and I gave it all I had. GO LIONS!
#MTXE
FROM COACH PARR:
Dear St. Pius X Family,
I have some news to share with you today. I want you to know that I am stepping down as the head boys’ basketball coach at St. Pius X. I met with our team after school today to share the news with them.
I LOVE MY TEAM AND PROGRAM. Work hard, unselfish, fearless on the court, play tons of guys, get after it! We lost to a GREAT team tonight in
@UpsonLeeSports
. But 28-4, school record for wins, another banner. And great kids. Just great kids, man. Love them.
Players: Donte DiVincenzo accepted an off the bench role this year for Villanova. The results? A national championship and he will most likely be a first round pick in the NBA draft.
#Selfless
gets rewarded!
Woke up this morning feeling grateful. An amazing Final Four run, 4th straight region title, 23 wins. However, the best part of this season was watching our young team gel together, fight for their school, and love each other. I am blessed to lead
@spxbasketball
#Family
When admin, teachers, other sport coaches come and support at games I ALWAYS hear our players saying how much they appreciated it. Big culture piece. That stuff matters!
We came up short tonight against Americus-Sumter, but I am so proud of this team and our 10 seniors. An unprecedented run of over 100 wins, 3 region titles, 2 final fours and state championship appearances. They are GREAT KIDS who love each other, and I love them.
#Family
Best High School basketball atmosphere in the country! I have been a part of the Pius-Marist rivalry since I was 5 years old. It is a special rivalry. Both teams are high level this year. We were fortunate to come away with the win.
STUDENTS: I love you guys!
In HS basketball, you can have a great season but still have to play in a “win or go home” game just to get to state tourney. In that game, grueling weight room sessions, intense preseason practices, and the extra moments a coach spends bonding with players ALL MATTER
Thoughts on HS summer ball:
1. Skill work, shooting, base man and zone O.
2. Defense is worked on at team camps. Plenty of games to work D, plus there’s a four month season to work D
3. Weight room!!!
4. Fun, bonding, connect
Wow. What a rivalry game. We defeated Marist tonight 57-47 in a heavy weight fight. Sold out, intense game. I’ve been a part of this rivalry as a fan, player, coach since I was 5 years old. There’s nothing like it. Proud of both teams for their fight tonight.
#MTXE
So far this season our young team has received two bench warnings from officials for standing up and cheering during the game. Never going to get mad at our guys for having too much ENTHUSIASM!
Need to get better, but our culture continues...
Players: don’t get caught up in individual rankings. If you’re good, you’re good! Keep working, have a great attitude, be coachable, don’t have baggage, and let your game and WINNING talk.
Kids changes things, man. Wednesday is the only week night I get to put my daughter to bed during b-ball season. There’s so many sacrifices made with coaches and their families that I never realized until now. Blessed to have an amazing family who supports.
I have been a part of
@spxbasketball
as a kid growing up, a player in HS, and as a coach for 7 years. That was the loudest and best student section I have ever witnessed....
FINAL FOUR!!!
The best HS basketball atmosphere in the country! Our student section shows out every night and does their job! Love our students and school.
#OneFamily
Went out to eat with several of my former players last night who played in state title games, final fours, etc. They still talk about summer sleep away team camp as the best memory. Shows how important team building and relationships are! That’s why I love summer ball.
Coach McKillop was a tremendous coach but also a great person. My dad passed away while he was recruiting me in HS and he was the only coach who wrote me a handwritten note. I saved it. Congrats on a great career coach!
Davidson College Men's Basketball Coach Bob McKillop has announced his retirement this afternoon. McKillop led the program for 33 years and retires as the most successful coach in school history.
Love you. Many thought I was crazy for starting a small 9th grade PG. They didn’t know the size of your heart. Now they do. Our relationship will last a lifetime.
A big step today for Georgia high school basketball. Practice start date moved forward one week! This will allow coaches to implement and teach at a slower rate to better serve players and will allow for more player growth and prevent overwork. Thank you
@OfficialGHSA
Just had a D1 coach go out of his way to tell me that our guy Riley Costas is an “energy giver”. Man, what a compliment! That kid was the last player put on our team last year. Now he’s becoming a future college player. 0 entitlement in our program
Congrats to former St. Pius Athletic Director, Mr. Mark Kelly on being one of four inductees into the Georgia Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame! Here is Score Atlanta's Article on his great career:
It’s amazing what you can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit.
This team is in the ELITE EIGHT!
We will play 30-0 Americus-Sumter at home next week for a trip to the final four. Game day TBD.
So proud of how hard this guy has worked! Waitlisted at GT with a 1490 SAT and legacy family. Stayed persistent, kept faith, didn’t give up. Eventually got accepted and now on the basketball team! Proud of you!
@niko_broadway
Maybe toughest loss I’ve had in my career tonight. Foul trouble hurt us.
@spxbasketball
is my family and I couldn’t be more proud to represent our school. To my seniors: I love you guys so much! All with us for 6+ years. You left a heckuva legacy.
At my 5 year olds soccer game this morning. I will do 3 things:
1. Cheer for my kid when she’s playing
2. Cheer for the other kids
3. Thank the coaches for their investment after the game
That’s it!! That is all parents should do.
Each year, I kick off summer with our father/son camp. As someone who lost my dad at a younger age, I want to create a lasting memory for these kids. It’s gratifying to see the dads give back to their sons and love their sons at camp. I leave the gym feeling energized!
Just finished a great game at Lithonia. We won 48-44. The only loser in this game were the fans, who were unable to be in attendance. Both teams played like winners! We win the region championship for the 5th straight year!! Love my guys and program!
I heard Nick Saban say he has been a part of a “team” for 60 years since he was 9, and the reason he’s still going strong at 69 is because he loves everything about being part of a team. Nothing better than TEAM! If you know, you know.
My HS coach,
@Coach_Carroll
, came to watch me coach tonight for the first time. It’s been 14 years since I played for this man, and we still have a great relationship. He taught me so much b-ball, but way more about servant leadership. I’m a better man because of him.
The Princeton offense is alive and well in basketball! San Fran beats Virginia with it and Richmond uses it to beat Kentucky at Rupp. The spacing and player movement allow skilled players to flourish.
Rockets lose game 3, talk shows say CP3 overrated and Harden tired. Celtics go up 2-0, same shows say Brad Stevens best coach, Cavs tie 2-2, shows say Stevens is overrated. Cowherd, Stephen A, Skip etc just stop!
Our Principal, twitterless Steve Spellman, still has all 4 final four teams left in his bracket. His final four- Kentucky, Duke, Gonzaga, Villanova. Impressive!
It would be nice if high school coaches focused on developing the players at their school instead of attending travel games and actively recruiting other schools’ players. Think about how good you could get your own guys if you spent your free time investing in them!
Tomorrow night will be a fun but also tough night for me as a coach as it is our senior night. This group of 10 seniors believe in each other and have taken our program places no one thought we could go. Love these guys.
My 13th Father’s Day without my Dad but my first as a Dad to a beautiful girl who shares my fathers name. Happy Father’s Day to all dads and prayers for those who no longer have theirs.
Our season came to an end last night with a 54-53 loss to Etowah. I had so much fun coaching these boys. Another 20+ win season, region title, elite 8. More importantly, we learned to love and care about each other. I love these PIUS kids like my own.
#ProudCoach
Huge congrats to
@StPiusXAtlanta
C/O 2014 Nick Harris and the College of Charleston on a huge OT championship win to advance to the NCAA tournament for the 1st time since 1999!! Proud of you Nick. Welcome to the dance!
@Thecollege23
Proud of senior Niko Broadway for winning the Emory Parr Memorial Award. This program award, named after my father in 2006, is given to a player who shows courage and perseverance. Niko is very deserving! He will attend GT in the fall.
RIP to one of the all-time greats in GA basketball history. Ron Bell, legendary coach at Marist. He was as good of a coach as I have ever seen and his teams played hard and played for each other. Coach Bell, you will be missed. God bless you and your family.
Rising senior Liam Mullins had surgery today to repair the torn ACL he sustained this spring. Liam’s goal is to play college ball. This is a setback. But, Liam’s determination is 2nd to none! I look forward to watching his journey to come back stronger! We’re behind you Liam!
The shot clock today made the game so much more fun for players/fans and more strategy for the coaches! Thank you
@HawksNaismith
for a great event as usual and for making history with the first use of shot clock in GA
Brookes is very modest so I won’t be. He signed a letter of intent and received a FULL athletic scholarship to play college b-ball at an amazing University, Rollins College, in Winter Park, FL. Such a hard worker, unselfish, and fearless player. I am so proud of you Brookes! MTXE
Players: Fans or no fans, cherish every single game you play this year. Every time you get to step on the court and compete with your teammates and coaches is a blessing.
B4 practice today our staff will head to the funeral of JV Coach Pittman’s Mother. She was in St. Pius X first graduating class in 1959 and a huge b-ball fan. Please pray for coach’s family on this difficult day for them.
At Georgia State’s new Convocation Center tonight for their exhibition against Morehouse. Really nice facility. Jonas Hayes’ 1st official game leading the Panthers is next Monday against Coastal Georgia.
Athletes- grades are so important! If you put in the work with your grades and rigor, it will allow more schools to be able to recruit you. Higher grades = more doors open.
If you have played St. Pius in the last 20 years, you know about our
#1
fan, Mr. Scott. He is a big reason for the energy and atmosphere in our gym. He represents the FUN in HS sports. Today, he stopped by practice to say hey to our team.
Can’t wait to find out who really wants to be a part of our program this week! Shooting, skill development, basketball IQ, 1v1 play and defending, weight room. Some may call it “old school” but it excites me! Old fashioned hard work at St. Pius! No shortcuts.
I firmly believe that the best coaches are also great TEACHERS in the classroom. If you’re teaching just so you can coach, education profession isn’t for you. Kids deserve passionate ppl!
Win, lose, or draw, there is not a better atmosphere in HS basketball than Pius Marist. Tonight didn’t disappoint. Both teams played fearlessly. Both crowds going crazy for 32 minutes. Proud of our guys. Best of luck to
@MaristBooster
Coaches- Great player still available. True PG. Shooting 40% from 3pt this season (best of career). Currently has 90 wins as a starting PG. hope coaches take WINNERS into account. It’s what matters most.
I am excited for Coach Cloyd. He started working with me in 2013 and was a loyal and hard working assistant. It is hard to get a head coaching opportunity and Will deserves this. I can’t wait to see you continue our long standing tradition of excellence at
@StPiusXAtlanta
!
Welcome to Will Cloyd. Our new head boys basketball coach! Coach Cloyd has been an assistant with Coach Parr for 11 straight seasons and he is ready to continue our tradition, style of play, and culture. Give him a follow!
@CoachCloyd
#MTXE
Crazy stat: In our 5 state tournament games, our PG Matthew Gonzalo had 30 assists and only 5 TOs. That is just absurd. College coaches you may want to check him out this Spring.