CHARLOTTE’S FIRST PRINT AND DIGITAL MAGAZINE THAT FOCUSES ON HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE AND SURROUNDING AREAS
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TOP ATHLETES HIGHLIGHTS
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U About
US Prep Athletes are standout leaders on the field and/or court and they strive for excellence within the classroom. They often demonstrate a strong yearning and keen interest towards their favorite sport by practicing longer and working much harder on their game than their peers and competition. As an organization we have built many age-specific programs that will help promote and cultivate their unique sports and academic talents and skill sets. Several of these top athletes will be featured in US Prep Athletes The Magazine.
US Prep Athletes The Magazine is Charlotte’s and the surrounding area premier print and digital magazine. We feature highlights and in depth stories of high school athletes who have risen to higher levels within their playing abilities and inside the classroom. In addition, US Prep Athletes The Magazine covers local business and
volunteers who have dedicated themselves to a worthy cause.
We publish full content digital issues, special issues and quarterly print magazines.
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How to Use Our Digital Publication: Each US Prep Sports Magazine issue will feature a QR Code inside the publication. When a user clicks on the QR code with their smart phone the user will be placed on a special web page “The Prep Market” with the opportunity to receive special offers from our advertisers and sponsors. The QR code will be linked to a URL and provided as a courtesy for those who do not utilize a smart phone.
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Our organization and strategic partners bring over 50 years combined award winning corporate experience in the fields of journalism, digital and print publications & sales and marketing. As an organization we strive to bring a high level of professionalism,
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USPREPATHLETES
VOLUNTEERS
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US PREP FUTURE ELITE CAMP
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CAMP covering more than just basketball
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SPORTING EVENTS
ABOUT US
EVENTS OCCURRING in the Queen City
WHO WE ARE and what we do
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TOP ATHLETES HIGHLIGHTS (GIRLS) MCDONALDS ALLAMERICAN Jatarie White and the top h.s. girls basketball athletes
TOP ATHLETES HIGHLIGHTS (BOYS)
LATE HORNETS STAR’S CHILDREN making the family name, game proud
1000 PT JUNIOR SCORER STEVEN SANTA Ana and the top h.s. boys basketball athletes
CJ JACKSON
HOW THE STAR SENIOR PG made personal adjustments to prepare for this years season
FUTURE LEADER BLAKE SMITH Former Meck County basketball star Blake Smith talks life after graduation 10
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
EDUCATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY a hidden gem of education and athletics
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They lace up their sneakers just like the boys, they work hard and are just as dedicated to the game yet their accomplishments often stand in the backdrop to their peers. Yes I’m talking about the girls elite basketball players. But consider the accomplishments of some of these highly touted and skilled basketball stars; Gatorade All-American, McDonalds All-American, several 1000 point scorers and a group who has led their team to a national ranking. WE ALL BETTER RECOGNIZE. US Prep Athletes – The Magazine stands up and congratulates you on all of your hard work and success during this years basketball season.
WHO WILL EMERGE AS NEXT YEARS ELITE GIRLS HIGHSCHOOL BASKETBALL STAR,
WILL IT BE YOU? 2 FEBRUARY 12 FEBRUARY2014 2014• •USPrep USPrepAthletes Athletes
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JATARIE WHITE
JORDAN MUHAMMAD
DEE DEE ROGERS
BREAKING DOWN WHITE:
BREAKING DOWN MUHAMMAD:
BREAKING DOWN ROGERS
From the first time White took the court for Providence Day nearly four years ago, tremendous expectations have been heaped upon her. Somehow, she hasn’t just met those expectations; quite possibly, she has exceeded them. The 6-4 center is the No. 1-ranked high school center in the nation, and the seventh-best player overall, according to ESPN. Scores of colleges pursued White’s services before she finally chose South Carolina over the likes of North Carolina, Ohio State, Tennessee and Texas. As a junior, White was named the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 1.8 steals. That year, the smooth left-hander also won her third consecutive state title with Providence Day. White isn’t just a local and national standout; she has international success in her background as well, having made the USA Basketball Under-16 team. “She’s been the rock backbone of our program the last four years on both ends of the floor,” Chargers coach Josh Springer said.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR WHITE:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “My dad (Erving) was number 4 in high school and college, so I just gravitated toward 40.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE? “I would probably say Hakeem Olajuwon. I play a lot like him with my hook shot and counter moves.”
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
“I just thought South Carolina was the best fit for me. Coach Dawn (Staley) is a really good coach. I go to a lot of their games, and I see how she talks to the players and how she coaches them through situations. When I went on my official visit, I saw how close the players are. I really like that family-based team.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY? “It’s hard to find anything that can compete with winning a state title.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, JATARIE WHITE WILL BE?
In need of a leader for your hoops squad? Look no further than Ardrey Kell High, where this 5-7 point guard holds court. Muhammad is the consummate floor general; she’s not concerned with gaudy statistics – just helping her team win. “Jordan brings a point guard’s mentality,” Knights coach Jennifer McVicker said. “She’s a great defensive presence for us, but she’s also very skilled. “ Sure, Muhammad comes from a famous family – her dad, Muhsin, is one of the most beloved players in Carolina Panthers history – but she’s done quite well making a name for herself on the court. And with another year of high school left after this season, there’s no telling how much bigger that name will get.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR MUHAMMAD:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “When I played ball in elementary school, I started out with number 34 because my mom (Christa) and dad (Muhsin) both had it in high school. But me and my sister share the same birthday, November 24 or 11/24, so in middle school and AAU, we wore (numbers) 11 and 24. I’ve stuck with 24.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
“(Ohio State point guard) Aaron Craft. He’s a great on-the-ball defender, and he gets most of his baskets on fastbreaks and steals. He gets lots of assists, but he can still score. I think I’m that way. I look up to him a lot.”
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
“Right now, there are some Ivy League schools, some way over on the West Coast and some close to home. I’m keeping my options open. It’s just my junior year, so right now I’m considering everyone.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY? “It would have to be in AAU, when we beat a team 101-47.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, JORDAN MUHAMMAD WILL BE?
“An architect. I like custom homes, but I want to keep my options open with commercial architecture as well.”
Although her first name actually is Rydeiah, this 6-2 Myers Park standout is a laid-back personality who prefers to be called Dee Dee -- which is a great nickname because Rogers plays great “D” (two blocks and two steals per game), but she has plenty of “O” to go along with it. Rogers has a plethora of interior moves to pour in buckets in the paint, but she also is talented enough to run the floor for fastbreak points , and she can knock down mid-range jumpers. Rogers will have her pick of colleges, but she’s just a junior, so she has time to choose the perfect landing spot for herself. Hardwood success is in her blood. Rogers is the daughter of former Wake Forest star and NBA player Rodney Rogers. Meanwhile, her older sister, Roddreka, is a former Myers Park star who now plays at Georgia Tech.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR ROGERS
How’d you choose your jersey number? “I wore (number) 54 for AAU season when I was younger because of my dad, but when my sister and I got here (after moving from Arizona in 2010), we kind of wanted our numbers close to each other, so I got 32 and she got 30.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE? “A player I’m really into in college is (University of Maryland forward) Alyssa Thomas. I really like to watch her play.”
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
“N.C. State, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Auburn and a few others are looking at me.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY? “Playing against (Ardrey Kell) last year was a really good time. The game went into overtime, I had four fouls and didn’t foul out, and we won. “
10 YEARS FROM NOW, DEE DEE ROGERS WILL BE?
“Out of college and hopefully playing somewhere overseas or here in the WNBA. But overseas would be nice, because I like to travel.”
“In the WNBA,” White said with a big grin.
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ALIYAH MAZYCK
SAADIA TIMPTON
CHANTEL WILLIAMS
RACHEL PORTER
RAVEN DEAN
DESTINY BARRINO
BREAKING DOWN MAZYCK
BREAKING DOWN TIMPTON
BREAKING DOWN WILLIAMS:
BREAKING DOWN PORTER:
BREAKING DOWN DEAN:
BREAKING DOWN BARRINO:
This 5-9 junior guard from Myers Park High can do essentially whatever she wants on the court. During her freshman and sophomore seasons, she focused more on scoring. Now, she’s a bona fide lead guard who puts teammates in position to score with her deft passes and high basketball I.Q. Not that she can’t score when she needs to. In fact, at the midway point of the season, Mazyck led the immensely talented Mustangs with 17 points per game. There’s no wonder a boatload of ACC and SEC schools are diligently pursuing the magic of Mazyck.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR MAZYCK
How’d you choose your jersey number? “When I was a freshman, I didn’t want to play any (upperclassmen) for their jersey number, because I was trying to be nice. Somebody said, ‘Oh, you play like Jordan!’ So I took (number 23).”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
“Sydney Colson. She played for Texas A&M. Her style, her swag – everything about her was all me. But I’m a Kobe Bryant fan, but it’s more about the mentality he plays with than his skills.”
This Myers Park senior guard exudes energy and toughness. Whether she’s taking on the opposing team’s best offensive player or making a clutch basket to help her nationally recognized team to another victory, Timpton simply gets the job done. Area fans are fortunate, too, because she’ll be joining the Davidson Wildcats next year.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR TIMPTON
How’d you choose your jersey number? “I was (number) 14 in middle school. I was always a Kobe fan, so when I saw (number 24) was available my freshman year, I said, ‘Let me get it before anyone else does.’”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
“Alyssa Thomas (of Maryland). Our games are a little different because she obviously has more of an outside game and can shoot a lot better than I can, but because of her aggressiveness – she’s constantly in somebody’s face trying to get the ball and take it to the basket – I think we resemble each other.”
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
“Florida State, Louisville, Auburn, Duke, Ole Miss, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech – and quite a few others -- are all looking at me.”
“I’m going to be a Wildcat! I’m so excited. I really think I made the best decision for myself. They’re switching conferences (to the Atlantic 10), so the basketball competition is going to rise by the time I get there, and I think I’ll be an impact player.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
“I guess the first time I picked up a ball. I was about 9 or 10. I was born with a bunch of uncles and (male) cousins who were all about my age. They’d say, ‘Come on, let’s go play football.’ I’d say, ‘Nah,’ and that’s when I decided to picked up a basketball. Since then, I’ve never stopped.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, ALIYAH MAZYCK WILL BE?
“I want to be an architectural engineer, eventually. But if ball takes me to the pros, then I’ll take that opportunity. But if not, I want to be an architectural engineer and build those big skyscrapers.”
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“A couple summers ago, I broke my nose and had to play with a mask. It was a bummer, because that was my big summer (for recruiting). The last game at Nike Nationals, I had the mask, the gym was lined with coaches, and I hadn’t been playing well. With 10 seconds left, I got an ‘and one,’ made my free throw, and we ended up winning the game right before the national championship. I was crying and everything.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, SAADIA TIMPTON WILL BE? “Successful. I’ll just be graduating grad school and looking to enter the big world as an adult.”
Williams is just a 10th-grader, but she’s proven she deserves to be mentioned alongside some of the biggest names in Mecklenburg County basketball. As a rookie last season, Williams averaged 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Mavericks in a league that featured some of the state’s toughest teams (North Mecklenburg, Hough and West Charlotte). This season, things haven’t changed much, as Williams is averaging double figures in scoring while leading the Mavericks in rebounding (seven per game), assists (4.4) and steals (three). Williams isn’t a flashy player; she’s simply a boxscore-filler, using a multitude of skills to leave her imprint on the game. “This year, I just wanted to be a leader and push my team to go as far as it can,” she said. With Williams at the helm, coach C.J. Johnson thinks that could equal an extended postseason tour for the Mavericks. “She’s been in the big games for us,” Johnson said. “As a freshman, she carried us last year. She’s a good, strong player. She’s got good leadership. Good things are going to happen for her.”
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR WILLIAMS:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “My jersey number when I was younger was 23. But when I got to Mallard Creek, they didn’t have it, so I went with 23.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE? “I’d say I’m more like (former UConn star and current Minnesota Lynx player) Maya Moore. She’s a guard, she can play any position, she’s a hustle player, and she can rebound and score. That’s how I try to be.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
To say Porter takes a cerebral approach to the game would be an understatement. What else could you say about someone who has a 4.0 GPA and ranks 10th in her class? But Porter isn’t just some bookworm whose intellect somehow allows her to make up for a lack of athleticism – this 5-8 senior guard is a baller who also uses her quickness and energy to excel. “She’s a dynamic player,” Lions coach Reggie Mobley said of Porter, who leads the team with nearly 20 points per game. “She knows the game, and her basketball IQ is phenomenal. But one of the biggest reasons she’s helped us grow is because the players have responded to her energy. She’s the one you want to have in your corner.”
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR PORTER:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “(Former West Charlotte star) Christal (Caldwell) wore (number 23). I’ve known her for a long time. We go to the same church, Little Rock AME Zion, and our parents are really close, too. Christal’s like a big sister to me. I admire her a lot, and I wanted to wear number 23. I had to ask for her permission to wear it, and she said it was cool.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR DEAN:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “I always had number 23 because I’m a big LeBron James fan. But when I got to high school (former Knights star and current Wake Forest forward) Christelle Shembo was a senior who had 23, so I had to pick another number. I chose 32 because LeBron was number 32 in high school.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
At 5’8 Destiny can play any position on the court and at the same time guard anyone. She is averaging 14 points while snatching down 9 rebounds to go along with over 4 steals per game for the North Meck Vikings. The key to her versatility? “Destiny has been playing basketball since she was 7 years old and playing defense was the first principle she learned” says her mom Lakisha Wade. “She works hard at being an elite player by her dedication and willingness to get better”
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR DESTINY BARRINO: HOW’D YOU CHOOSE YOUR JERSEY NUMBER?
I choose 23 jersey because my best friend and I wanted the same number and it reminds me of Michael Jordan.
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
Lebron James is one player that resemble my game. He resemble my game because he is a very strong aggressive player offensively, and defensively. He also is a great attacker and leader.
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
“Draymond Green from Michigan State (and the Golden State Warriors). He’s big, but he can do everything, from playing on the perimeter to going in the post. I try to play just like that.”
My college outlook is to come in as a student athlete ready to learn and be a leader on and off the court.
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
Porter has received recruiting attention from schools such as Davidson, Furman and Elon.
“There are a lot of different schools looking at me, but I’m really keeping my options open. I’m not sure if I want to go far away or stay home.”
One of my greatest memories in basketball has to be when I won player of the year. It was one of my greatest memories because I felt like I really deserved that award, I worked very hard to get in practice so I could be better for my team.
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
10 YEARS FROM NOW, I WILL BE?
“Christal Caldwell. She plays at West Virginia now. She knows how to drive to the basket, she can use both hands, and she can pull up, too. I think we play alike, and I like her a lot. We talk all the time.”
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
“Last year, playing against Vance, when I got the assist to my teammate to win it at the buzzer. I’ll always remember that.”
“When I was playing AAU basketball growing up, we won the state championship at the age of 10 with the Queen City Jewels. I play against a lot of those girls now.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, CHANTEL WILLIAMS WILL BE?
10 YEARS FROM NOW, RACHEL PORTER WILL BE?
“I’m not sure yet. I’m only in 10th grade, so I’ve got a lot of time.”
When you encounter Raven Dean off the court, she’s as calm and low-key as they come. Get the Ardrey Kell junior on the hardwood, though, and she transforms. Dean is a rugged, relentless performer who plays as if her golden locks are on fire. The 6-0 forward frequently rips rebounds away from hapless opponents and sprints to the other end of the court to make something else happen. Dean is the leading scorer for the balanced Knights, but she’s earned her all-star status because of the blue-collar aspects of her game. That would endear a player to any coach, and Knights mentor Jennifer McVicker is no exception. “Raven is a post presence and a great leader for us,” McVicker said.
“An oral surgeon.”
“It doesn’t really have to do with me; it’s about our younger team (for the NC Spartans). Kerstie Phills hit the winning 3 for a state championship in AAU in 2011. That really stuck with me, because they didn’t give up.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
In 10 years I plan on graduating from medical school , becoming a physical therapist , and getting a house.
10 YEARS FROM NOW, RAVEN DEAN WILL BE?
“In med school, studying to be a dermatologist.”
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TOP ATHLETES HIGHLIGHTS
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Each season throughout Mecklenburg County over 300 young men suit up to participate in high school basketball competition. With their off season hard work on display and their dreams in motion inevitably certain players emerge from the pack to lead their teams throughout the season and on to the playoffs, with the hope of being crowned a State Champion. US Prep Athletes – The Magazine would like to recognize the Elite of Charlotte’s high school basketball stars. We salute your hard work and accomplishments and we wish you much success in this years playoffs.
WHO WILL EMERGE AS NEXT YEARS ELITE HIGHSCHOOL BASKETBALL STAR,
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STEVEN SANTA ANA
JORDAN WATKINS
LUKE MAYE
BREAKING DOWN SANTA ANA:
BREAKING DOWN WATKINS:
BREAKING DOWN MAYE:
A 6-3 junior for Ardrey Kell High, Santa Ana is one of the most hard-nosed players in the Queen City. Santa Ana plays with a relentlessness that allows him to snag rebounds over bigger players, and collect steals and get past smaller players who purportedly are quicker. Simply put, Santa Ana does it all. Last season, Santa Ana averaged 18 points and six rebounds per game, en route to winning conference player of the year honors. This season, the powerfully built guard was determined to show he could be even better. “I wanted to be a strong leader for the team, making sure everybody knows I’m the best player on the floor,” Santa Ana said. “Even if I’m not putting up big numbers every night, I’m going to get assists, I’m going take charges, I’m going to do all the dirty work, too, so that they know they can’t do anything to stop me.”
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR SANTA ANA:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “After I started working out here the summer after eighth grade, Coach (Mike) Craft said, ‘Have you got a preference for jersey number?’ I said, ‘No, Coach, I just want a jersey.’ And number 22 was the one that he gave me.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE? “As a shooter, J.J. Redick or Stephen Curry – obviously, not anywhere near the skill level they’re at. But I like to come off ball screens and bring the ball up court a little bit, too.”
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
Santa Ana is receiving interest from programs in the ACC, SEC, Big Ten and Southern Conference.
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
“Honestly, it probably was this year, when we beat Olympic by 20. To have the defending state champions come out here, and just putting it to them, that was a fun game.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, STEVEN SANTA ANA WILL BE? “In the NBA.”
A quick release, impressive accuracy and stunning range have made Watkins one of the most dangerous players in area basketball circles. Providence Day’s 6-0 senior guard simply has a scorer’s instinct, using timely bursts of speed and body maneuvering to average about 18 points per game throughout his career for the Chargers. Watkins has point guard height, but his prolific shooting and deceptive athletic ability make him more than capable of playing shooting guard at the college level. Watkins certainly would have had a bevy of scholarship offers, but he committed to Davidson before his junior season, so the “big boys” missed a shot at getting a special player.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR WATKINS:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “Honestly, (number 3) was one of the smallest jerseys we had, so that was the one I went with. I’m not really a guy who gets caught up in jersey numbers. I just go out and play.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
“I’d say Jamal Crawford (of the Los Angeles Clippers). When he gets to shooting and making shots, he’s hard to be stopped. But when he’s off, he’s off. I think my game resembles his. I come out and make plays and keep my teammates involved.”
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
“(Davidson) was a good fit for me. They’ve been recruiting me since my freshman year, and their system is kind of like our system – run and shoot, all the guards get out and all the guards are interchangeable.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
“Probably when I hit seven 3s against (Charlotte) Latin my freshman year. It was seven 3s, back-to-back. It was pretty awesome. That was my favorite game.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, JORDAN WATKINS WILL BE? “Hopefully, still playing the game. But if not, I’ll probably be somewhere working for someone’s business and working my way up to owning a business someday. That’s what I want to do.”
There isn’t much Maye cannot do on the court. The Hough High junior is a dead-eye jump shooter, an unstoppable penetrator, a fierce rebounder and a deft passer. Those are spectacular attributes for any player, but when you’re 6-8, 230 pounds, it’s a downright scary combination of skills. Maye literally plays every position on the court for Hough, which he led to the Class 4A Western Regional semifinals last year before losing to eventual state champ Olympic. So it’s easy to understand why a litany of colleges is making their case to lure Maye to their campuses. Maye is the son of former Independence High and University of North Carolina star quarterback Mark Maye, who is sports royalty of sorts in Mecklenburg County. But this teenager is so good that, pretty soon, Mark Maye might eventually best be known for being “Luke Maye’s dad.”
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR MAYE:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “I’ve always liked high numbers. (Number) 32 was one of the highest numbers we had, so I got it. I wore 21 in middle school, because that’s what my mom (Aimee) had. But once I got in high school, I wanted a bigger number.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE? At the college level, it’s Doug McDermott (of Creighton), and at the NBA level, it’s maybe Kevin Love (of the Minnesota Timberwolves). But my favorite player is Dirk (Novitzki).
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
Maye already has more than 10 scholarships offers in hand, including invitations from Clemson, Virginia Tech, Charlotte, Davidson and UAB. But blue bloods such as North Carolina, Duke and N.C. State also are keeping a close eye on Maye.
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
“Probably last year with this team nearly going all the way. We had great chemistry, and hopefully we’ll get even farther this year.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, LUKE MAYE WILL BE? “Hopefully, playing in the NBA.”
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
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ISIAH BLACKMON
SIMIEON CARTER
MATTHEW FISHER-DAVIS
GIOVANNI MACK
JALEN SAUNDERS
ANDREW HOWARD
BREAKING DOWN BLACKMON:
BREAKING DOWN CARTER:
BREAKING DOWN FISHER-DAVIS
BREAKING DOWN MACK:
BREAKING DOWN SAUNDERS:
BREAKING DOWN HOWARD:
It might be hard to believe that the leading scorer from one of the top programs in the city and state could be underrated, but that’s exactly what Blackmon is. Sure, the junior guard is a known quantity. But perhaps because of his relatively small stature – he’s a slender-built 5 foot 10 -- or the team-focused approach Lions coach Baronton Terry uses with the squad, Blackmon doesn’t receive nearly the amount of attention most players with his talents do. Blackmon is an explosive leaper and a slick passer with a strong mid-range game. He leads the Lions with a modest 13 points per game and surprisingly ranks third on the team with 4.4 rebounds each outing. Blackmon has no problem handling the contact when he drives to the basket for dunks and layups among bigger foes. His game exudes a quiet confidence, and that shows in the way he refuses to fret about receiving more individual attention. “I just wanted to help my team,” he said. “It’s all about winning.”
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR BLACKMON:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “My brother (Mark, now at Maryland-Eastern Shore) was number 22 (for West Charlotte). I didn’t want his jersey, so I just figured I would pick a higher number and go with 24.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
If there’s a Charlotte-area player with more upside than Carter … well, there isn’t one. The 6-7 junior isn’t the most talented player on West Charlotte’s dynamic squad, but he just might bring THE MOST to the table: length, intimidation and potential. Carter has a wingspan that exceeds 7 feet, and he is a quick leaper who seemingly tries to slam home everything. For most of this season, he’s nearly averaged a double-double. And get this: He didn’t start playing organized ball until last season. “Coach (Baronton) Terry got me going,” Carter said. “My ninth grade year, he talked to me a lot and helped me with my grades. He wanted me to play because he thought I had a chance to be good.” Carter took his lumps last year, seeing very little court time while serving as an apprentice to former Lions great Kennedy “Big Baby” Meeks, who’s now a freshman at North Carolina. “After seeing ‘Baby’ play all the time, he taught me a lot about rebounding, boxing out – all the big-man moves,” Carter said. These days, Carter is the one giving lessons on the court.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR CARTER:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “Last year, everyone had picked a number before me since I was new. I saw 00, and I thought I’d stick with that number.”
“Russell Westbrook. He’s really athletic, and he’s really fast. He’s not just really fast; he’s really fast dribbling around the defender. And when he’s up in the air, nobody can stop him.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
“I have an offer from Old Dominion right now, but I’m also getting interest from Minnesota, South Carolina, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Towson.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY? “I don’t know. It’s really hard for me to just choose one.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, ISIAH BLACKMON WILL BE? “Looking forward to seeing where the future takes him. Maybe he’ll be playing in the NBA.”
“I really don’t know. But who am I trying to be like? Kevin Durant. I really think his game is phenomenal.”
“I get letters from Appalachian State and the Aggies of (North Carolina) A&T so far. I’ve come a long way.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
“My first alley-oop last year. It was against Lake Norman. It just gave me a lot of energy. It motivated me to do more, to work harder.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, SIMIEON CARTER WILL BE? “An NBA player. That’s my goal.”
At 6-5, this silky-smooth performer from Butler High just might be the best shooter to emerge from the area since Stephen and Seth Curry were at Charlotte Christian. Speaking of that school, Fisher-Davis excelled at Charlotte Christian the previous two seasons before returning to Butler, where he played his freshman year. He’s had some 40-point outbursts and made it easy for people see why he became a top recruit who chose Vanderbilit over the likes of Virginia, Wake Forest, Georgia, Mississippi and the Charlotte 49ers. “Matthew is a quiet leader,” Butler coach Donald Kirby said. “He’s quiet, but he’s a confident young man. He’s a tremendous shooter, but I think a lot of people don’t realize his athleticism. He can jump out of the gym, he’s got a nice post game and he can handle (the ball). I think in the coming years, people are going to see that he’s much more than a spot-up jump shooter.”
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR FISHER-DAVIS
How’d you choose your jersey number? “I like single-digit numbers, and this was the only one that was available, so I just stuck with it.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
Butler’s 5-10 senior is a pure scoring guard trapped in a point guard’s body. During his junior season, Mack averaged more than 24 points per game for Providence High and made numerous all-star teams. For his final high school season, however, he moved in with his father, who lives in the Butler district, and the Bulldogs certainly got a special player in Mack, who has drawn recruiting interest from the likes of Maris and Mount Saint Mary’s. If he were taller, he’d likely be a high-Division I prospect. And he STILL might wind up being one.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR MACK:
How’d you choose your jersey number? “My freshman year, I got number 20. I was supposed to be number 2, but they didn’t have that, so I stuck with 20.”
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE? “A lot of people say Chris Paul, but I try to model my game after Kyrie Irving, although I try to have a little bit of Chris Paul because of his leadership qualities. I like Kobe’s game, too, but when it comes to point guards, it’s Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul.”
“Ever since my freshman, I’ve pretty much heard (former UConn star and current Oklahoma City Thunder player) Jeremy Lamb from a lot of people. He’s smooth, he’s long and lanky like me. But I really like Kevin Durant because he’s an assassin.”
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
COLLEGE OUTLOOK:
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
“Vanderbilt was the most comfortable place for me athletically, socially and academically. It just seemed like a no-brainer to me.”
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
“Probably my first bucket. I was about 9 years old, I came off a screen, took it to the cup and laid it up. I was on a MARA rec team.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, MATTHEW FISHER-DAVIS WILL BE?
“Hopefully, still playing somewhere. Hopefully, I’ll have a degree and still playing basketball in some form.”
“Right now, I’m just focusing on getting eligible for the NCAA. I have a few mid-majors interested, but once everything gets done with the Clearinghouse, I’ll just start to see what other schools are interested in me.”
“My sophomore year against (Ardrey Kell), I hit a shot to send it to overtime. Even though we ended up losing, it was a big shot. Everyone in the crowd went crazy. It was definitely a memorable experience.”
10 YEARS FROM NOW, GIOVANNI MACK WILL BE?
“Hopefully, continuing to play basketball. The most important thing for me is just getting to college right now and getting a free education. If I do have the opportunity to play pro ball somewhere, I’ll definitely take it.”
The 5’10 Southlake Christian Academy Point Guard ability to control the rock and get to the cup with ease puts him at a competitive advantage over anyone who guards him. “Jalen works hard during the summer with personal trainer, Scottie Scott and at the Accelerate Basketball facility” according to his dad Malcolm Sanders. “He also elevated his game playing with top talent in the Anthony Morrow Summer Hoops Pro-Am. Playing with and against professional athletes during the summers shines through in the senior floor general as there’s a sense of comfort and he doesn’t get rattled under pressure. What also comes to mind is his court awareness, floor intelligence, basketball IQ but whatever name you call it, it’s found a home with Jalen not only on the basketball court but also in the classroom. Mr. Sanders adds “Jalen is not just an athlete, he is a student-athlete. His current GPA is 4.3 and he scored 1830 on the SAT.”
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR JALEN SANDERS
How’d you choose your jersey number? I play in the #30 which is the same as my God brothers, Ian Miller who plays for Florida State, and Stephen Curry of Golden State Warriors.
The 6’7 Southlake Christian forward is an active rebounder on the glass and has good timing on blocking shots especially coming from the “weak side.” Offensively he plays extremely well with his back toward the basket and from watching his demeanor on the court you can glean that he has worked extremely hard on his double and triple moves in the post. According to Coach Monroe “establishing Howard down low” is a tremendous objective in their keys towards a victory.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR A. HOWARD:
How’d you choose your jersey number? I chose number 12 because Dwight Howard is my favorite player since we share the same last name and he is also a post player. Most of all we both have a goofy personality.
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE? My game most resembles Dwight Howard’s because he is an awesome shot blocker and was named Defensive Player of the Year at one time. My favorite part of the game is defense because it helps to win the game and I also have a natural ability to block shots.
WHICH PLAYER DOES YOUR GAME MOST RESEMBLE?
COLLEGE OUTLOOK? I haven’t decided which
I would say it’s a mixture of the two Ian Miller and Stephen Curry. Ian because of the way he attacks the basket and Stephen because he is a playmaker. I’m not necessarily a pure shooter but definitely a scorer who can knock it down consistently.
school I would like to attend but a few of the schools that I am interested in include NJIT, Western Carolina University, Sacred Heart University and Texas Christian University. The career that I would like to pursue is managing money.
COLLEGE OUTLOOK?
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
Right now the only D1 interest I have is from Cornell University. I feel like I’m being overlooked but I’d rather be underrated than overrated. I’m hoping more offers will come soon as I’m just looking for somewhere that I can take advantage of both my academic and athletic gifts…..My time is coming.
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL MEMORY?
My greatest basketball memories would be hitting the game winning shot in the NC AAU States and then winning the AAU National Championship.
A couple of weeks ago I was featured on ESPN Sport Center’s Top 10 at Spot #3. It was Senior Night, we were playing against Hickory Grove, and the score was tied with 2.1 seconds left on the clock. I caught an alley-oop pass and dunked it to win the game. The ESPN commentators called it a “walk-off” dunk.
10 YEARS FROM NOW, I WILL BE? Playing in the NBA.
10 YEARS FROM NOW, JALEN WILL BE?
In 10 years I hope to be playing basketball professionally, God willing. If not, I will be at the top of my game in the public policy and finance fields. 18
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2014 •2014 USPrep • USPrep Athletes Athletes 19
3
CJ JACKSON
BY C. JEMAL HORTON
QUIET STORM
SOFTSPOKEN JACKSON IS MAKING NOISE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE FOR THE OLYMPIC HIGH TROJANS Cleveland “C.J.” Jackson is a young man who knows about change. He entered the world 18 years ago with a medical condition that required him to spend his first two weeks in the hospital and the next several months trying to recover. Oh, he recovered all right. So much so that he was walking at 7 months old, talking soon after that and essentially was potty-trained by the time his first birthday arrived.
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
23
down,” Mr. Jackson recalled.
Jackson into his office and
advice tinged with respect
“It got to be too much.”
told the teen he needed to
and supported by nightly on-
shed his low-key demeanor
the-court performances that
and become the vocal
inspire his teammates to be
leader of this season’s
better.
But fast-forward 14 years, and most people who know C.J. Jackson actually use the term “soft-spoken” to describe the Olympic High School senior.
squad, Jackson knew he could make the switch. And he HAS become more outspoken. But
“I’m the only starter back from last year’s team, so I knew I had to do what Coach needed me to do to
Y help the team,” Jackson L L A E R said. “But I also have to stay N from a great A C true to myself, go about E E H H family,” said Ty “ T T things the best way I know ” O , L O Baumgardner, who L H S TBA NER how. E coaches Jackson K S A RD B A on the Olympic boys “I probably don’t seem G M U basketball team. “He like it, but I can be BA S F ’ E O H D does pick and choose very demanding on “ I . A S N his moments to come my teammates. I get SO EAT K C A J out of that shell, so to onto them more GR E A C T A speak – usually around GO AND P .” than you would E his teammates and around think. If I see them M EL E A F his coaches – but he’s just a screwing around in IS G H great, soft-spoken kid.” the hallway, I might try to TO “He’s a very quiet, reserved kid who comes
T
HE’S A VERY QUIET, RESERVED KID WHO COMES FROM A GREAT FAMILY” 24
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
That track record for
The toddler years got
couldn’t accomplishment.
changing, even during the
interesting, though -- at
But behavior was another
toughest of times, has made
least for Jackson’s parents,
thing. There simply were
Jackson who he is today:
Cleveland and Shawn. Not
times his parents had trouble
an honor-roll student, one
that there were any health
controlling their eldest child.
of Mecklenburg County’s
scares; little C.J. amazed doctors as he fought through a severe esophagus problem and performed tasks many older kids older
“We used to go out and eat as a family, but we got to a point where we had to stop
there’s no overzealous yelling, no
straighten them up a little bit. On the court, I pull them
getting in teammates’ faces.
aside and try to give them
He doesn’t deliver fire-and-
one or two pointers that
brimstone, Ray Lewis-style
might help them. I don’t try
speeches in the locker room.
to embarrass anyone.
brightest high school
Instead, Jackson’s lifting the
“They’re usually very
basketball stars, a highly
Trojans, the defending Class
receptive to it. I have great
pursued college prospect.
4A state champions, with his
teammates, and they respect
own spin on demonstrative
me very much.”
going because he wouldn’t
So last summer, when
keep still, he wouldn’t sit
Baumgardner summoned
leadership: a mixture of perfectly timed words of
He is the unquestioned
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
25
leader of the Trojans, who
got to be in his hands a lot
lost what Baumgardner
for us to be successful.”
said was 87 percent of
stricken with at birth. “He was really sick when he was born,” Shawn recalled.
their offense to graduation
N O S esophagus. Doctors said opened the season “MY TWO , that it happened to about S L D by averaging 31 L A A H B 30 percent of young T E points in his first three K black boys who were BAS BLING games, and in January S born at that time. He B I I H R was nominated as a D D , could not process N U N McDonalds All-American, A O ME R- food and digest it AR I . serving notice that Y D LA at all. He would U O B G Olympic’s high standard of E R throw up all the O LS, success hadn’t disappeared W L T A time. When he B D S with all those seniors back in E was 2 weeks old, SIZ HE WA June. he had to be ND DING A And while the Trojans hospitalized. N U O P certainly have their share Tubes were ” ! M of team-wide talent – such everywhere. It was terrible.” THE
“He had an underdeveloped
last year. Jackson
as 6-foot-6 senior Kenny
we really didn’t know what to do at first,” recalled Mr. Jackson. “We just went into parent mode. We’re Christian, so we prayed a lot and just had faith and believed. Because of those things, we didn’t worry a whole lot. We just made sure that we did everything that we were supposed to do, as far as making sure he made his doctor’s appointments on time and took his medicine properly.” Cleveland and Shawn didn’t share their son’s health
The family had to make
problems with anyone, other
some decisions. At the
than their parents. But C.J.
THE COMEBACK KID
time, the Jacksons were
made it easy to hide things.
Jackson’s basketball exploits
felt doctors in Los Angeles,
shooting guard a year ago.
impress many people,
Calif., Cleveland and
including his parents, who
Shawn’s hometown, were
“He can really shoot the
both are former players.
better equipped to treat their
basketball,” Baumgardner
But nothing about their
son’s condition. So when
said of Jackson. “He’s got
son today comes close to
C.J. was just 5 weeks old, he
a great feel and pace to his
impressing them more than
and his mother moved to Los
And “He got better after
game. He’s got a really high
the way he battled through
Angeles, where he began
about 12 months.”
IQ, and he knows the ball’s
the medical issue he was
receiving treatment at UCLA.
Lemon, 6-5 junior Malik Constantine and versatile Maryland sophomore transfer Damari Parris – everything runs through Jackson, who has assumed point-guard duties this season after being the
26
“We were new parents, and
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
living in Athens, Ga., where Cleveland had finished up his career at the University of Georgia. But the Jacksons
“We’ve always called him an ‘old soul,’” Shawn said. “He really was walking at 7 months. Everything he did was early. It was amazing. Many of the things that other kids his age didn’t normally do, he just grabbed on and did them very well.
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
27
It wasn’t long after that
“I turned around,” he
himself, which I think some
Jackson accepted a job at
State. And after Jackson’s
by their actions and things
when C.J. began revealing
said, “and my son had
of those traits that he picked
Belmont Abbey.
hot start to the 2013-
like that. But we need you to
a penchant to excel on the
two basketballs, dribbling
up back then still help him
14 season, a number of
come out of your shell a little
hardwood.
around his body. I mean, two
now. If you watch him, he’s
high-Division I programs
bit and be more of a vocal
regular-sized balls, and he
very poised, he’s very even-
began calling, including the
leader and lead these kids,
was pounding them!.”
keeled.
University of Tennessee
because that’s going to be
of the Southeastern
crucial to our success.’
Basketball certainly was in his bloodlines. After his
that went 30-0, Jackson averaged 17 points per game as the Trojans earned a No.
standout career at Georgia,
“We often talk about not
5 national ranking while
Mr. Jackson played in
being controlled by emotion
marching to the state crown.
Venezuela and then returned to Los Angeles to begin his coaching career at Campbell Hall High School. One day, after his team had
‘KICKING’ BAD HABITS But like many children, C.J. didn’t always use his energy
and not getting too high and not getting too low. He understands that if your emotions are controlling you, then you can’t be rational
“The guys really embraced
kind of hesitant, but now I’m
Many people believe
Jackson has already gone
glad we made the move. I
Jackson can be even better,
through one enormous
love it here.”
and Baumgardner believes
change since last season:
much of that development
He’s gotten bigger. A lot
starts with his star guard
bigger.
“How can I put this?” Shawn
really began to absorb that
players as 2-year-old C.J.
said, pausing. “He was
as a youngster. And because
rambunctious.”
of that, I think it really helps
Last July, he played for
him out on the (basketball)
Aim High, an AAU team
floor AND in the classroom.
sponsored by former NBA
When the family decided that
Baumgardner continued.
moving here. At first, I was
haven’t had any issues
Cleveland was lecturing his
“I had sat all the players
dedicating himself to making
down, and I was yelling at
going out to dinner with C.J.
them -- I was going off,”
When the pressure’s on,
was too much of a task, the
player Kenny Smith, and
Cleveland said. “After a
that’s when it seems he really
Jacksons decided they had
things got even better.
while, I noticed that they
shines the most.”
to do something to help their
Jackson entered the Best
The coach made that
were looking through me,
son maintain control. They
After finding that inner
of the South tournament in
abundantly clear to him last
like they weren’t paying
found a surprising answer:
peace, C.J.’s basketball
Suwanee, Ga., without any
summer.
attention. I remember saying,
karate.
talents grew exponentially.
‘What are you guys looking
When his family moved back
at? See, this is the problem!
When C.J. was 4 years old,
You can’t pay attention!’
he enrolled in his first class. His parents immediately
“Then one of the kids said,
to Georgia after his father became the associate head coach at Mercer University,
noticed a change.
he began tearing up the
“After being in karate for a
AAU circuit. He eventually
Sixteen years after the
while, he just kind of calmed
became one of the top high
fact, Cleveland still sounds
down,” Cleveland said. “It
school players in the Peach
amazed as he recalls what
really helped him gain control
State before moving to
of his emotions and center
Charlotte in 2012 after Mr.
‘Coach, look at your son!’”
he saw that day.
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
“He understood it,”
MAKE THAT CHANGE
played poorly in a loss, Big
under adverse conditions. He
Conference.
“He knew it. He comes from
me last year,” he said. “I
in positive ways.
waited in the background.
28
Last year, on a team
scholarship offers in hand. But according to www. hoopseen.com, after leading his team to the tourney title over the weekend, Jackson received offers from Winthrop, Campbell, Pfeiffer, Wofford, High Point, The Citadel, Middle Tennessee State, Jacksonville, Georgia Southern and Youngstown
another drastic change in his life: being more outspoken.
a basketball family, so he knows what’s necessary.”
Last season he stood about 5 feet 11 inches. Now, he’s nearly 6-2. “The height, it just helps, and I love it,” Jackson said with a grin. “It gives me an
“We said, ‘Look, this team is
upside to shoot over smaller
going to be full of a bunch of
guards that I play against,
inexperienced guys, a bunch
considering I play point
of young guys, a bunch of
guard.”
guys that are going to need a leader outside the coaching staff, and you’re the logical choice,’” Baumgardner said. “I said, ‘I know there are different kinds of leaders: vocal leaders, guys who lead
Doctors believe Jackson has a chance to be even taller, largely because of his size13 ½ feet and the fact that Mr. Jackson stands 6-5 and Shawn is nearly 5-11.
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
29
His mom, in fact, points out
And much like the Los
“I think I’m doing fine,” he
that she deserves some
Angeles Lakers star, Jackson
said with a nod. “Sometimes
credit for C.J.’s basketball
will have to alter the way he
it’s hard to handle, but I try to
talents, as she was a star
goes about things – whether
look at the positive side of it.
player at Van Nuys High
that’s scoring less, focusing
I have to remember it’s just a
School. During her senior
on defense or, yes, speaking
game. That’s all it is.”
season, she averaged
up more.
T
H
E
M
A
G
A
Z
I
N
E
17 points and 17 rebounds. “You can absolutely say (C.J.) gets his skills from me!” Shawn said with a laugh. “Big Cleveland and I have this debate all the time. “I had some opportunities to go play in college, but I didn’t
WANT MORE?
want to. I didn’t want to
US Prep Athletes
sweat. I wanted to be
THE MAGAZINE
cute.” Despite his rich basketball gene pool, C.J. makes it clear who his basketball role model is. “Kobe – always,” he said. “It’s just his energy. His passion for the game is just something you can’t really compare to other players.”
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FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
3
B
“THE TRANSITION HAS BEEN GREAT, AND THE PREPARATION THAT I RECEIVED IN BASKETBALL HAS DEFINITELY HELPED ME TO MAKE THE TRANSITION IN SALES AND THE CORPORATE WORLD.”
H I G H
S C H O O L
Blake Donte Smith the 6’4 former standout shooting guard from United Faith Christian Academy received a scholarship to play basketball at Radford University.
start of his collegiate sophomore year, Blake realized that playing at the NBA level wasn’t a tremendous possibility and he began preparing for life after basketball. “I realized basketball got me here but there are so many more opportunities I can take advantage of” said Blake, who now works as a Senior Sales Agent at Red Ventures.
S T A R
BY TONY PEARL
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
Blake took advantage of some
“I REALIZED BASKETBALL GOT ME HERE BUT THERE ARE SO MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES I CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF”
Blake Smith
32
Not long after the
of the university networking
This past summer Blake
the way. Former Charlotte
and leadership opportunities
landed a job with Red
Nets associates, Eric Horton
by becoming a Quest
Ventures, the Fort Mill
and Darius Smith who still
Assistant and Peer Instructor
S.C. based company
is a part of his life today.
that helped freshmen
that specializes in sales,
And the future for this rising
students successfully make
marketing and technology
business leader? “I want to
the transition from high
infrastructure for some of
perfect this sales craft and
school to college. These
the nation top brand names.
move on up that ladder.”
opportunities helped to
And within six months of
crystalize his decision to
joining the team, Blake was
major in business marketing.
promoted from Sales Agent
“I’ve always been intrigued
to Senior Sales Agent. “The
by why certain things,
transition has been great,
advertisements (products)
and the preparation that I
was placed there” recalled
received in basketball has
Blake. “And why certain
definitely helped me to make
things make people react in
the transition in sales and the
certain ways.”
corporate world.” Blake also
Today it’s Blake who finds
credits his mother Bobbie
himself making one of life’s
Smith for all of her hard work
biggest transitions, from the
and sacrifice over the years
classroom and hardwood to
and also notes two coaches
the corporate world.
that helped mold him along
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
33
K
Kendall Phills knew
the day was coming.
On far too many occasions since her husband, Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills, died in a car crash 14 years ago, she’d catch
herself looking at her only son and noticing glimpses of familiarity.
Late Hornets star’s children making the family name, game proud BY C. JEMAL HORTON 34
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
The broad shoulders. The dimpled grin. The pensiveness. The love for the game of basketball. The similarities were downright eerie at times, but Kendall’s thoughts soon would turn toward things such as finding her way in this world as a much-tooyoung widow or passing the exam to earn her real-estate license. But in the recesses of her mind, as her son, Trey, grew older, Kendall knew she needed to prepare for that inevitable moment.
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
35
I
“I knew there
into her high school career,
Trey is a bona fide Division I
was going to
Bobby and Kendall’s
college prospect who, thus
be a day when
daughter, Kerstie, ranks
far, has scholarship offers
I was going to
among the area’s most
from UC Irvine and The
wake up and
ballyhooed girls hoopsters.
Citadel but also has garnered
Trey Phills was
She’s a fierce defender, a
interest from a number
going to walk
relentless rebounder and a
of big-time programs,
through the
potent scorer.
including Stanford. In the
door, and I was going to think it was his dad,” Kendall said.
certain familiarity for her mother.
first quarter of the season, he was averaging more than 25 points per game for the Knights, who need him to
“And now, at 17 years old,
“It’s almost like my husband
do many things after losing
he walks through the door,
has been reincarnated into
several key players from last
and sometimes I just have
a girl and into a young man
season.
to take a moment, because
all over again -- it’s like he’s
I think, ‘Oh, my God. That’s
come back in the form of
Bobby, up and down!’”
Trey and Kerstie,” Kendall
Yes, Bobby Ray Phills III – aka Trey – can be favorably compared to his father. He’s
said, shaking her head. “I can’t even put it into words, to be honest.”
“We’re playing him at the point right now,” Charlotte Christian coach Shonn Brown said. “But even though he’s only 6-1 or 6-2, he can play (point guard)
an honor student who’s just
The Phills siblings, however,
through (power forward), and
as impressive off the court
aren’t newsworthy simply
he can guard a (center). He’s
as he is on it – which is
because they have a famous
very fundamental, and he
saying something because
father. Their story would be
understands the game.
the Charlotte Christian
compelling no matter
School junior happens to
their surname. After
be one of the best high
all, how many times in
school basketball players in
Mecklenburg history has
Mecklenburg County.
a brother-sister tandem
The crazy part is that Trey isn’t the only Phills child with that distinction. Not even two full seasons
36
Kerstie, too, conjures a
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
been widely regarded among the county’s top 15 high school basketball players at the same time?
HE’S AN HONOR STUDENT WHO’S JUST AS IMPRESSIVE OFF THE COURT AS HE IS ON IT FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
37
“We had a (college) coach
and three blocks for game
The Phills name has been
Trey, sprinted outside and
then, although they weren’t
nosed player, someone
here watching him who was
at the midway point of the
in Charlotte headlines for
asked the golfer if he would
superstars, Kendall saw
who disrupted offenses and
just amazed. He was like,
season.
quite some time now – it was
take a picture with his son.
enough potential in Trey and
defenses with her tenacity
Kendall to get them extra
and fearlessness. And her
time on the court so they
aggressive style wasn’t
could develop their games.
something she just used
Kendall even went on to
when she was facing other
become coach of one of
girls.
‘Shonn, he can do so many different things – on the ball, off the ball, he doesn’t have to have the ball, he cuts hard, he screens well.’ Trey’s IQ for the game is tremendous, and I think that, in itself, is going to take him a long way.” Kerstie? She’s downright lethal. As a do-it-all forward for the Knights, she was averaging about 28 points, 10 rebounds, three steals
If not for 6-4 Providence Day center Jatarie White, Kerstie likely would be
2
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
Kerstie even began playing basketball.
Michael Jordan – then a mega-star with the Chicago Bulls – politely held Trey
considered the best player
On January 12, 2000, Bobby
Phills in his arms and posed
in the Charlotte Independent
Phills II died in a car crash
for the photo.
Schools Athletic Association.
as he left a Hornets pre-
But while White is a senior
game shootaround. Trey was
who’s signed with the
3 years old. Kerstie was 1.
University of South Carolina,
Their mother was young, too
Kerstie’s just a 10th-grader.
– just 28 years old – but she
And, well, she doesn’t take a backseat to anyone in her brother’s mind. “When I watch her play,
KERSTIE, RANKS AMONG THE AREA’S MOST BALLYHOOED GIRLS HOOPSTERS. SHE’S A FIERCE DEFENDER, A RELENTLESS REBOUNDER AND A POTENT SCORER.
there long before Trey and
it just makes me smile,” Trey said. “She doesn’t realize how good she can
was hellbent on providing a sense of normalcy for her two children as they took on life without a father. Eventually, she helped them find a haven on the basketball court.
Kerstie’s teams, and that
Just ask her brother.
As he became a toddler, Trey
experience seemed to fuel
often could be seen in the
the fire that the teenager
“The crazy thing is that she’s
Charlotte Coliseum as his
shows when she’s on the
probably stronger than me,
dad developed a reputation
court today.
so she bullied me when
as one of the Hornets’ leaders. And a passion for the game stayed with Trey even after his father passed away.
“The best time I’ve ever had as a player came when I played on the churchleague team and we won the championship with my mom
“My favorite memory when
as the coach,” Kerstie said.
I was 5 or 6 was out in the
“I felt like I contributed to
driveway.” Trey recalled.
my team. It was really cool
we played!” Trey said with a laugh. “We used to play one-on-one, and I would get mad because I was out there getting posted up and elbowed – by my little sister. We’d be out there going at it.”
be. I just laugh. She’s just
Trey actually had been
“I used to have a mini-
to win that championship.
Kerstie takes a deep sigh
a sophomore, and it’s just
exposed to the game from
trampoline, and I was
I thought, ‘Maybe I have a
when asked about playing
scary how good she’s
the moment he entered this
obsessed with dunking. I
shot at this.’”
against brother.
going to be. She’s already
world, as his dad spent time
would lower the goal – crank
averaging a double-
with the Cleveland Cavaliers
it all the way down. I’d have
After that, Kerstie moved
“Yeah, I usually am the
double. It’s just crazy.
before joining the Hornets
a couple pillows to make
on to the AAU ranks. She
bully,” she said, sheepishly.
in 1997. Just a short time
sure I didn’t get hurt, then
played for the Charlotte
“Sometimes I can be mean
after the Phillses moved into
I’d have my mom and sister
Monarchs before joining the
and aggressive, and I tend to
a home at the Ballantyne
record it. I’d watch it over
NC Spartans, a team led by
pick on him sometimes. But
Country Club, Bobby looked
and over again.”
former Carolina Panthers
at the end of the day, I still
star wide receiver Muhsin
love my brother.”
“Right now, she can handle anybody she wants – ANYBODY.”
out the window one day and saw a familiar face on the
BALL IN THE FAMILY
golf hole that backed up to their house. Bobby grabbed
When Trey was around 6 and Kerstie 4, Kendall signed them up to play in a park-and-rec league. Even
Muhammad.
But Trey was busy building
Kerstie developed a
a basketball reputation of
reputation for being a hard-
his own. He joined an AAU
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
39
program called the Charlotte
But their relationship actually
children on the campus
get to a good college that
Hornets, coached by Derrick
began to get stronger.
adore him, and he rarely
can provide opportunities
Brewer, who made sure
They became each other’s
disappoints when he’s on the
beyond basketball, that’s
Trey and his teammates
biggest supporter – besides
court.
what I want. I know there’s
developed a strong work
their mother – at basketball
ethic.
games. Even today, as Trey
“He would take us players to a 24-hour gym (Peak Fitness),” Trey said. “We’d work out all night, until like 4 or 5 in the morning, take
mornings, they’ll giggle with each other about little inside jokes that no one else would understand.
years on the varsity squad as a player who largely focused on defense, he’s the unequivocal offensive leader for the Knights, although he does plenty of other things
a little nap and then go get
“At a very young age –
well, too. He averages 6.1
breakfast and go work out
Kerstie couldn’t even
rebounds and nearly four
again. There were some
walk – my husband said,
steals per game while usually
tough nights. There were
‘They’re going to be close,’”
being assigned the task
times I wanted to go home
Kendall said. “Trey was like
of defending the opposing
crying to my mom, “This
her little caregiver – very
team’s top scorer.
man is crazy!” But I think it
overprotective of his little
paid off. Looking back on it,
sister. And sure enough, they
it was good for me.”
are like best friends. They
It was around that time, when he was in seventh grade, that Trey got his first dunk.
just chat each other up from the time they come home from school until they get ready to go to bed. They sit on the sofa side-by-side like
“I was 13, and my trainer
adjoining twins and watch
(Scotty Scott) said, ‘Trey,
all their favorite recorded
come catch this lob,’” Trey
shows.”
said. “He just threw it in front of the rim, and I barely caught it. I told all my friends the next day. I was excited.
40
drives them to school in the
After spending his first two
And they spend a lot of time talking about basketball. It’s inevitable. With Trey having the role as the best boys
“And after that, my sister
player at Charlotte Christian,
didn’t want to play me one-
everyone knows him. The
on-one anymore.”
elementary-school-aged
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
Many college programs are on his trail. Besides UC Irvine, The Citadel and Stanford, schools such as Davidson and Harvard have contacted Trey. And there’s
life outside of basketball, but I also know I can have a successful career and do whatever I put my mind to.” His mom agrees. “I’m excited for Trey,” Kendall said. “He has a lot to offer any basketball program that he goes to. He’s going
it. I channel my energy. “People say I play like my dad. I’ve watched some of his games on video, and I’ll say, ‘Hey, that kind of looks like ME out there!’ But I haven’t watched too many of his games. I get really sad
But Kendall Phills didn’t worry about such pettiness. Her kids actually loved the sport. And if people got carried away because these were Bobby Phills’ kids, then that was THEIR problem, not hers or her kids’.
when I watch them, because
Besides, Kendall herself
I miss my dad. But I know
loves the game of basketball.
that his legacy still carries
Sure, Bobby was the NBA
own, so it’s good to know
player. But Kendall loves to
where I come from.”
joke that maybe, just maybe, some of her children’s
little boy. I couldn’t ask for a
EMBRACING A LEGACY
better son.
It might have been simpler
Back in their native Baton
“And my daughter’s the
for Kendall to keep her
Rouge, La., Kendall and
same way. She has a high
children away from
Bobby both played for
GPA. I’m excited for them to
basketball. That way, there
Southern Lab High School.
excel and take it to the next
would have been no grand
Each season, Kendall
level.”
expectations instantly
made the first-team All-
heaped on them when
Defensive squad, using her
to make the coach proud. Academically, he’s a brilliant
basketball prowess comes from her, too.
a reason so many academic
And based on the aggressive
people heard their last
quickness and the same kind
powerhouses are interested.
way she plays, if Kerstie
names at sporting events
of aggressiveness Kerstie
Trey has a 4.75 cumulative
isn’t given a basketball
– sort of how former NBA
employs today to steal the
GPA, which includes the 5.0
scholarship, she just might
player Grant Hill was able
ball and score on layups.
he achieved during the first
TAKE one.
to shine on the hardwood
“That’s right!” Kendall
“Yeah, I’m aggressive on the
without playing football and
said with a hearty laugh.
having people constantly
“I have to keep reminding
looking for him to be the
my children that their mom
Second Coming of his dad,
played basketball ninth
former Dallas Cowboys
through 12th grade. Yes, I
running back Calvin Hill.
was the homecoming queen,
semester. “I know I’m trying to play in
court,” Kerstie said with a
college – a good college,
sheepish grin. “When I get
because academics are more
on the court, I just find this
important than anything to me,” Trey said. “If I can
energy. Plus, I love the game, so I just get aggressive with
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
41
“PEOPLE WOULD BE LIKE, ‘YOUR DAD WAS IN THE LEAGUE, SO …’ BASICALLY, THEY FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO BE THAT GOOD OR BETTER, AND THAT DEFINITELY CREATED PRESSURE. too, but I played basketball.” Kerstie loves to hear her mom recall her playing days.
of the tiger like her father
only reason he doesn’t wear
And I know he’s watching
not like the spotlight,”
and intense schoolwork
did on the court. She has
13 is because the school
over me, so that makes
Brown said. “He may win
dominate their schedules,
tenacity and versatility like
doesn’t have a jersey with
me happy if I have a good
accolades, and he will
they haven’t spent much
her dad had. They both put
that number.
game.”
accept those roles and
time watching footage of
their hand behind their back
Bobby’s performances. So
like their dad did, especially
“There definitely used to be
So as he embarks on the
instead of modeling their
when they’re fatigued.
pressure when I was playing
final year and a half of
games after their dad –
They’re the epitome of their
– I will say that,” Trey said.
his high school career,
Bobby was a silky-smooth
dad, so it’s eerie.”
“People would be like, ‘Your
Trey is excited about the
dad was in the league, so
possibilities. He’s optimistic
Not that Kerstie shies away
…’ Basically, they feel like
that the Knights will prove
from being compared with
you have to be that good
to people that they can
Bobby.
or better, and that definitely
maintain a high level of
created pressure. But I’ve
success after losing so many
made it my own. It’s not so
good players from last year’s
“Trey’s a mature kid, he’s
much about what my father
squad. He can’t wait to see
responsible. He’s the kind
did; it’s about what I can
what college program he’ll
of kid that I’d let babysit my
do out of my own situation.
eventually join. And, oh, yes,
kids and not worry about
I couldn’t imagine myself
he’s thrilled about watching
it. As a matter of fact, I’ve
doing anything else. If I were
his baby sister destroy the
had him drive my kids
to take a couple days off, I’d
competition in Charlotte
somewhere, and I trusted
be like, ‘Ah, man!’ I’d have to
Christian girls games.
him with that. You can’t say
jump shooter who still ranks fifth in NCAA history for the 4.03 3-pointers per game he averaged for Southern University during
“People come up to me and
the 1990-91 season – Trey
say, ‘Oh, you’re Bobby Phills’
and Kerstie just do what
daughter, you’re going to
feels right on the court.
ball out today,’” Kerstie said.
But genetics are a crazy thing, and Kendall said there’s no denying that people see parts of Bobby
“Yeah, I guess in her
Phills when her children are
prime time, she was a
on the court.
mini-hooper,” Kerstie said proudly. “I got some of my aggressiveness from my mom, too. I guess we get it from both sides.”
42
Christian basketball
“Trey and Kerstie don’t remember their dad on the court,” Kendall said. “They have seen video footage here and there, but
Because of their ages when
they’ve never studied his
he died, Kerstie and Trey
game. But what’s ironic to
don’t remember much
me is, my daughter more
about their father’s NBA-
so than Trey, has a lot of
playing days. And since
(Bobby’s) characteristics and
their hectic lifestyles of
mannerisms and athleticism
AAU basketball, Charlotte
on the floor. She has the eye
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
“I just try to do what I can. I can only do so much. But I kind of like it when people talk about how my dad played in the NBA. It’s kind of cool trying to play up to his level.”
get on YouTube and watch a couple basketball videos. Basketball grew in me and
Trey admits feeling the
became a part of me, and I
weight of the Phills name
just loved it.
when he’s taken the court in the past, although he’s never tried to run away from it. His e-mail address includes the number 13, which was the jersey number his dad wore for the Hornets. He sports number 1 for Charlotte Christian, but he said the
Brown, the Charlotte Christian mentor, has coached his share of players with famous parents, including Stephen and Seth
fulfill them well. But he’s a regular, old kid. He’s a kid that comes in, hangs out with his teammates. I think somewhere internally, there’s that pressure of, ‘Hey, my dad did this …’ But Kendall has done a phenomenal job rearing him and Kerstie.
that about every teenager. He has gained and earned the respect of this Charlotte Christian School student body and community because he LIVES it. Being a
“Honestly, I feel like if my
Curry, whose father, Dell,
dad were still here today,
played for the Hornets.
there would be a lot more
Brown believes Trey is
pressure. But it’s almost
equipped to handle all the
“And both he and his sister
more comforting just to
expectations – fair or unfair
are going to go extremely
know that he lived and had a
– that come with being the
far.”
great life. I’m his son. I have
child of a celebrated athlete.
it in my blood, and I can do whatever I put my mind to.
good basketball player only takes you so far.
“Trey is a kid who does
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
43
EDUCATIONAL SPOTLIGHT “SouthLake Christian Academy’s philosophy of education is Educating Mind, Body and Soul. Our goal is to enrich and strengthen the “total” student. SouthLake Christian Academy recognizes that educating a child requires a team approach with the team members consisting of faculty, parents, student and staff. This team approach to education fosters a positive and close relationship between all affected participants and enhances communication which is the foundation of the SouthLake Christian Academy educational experience.” Dr. C. Wayne Parker, II Head of School
Location: Located in Huntersville, NC our campus is geographically situated to serve families in Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville, Denver and the greater Lake Norman area. Founded: SouthLake Christian Academy was founded in 1994 as a mission of SouthLake Presbyterian Church (PCA). Campus Size: Located on a 19 acre campus in the scenic Lake Norman area. The school is comprised of three state-of-the-art educational buildings, computer and science labs, library, two gymnasiums, an auditorium, athletic field house, turf athletic field for football, soccer, and lacrosse, and a softball field. The master plan includes a third gymnasium for basketball and wrestling, a cross country course, a baseball field, a fine arts auditorium, and a fourth educational building. Grades Offered: The largest
44
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
TK-12 fully-accredited private school in the Lake Norman area. Head of School: Dr. C. Wayne Parker, II appointed in 1996 Enrollment: Approximately 900 students enrolled in 2013-2014 come from diverse backgrounds surrounding the Lake Norman area. Class Size: Overall Student to Staff ratio 18:1 Faculty: Our school has approximately 100 faculty and staff. The average faculty member has 13 years of classroom experience, and over 65% percent have attained or are working to attain their advanced degrees. We have four principals, one for each school division: Lower TK2, Lower 3-5, Middle and Upper School. The Upper School has a College Counseling department. A nurse is available on campus during school hours. Our
Academic Development Center is dedicated to learning services and tutoring. Technology Integration: Technology is incorporated into our campus through classroom computers and SMART Boards plus two state-of-the-art computer labs.. Scholarships: Our 2013 graduates were offered $3.5 million in college and university scholarships. Curriculum: We provide a college-preparatory curriculum that is centered on critical reasoning skills and not simply memorization. Each classroom is a technology driven interactive environment that advances students’ engagement and educational knowledge. Students are introduced to Latin and Greek in lower school Grades 3rd-8th. Standardized Test Scores: Our Students scored an
outstanding 30% higher than other top US private schools on the ERB standardized test. Honors & Awards: SouthLake students have earned top awards in national academic competitions such as National Merit recognition, National Spelling Bee, ACSI Academic Competitions, Math Olympics and the National Economic Council. In addition, over 50% of our 4th–7th graders qualify for the academic Duke TIP Program. Athletics: Athletics Our sports program includes state and regional championship athletics for almost 40 competitive teams. Our student athletes have received over $1.1 million in collegieate scholarships and include six Wendy’s Heisman Award winners. Our athletes compete both in the Metrolina Athletic Conference (MAC) and the
North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA). Team sports include: baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, & wrestling
VOL•UN•TEER n. A person who freely offers to take part. One who enters into or offers himself for a service of his/her free will.
I
It goes without saying, that the unselfish act of volunteering time is self gratifying, and even more, can make the difference in a person’s life. Each volunteer has his/her own story behind their act. We would like to share stories of some of our community volunteers, in hoping it will offer encouragement to donate time to a worthy cause.
Volunteer Organization: Founder of F.L.O.K (Future Leaders of Kipp) Professional Organization: Supervisor of Mecklenburg County Park and Rec
Why do you volunteer? “The reason why I volunteer/mentor is for the love of our youth. Growing up as a fatherless troubled teen myself I always knew there was a need. Instead of sitting and watching like the previous generation did my generation I created my mentoring group called F.L.O.K (Fathers Loving Our Kids)
Antawuan Schofield 2
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
A.K.A (Future Leaders Of Kipp). It gives me an opportunity to get back our youth from the strong hold of today’s entertainment and media. I am able to unplug and deprogram them for a couple hours and a month by letting them express themselves using their creativity. I have been blessed by a great friend named Rashid Williams who is a leading administrator at Kipp Charlotte. He has assisted by giving me the platform to bring F.L.O.K to Kipp Charlotte. I am able to work with the students,seeing them crave with excitement about the next meeting makes it all worth it.”
Thank You
We would like to thank each person for their time, and talents to afford youths a life changing opportunity. FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
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US PREP FUTURE ELITE CAMP ACCOMPLISHES DUAL-PURPOSE GOAL
N A L G A H ZANE
JAQU
AIL BR
BY TONY PEARL
OWN
S I R R N HA
JALE 48
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
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Events Sporting
Charlotte
in
FEBRUARY Feb 18…….................... NCISAA basketball playoffs start for area teams Feb 24…….................... NCHSAA basketball playoffs start for area teams Feb 25…….................... CIAA basketball tournament festivities start @ TW Cable Arena Feb 26…….................... NCHSAA baseball season begins
MARCH March 7-9…………........ Crystal Carolina Sports 11th Annual Grand Slam March 8-9…………........ 2014 Carolina Ruggerfest March 13……………...... Champions Cup Tennis March 15-16................ Charlotte Soccer Academy Spring Challenge March 27-29………....... 2014 Palmetto Volleyball Reg. Championship March 28-30.……......... Crystal Carolina Sports Travelball Nationals
APRIL April 4………………....... Bobcats vs. Orlando April 4-6………….......... Rawlings Spring State Championship April 10……………........ Charlotte Checkers vs Grand Rapids April 13……………........ Belmont Criterium Cyclist Race April 16……………........ Bobcats vs Chicago April 28……………........ Wells Fargo Golf Championships begin
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FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
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US Prep Athletes – The Magazine would like to thank all who have been instrumental and inspirational over the years in bringing sports to the big stage while representing Charlotte. Your hard work and dedication has helped path the way for us in creating our publication.
SPORTS FIGURES
Pablo Álvarez • Arn Anderson • Dwight Clark • Stu Cole • Mo Collins • Carlos Crawford • Dell Curry Seth Curry • Stephen Curry • Ray Durham • Ric Flair • DeShaun Foster • Joe Gibbs • Larry Hefner Antawn Jamison • Bobby Jones • Chris Leak • Mohamed Massaquoi • Jeff McInnis • Mildred Meacham Sam Mills • Anthony Morrow • Mushin Muhammad • Dickie Noles • Pettis Norman • Hakeem Nicks Richard Petty • Roman Phifer • Wali Rainer • Jeff Reed • John Sadri • Don Schollander • Jamie Skeen Ricky Steamboat • Dale Earnhart • Chad Tracy • Dolly Vanderlip • Dave Waymer • Reggie White • Tony White Haywood Workman • Andre Coleman • Mark Maye • Junior Burrough • Darrell Armstrong • Cedric Maxwell Sleepy Floyd • James Worthy • Michael Jordan • Bryon Dinkins • Mugsy Bogues • Darrell Waltrip • Bobby Allison
ORGANIZATIONS AND COLLEGES
Carolina Panthers • Charlotte Hornets • Charlotte Checkers • Carolina Hurricanes • Charlotte Knights Charlotte Hounds • Charlotte 49ers • Johnson C. Smith • Queens University • Livingstone College
Again thank you. 54
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
SPORTSCASTERS & SPORTS WRITERS
Harold Johnson • Langston Wertz Jr. • Paul Cameron • Jim Thacker • Chuck Howard • Mike Solarte Scott Fowler • Jemal Horton • Jim Crockett • Delano Little • Tiffany Wright • Tom Sorensen • Jim Nantz
POLITICIANS AND BUSINESSMEN
Patrick Cannon • Bruton Smith • Hugh McColl • Tommy Helms • Leon Levine • Harvey B. Gantt Anthony Foxx • Pat McCrory • Jerry Richardson • George Shinn • Ron Leeper
FAMILY & FRIENDS
Kelly Pearl • Justin Pearl • Marcus Gardiner • Helen Pearl • Mr. & Mrs. Spells • George B. Washington • Corey Dixon • Corey Robinson • Eric Gallman • Fernandez Blackshear • Thomas Massey • Johnathan Jones Jeff McGill • Tony Pearl
FEBRUARY 2014 • USPrep Athletes
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