US All Stars Practice
April 28, 2016 - Though two practices were scheduled yesterday for the US All Stars in preparation of today’s Capital Classic (also see flyer above), head coach Ron Naclerio cancelled the second session, instead choosing to guide his nine all-star game players plus a substitute (Ken Tappin) through moderate paces. Guard and future Notre Dame Domer Temple Gibbs wasn’t present, but planned to arrive later.
Naclerio used the session to prepare and teach.
Shouting to his players, the loquacious and energy filled Naclerio conveyed “These DC guys, they are not going to want to lose to you”. A bench leader at Queens, NY’s Cardozo, 40 year coach (35 as a head guy) Naclerio’s opinion is informed by an embrace of history and geography: “People know of Cardozo in New York. Well there’s four Cardozos – there’s Cardozo in New York, there’s Cardozo the law school in New York, there’s Cardozo the junior high school in New York, and then there’s Cardozo the high school in Washington, DC. I’m one of the few guys who know that…I want to learn the history that’s out there, that I think you should know”.
Naclerio, the winningest coach in New York City public school history who is approaching that mark state wide, expectantly has a ton of techniques and knowledge to impart to players. Yesterday’s session revealed much of that, as he taught his charges a bevy of simple yet effective development drills. Many coaches would have paid for that information.
One player that benefited from his hands on – Naclerio successfully personally completed many of the drills – was Georgetown-bound swingman Jagan Mosely; the coach pulled him aside, to individually instruct him on shot mechanics. Mosely was impressed with that and Naclerio’s arsenal of ball handling drills, a point of personal emphasis for Jagan who vowed to contact him later for written breakdowns on them.
In terms of preparation, Naclerio kept it simple, imparting some inbounds sets, offensive cues and most importantly a team mantra informed by two things, both separate and related; effort and transition defense. His message to regarding them was repetitive yet simple, being “You can’t let them outwork you” and “If we get back…we win”.
Enough of the legend that is Naclerio. More on players follows.
Philly Connection
No, McFadden and Whitehead or Gamble and Huff are not making R&B hits out of Philadelphia anymore, but that doesn’t mean talented ball players aren’t emerging from the City of Brotherly love. This year’s Capital Classic has three actually, Charlie Brown, DeAndre Hunter and Josh Warren.
Brown and Hunter hail from Philly proper, West and North respectively, while Warren calls suburban Dowingtown/Chester County home. Hunter attended Friends Central, Warren is finishing prep school at Connecticut’s St. Thomas More after starring at Philly’s George Washington. Warren will graduate from Dowington West.
“It’s a blessing” to have three Philadelphia guys on the US All Star team, said Brown, a 6’6” forward headed to St. Joes. “And I’m going to enjoy playing with them”.
Hunter simply noted “We have some good talent in Philly. We’re just trying to come out here, represent our school, represent our city”. A forward, he will become a Virginia Wahoo in a few months.
Soon to be Cornell forward Warren rounds out this ‘Illadelph Trio. “It's going to be a great experience. I had a chance to play against them a couple of times…They are obviously great players so it’s going to be a great experience playing with them” he said.
That prior competition occurred last spring/summer when Warren laced them up for We R 1 while Brown and Hunter balled with Philly Pride. Both organizations were and are on the Under Armour Association circuit. All three loved doing so.
Warren shared of being a We R 1 guy “That was something else. Obviously there were some big names – Trevon Duval, Quade Green was on the team last year – so being around kids like that all year definitely helped me game a lot”.
“We were a great team. We went far, played on 17u” recalled Brown of putting on Philly Pride’s Orange and White. "My first couple of games I didn’t have any offers; Philly Pride helped me get offers. That’s how I got St. Joes”.
Hunter lauded that team’s “defensive emphasis”, and the fact coaches Sean Colson and Antoinette Bennett “pushed us and made us play hard every game. Sometimes AAU, it’s just an up and down game where you just shoot”, but Philly Pride “had us run plays and play defense. So it helped me a lot.
Big Apply Duo
Not be outdone, NYC has two representatives in today’s 8p headliner event at Catholic University; Arizona-headed Rawle Alkins and future St. John’s Johnnie Shamorie Ponds.
Alkins is an All American caliber shooting guard headed to Arizona. He’s a bucket getter, who will also dime the rock. Strong, athletic and seemingly teachable, the sky’s the limit for this soon-to-be Christ the King (NY) graduate.
A Jefferson (NY) combo guard, Ponds brings scoring skill and guile to St. John’s, choosing the program because “Hall of Famer Chris (Mullin), he just mapped it out. He’s a good guy. I like what he set forth on the table for me to do for St. Johns. So I feel like, especially because it was in my hometown…it was a good fit for me”.
Of pairing with Alkins today, the second time he’s done so (last year’s Elite 24 game being the first), Ponds opined “It’s important for us to show New York basketball is not down…to put it back on the map”.