Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Medway Park Crusaders Second Team vs. Some Sort of American Select Team (possibly the fourth national)
Yesterday after training, the club hosted an American team playing our second; and they were awesome. Before the game they were just pulling off some mad dunks and even made lay up look really good. During the match they played full court pressure and looked incredibly organised and professional.
Despite their powerful demeanour, our lads still put up a good show and by half time they were pretty level on the score board; unfortunately a few air balls were shot, but that happens to even the greatest of teams. One of our guys even did a behind-the-back move and made the other do the splits, and that looked painful!
One of the Americans, who looked like Kenneth Faried, was doing Kobe-fadeaways and get and-ones all over the place. When we were leaving at half time we had a little chat with him about why he had left the court during play time. "I need to get my water", he said calmly with a smile. The way swagger just radiates from him is astonishing; Americans are just too damn cool. Just as a side not I think it's funny how practically every Afro-American is a lightie and yet we have black guys in England who actually are black.
But I promise you, if any scout from America offered me a place at their high school, I would pack my bags in an instant, because the US is just where it's at, although I know I'll probably just get embarrassed by some crazy ball-handler. Actually, they're all crazy ball-handlers. Maybe America isn't for me after all...yet.
Despite their powerful demeanour, our lads still put up a good show and by half time they were pretty level on the score board; unfortunately a few air balls were shot, but that happens to even the greatest of teams. One of our guys even did a behind-the-back move and made the other do the splits, and that looked painful!
One of the Americans, who looked like Kenneth Faried, was doing Kobe-fadeaways and get and-ones all over the place. When we were leaving at half time we had a little chat with him about why he had left the court during play time. "I need to get my water", he said calmly with a smile. The way swagger just radiates from him is astonishing; Americans are just too damn cool. Just as a side not I think it's funny how practically every Afro-American is a lightie and yet we have black guys in England who actually are black.
But I promise you, if any scout from America offered me a place at their high school, I would pack my bags in an instant, because the US is just where it's at, although I know I'll probably just get embarrassed by some crazy ball-handler. Actually, they're all crazy ball-handlers. Maybe America isn't for me after all...yet.
An exciting weekend in store...
For the first time, the under 16s will be playing together in a tournament featuring the like of Ipswich and Birmingham.
I've faced Ipswich before twice, a loss and a win, but the teams then and now, especially in a different age group, could give us a completely different perspective; we could be much stronger than them, or weaker.
And what I've heard about Birmingham isn't exactly comforting either. Apparently they are one of the better teams in the EBL, and have a crazy athletic team, as the city's multi-cultural background can support. But what we lack in athleticism, can be made up in skill, as the saying roughly goes.
What will be most interesting to see this weekend is how the team will gel. If turnovers start to increase all at once, and players begin to blame each other, will the team simply capitulate and not endeavour to finish the match? Hopefully that shall be the worst case scenario.
I'm also hoping I get some decent time in the three matches as well. I haven't played in a competitive game in quite a while, so it should be a good challenge for me personally, and the rest of the team. However, I am aware that coach will be trying to spread the minutes out very evenly, as you do in pre-season.
In the end I'm sure the result won't really matter, but in the end, who doesn't want to win a tournament?
I've faced Ipswich before twice, a loss and a win, but the teams then and now, especially in a different age group, could give us a completely different perspective; we could be much stronger than them, or weaker.
And what I've heard about Birmingham isn't exactly comforting either. Apparently they are one of the better teams in the EBL, and have a crazy athletic team, as the city's multi-cultural background can support. But what we lack in athleticism, can be made up in skill, as the saying roughly goes.
What will be most interesting to see this weekend is how the team will gel. If turnovers start to increase all at once, and players begin to blame each other, will the team simply capitulate and not endeavour to finish the match? Hopefully that shall be the worst case scenario.
I'm also hoping I get some decent time in the three matches as well. I haven't played in a competitive game in quite a while, so it should be a good challenge for me personally, and the rest of the team. However, I am aware that coach will be trying to spread the minutes out very evenly, as you do in pre-season.
In the end I'm sure the result won't really matter, but in the end, who doesn't want to win a tournament?
Monday, 9 September 2013
Pre-Season Training and Cuts
So, even though I had played a full season at Medway Park last year, it was still compulsory to partake in the trials for the next step up, which was the under 16s. All throughout the summer I was fairly confident that I could make it, but that didn't give me and excuse to stop working.
During the summer, I was introduced to our new coach, Ben, who was from France, and like all typical Frenchmen, claims it to be the best place in the world...right. While his accent isn't the easiest to understand, he's a thoroughly nice chap and a very good coach,which made me look forward to the potentially great season we are about to have.
Before my training with Ben, I never valued the fast-break as a legitimate way of scoring, but now, after numerous drills, I am aware of the usefulness of it. In fact, it could possibly be our main way of attack, despite most of our talents coming from Kent, which not to generalise, is typically not the place where one would find the most athletic in the country.
But with a lack of athleticism (which we don't actually have), can be made up by skill and organisation. For example, I never realised how crucial spacing is for a full-court and half-court offence; it really is a thing of beauty once perfected.
At the end of the summer, the team was picked, and three people were cut. One was pretty obvious: a guy who was particularly special and didn't play for anyone last year. But there was a shock: the other two were players in the squad last year; one was tall but not that great apparently, but the other was a great shooter and it was surprising to see him go.
After this event is was clear how much Ben was stressing about using the fast break and keeping up the tempo, as neither one of them were very fit and 'couldn't keep up the intensity. This reminded me of when an Australian man came and told us about a 14 year old, 6'9" tall player he had turned away because he 'wasn't fit enough'. I find it likely he was just being hyperbolic and probably just making us 'weak' Brits feel bad.
The moral of this story is run. Just run. Oh, and be good. That's important, too.
During the summer, I was introduced to our new coach, Ben, who was from France, and like all typical Frenchmen, claims it to be the best place in the world...right. While his accent isn't the easiest to understand, he's a thoroughly nice chap and a very good coach,which made me look forward to the potentially great season we are about to have.
Before my training with Ben, I never valued the fast-break as a legitimate way of scoring, but now, after numerous drills, I am aware of the usefulness of it. In fact, it could possibly be our main way of attack, despite most of our talents coming from Kent, which not to generalise, is typically not the place where one would find the most athletic in the country.
But with a lack of athleticism (which we don't actually have), can be made up by skill and organisation. For example, I never realised how crucial spacing is for a full-court and half-court offence; it really is a thing of beauty once perfected.
At the end of the summer, the team was picked, and three people were cut. One was pretty obvious: a guy who was particularly special and didn't play for anyone last year. But there was a shock: the other two were players in the squad last year; one was tall but not that great apparently, but the other was a great shooter and it was surprising to see him go.
After this event is was clear how much Ben was stressing about using the fast break and keeping up the tempo, as neither one of them were very fit and 'couldn't keep up the intensity. This reminded me of when an Australian man came and told us about a 14 year old, 6'9" tall player he had turned away because he 'wasn't fit enough'. I find it likely he was just being hyperbolic and probably just making us 'weak' Brits feel bad.
The moral of this story is run. Just run. Oh, and be good. That's important, too.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
It is possible to turn things around!
At the end of year 8, I, along with a few of my other friends, received a letter that invited us to try-out at a team in Kent called the Medway Park Crusaders. I leaped at the chance to plat for an actual team, finally.
The try-outs lasted the summer and thankfully, and with a lot of hard work, Cobby, Emeka and I made it into the team.
I won't describe the whole season to you, but to put it simply Emeka prospered and me and Cobby floundered. There's no denying that me and Cobby improved dramatically throughout the year, but had the job foisted upon us of being bench warmers for the year. What was probably most insulting and hard to handle in that season was that I was the fourth most picked player to be in the squad for games, and yet I probably averaged about three minutes a game; at least I got to watch the basketball deities of London who could already dunk and shoot threes, while I still struggled with lay-ups.
At this point, after my rookie season had finished, I had a decision to make. Would I be willing to continue with basketball, after such an awful season? Why shouldn't I just play football/soccer like the rest of the kids in my country. But really I knew I couldn't walk away from basketball: I just loved it too much.
But where did my future go with the sport. Well, thankfully, I got better. A lot better. I'm not sure what happened, maybe it was those hours of extra training I had put in, but I genuinely improved. And it all started from when our star player broke his ankle. We were at a party, and while messing around, it just happened; so easy it is to damage your body that it made me slightly woozy. Nonetheless, in the summer term, while everyone was still in bed, every morning I would be in the old gym, shooting. And while Emeka was recovering, his skills slowing leaving his body, I felt as if his confidence on the court was coming in to me.
Now for the first time, everyone considered me the best player in the year, and one of the best in the whole school. And let me tell you, it felt really good.
The try-outs lasted the summer and thankfully, and with a lot of hard work, Cobby, Emeka and I made it into the team.
I won't describe the whole season to you, but to put it simply Emeka prospered and me and Cobby floundered. There's no denying that me and Cobby improved dramatically throughout the year, but had the job foisted upon us of being bench warmers for the year. What was probably most insulting and hard to handle in that season was that I was the fourth most picked player to be in the squad for games, and yet I probably averaged about three minutes a game; at least I got to watch the basketball deities of London who could already dunk and shoot threes, while I still struggled with lay-ups.
At this point, after my rookie season had finished, I had a decision to make. Would I be willing to continue with basketball, after such an awful season? Why shouldn't I just play football/soccer like the rest of the kids in my country. But really I knew I couldn't walk away from basketball: I just loved it too much.
But where did my future go with the sport. Well, thankfully, I got better. A lot better. I'm not sure what happened, maybe it was those hours of extra training I had put in, but I genuinely improved. And it all started from when our star player broke his ankle. We were at a party, and while messing around, it just happened; so easy it is to damage your body that it made me slightly woozy. Nonetheless, in the summer term, while everyone was still in bed, every morning I would be in the old gym, shooting. And while Emeka was recovering, his skills slowing leaving his body, I felt as if his confidence on the court was coming in to me.
Now for the first time, everyone considered me the best player in the year, and one of the best in the whole school. And let me tell you, it felt really good.
Basketball In My Life From Age 11-13
As someone new to blogging, I should introduce myself. My name's Tom, and I'm a huge fan of basketball as well as an avid player. I should also mention that I live in south-east London, England, which is where I play.
I started playing basketball when I entered secondary school, in year seven; I always had an image of all basketballers being tall and I was a tall person for my age (and still am). To this day I still remember the first time i played basketball, and how instantaneously I discovered how bad I was at it. But surely even MJ struggled his first time, no?
Anyway, over the next two years I stuck with basketball for motives that are different to those that I have now. Through basketball, I was able to make and maintain a good core of friends that I still have up to this day. Thanks to basketball, I was able to stay in my group of friends that was always much cooler than me, and I was so naive to what was going on in my early school career upon reflection. But at least I did acknowledge that if I was to give up on basketball, I would also be giving up my entire social life.
Enough about the outside world of basketball. During years seven and eight, I was pretty horrific and in the team of around fifteen, I was probably only just in the top ten. On the outside courts, I was always bullied out of rebounds, and often left the competition of knock-outs in the first or second round; I must admit that I was a lanky boy with limited strength- but that certainly didn't stop me. I just persevered and kept going along with it.
Now, when one thinks of SE London, you wouldn't imagine one of the best Grammar schools in the country, would you? Well, that's what we attended, and since the school leaned hugely on academics, as opposed to sports, mine along with the rest of our peers stalled in our basketball talents: as a result of the lack of teaching, we failed to gain victory in a single match of year seven.
We played against a few of our rivals STC (which was a prominently black and athletic school) as well as Canterbury High ( which featured a few players that play for my current team). Predictably, we got thumped.
All the other teams we played, bar one, completely destroyed us. That was, until we got the letter...
I started playing basketball when I entered secondary school, in year seven; I always had an image of all basketballers being tall and I was a tall person for my age (and still am). To this day I still remember the first time i played basketball, and how instantaneously I discovered how bad I was at it. But surely even MJ struggled his first time, no?
Anyway, over the next two years I stuck with basketball for motives that are different to those that I have now. Through basketball, I was able to make and maintain a good core of friends that I still have up to this day. Thanks to basketball, I was able to stay in my group of friends that was always much cooler than me, and I was so naive to what was going on in my early school career upon reflection. But at least I did acknowledge that if I was to give up on basketball, I would also be giving up my entire social life.
Enough about the outside world of basketball. During years seven and eight, I was pretty horrific and in the team of around fifteen, I was probably only just in the top ten. On the outside courts, I was always bullied out of rebounds, and often left the competition of knock-outs in the first or second round; I must admit that I was a lanky boy with limited strength- but that certainly didn't stop me. I just persevered and kept going along with it.
Now, when one thinks of SE London, you wouldn't imagine one of the best Grammar schools in the country, would you? Well, that's what we attended, and since the school leaned hugely on academics, as opposed to sports, mine along with the rest of our peers stalled in our basketball talents: as a result of the lack of teaching, we failed to gain victory in a single match of year seven.
We played against a few of our rivals STC (which was a prominently black and athletic school) as well as Canterbury High ( which featured a few players that play for my current team). Predictably, we got thumped.
All the other teams we played, bar one, completely destroyed us. That was, until we got the letter...
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