LBoogie's The Real 411

So it has been about 2 weeks since my last blog entry, it is not that I don’t have anything to say I just don’t have a enough time to type it out.

I was in New York City last week to cover the JFK Challenge in the Boogie-Down Bronx for ESPN Hoopgurlz. I came in a few days early so I could hang with my family and friends and get some of Mom’s homemade vegetable soup(which is the bomb). Even though I see a lot of players from the City out on the elite summer club circuit, I haven’t been to a high school game there in about 10 years. Things have definitely changed..back in the day teams from Jersey and Long Island never had a chance at getting a win in the City and were always sent home with an ice bag and some Ben-Gay. I was shocked at the level of play at the public school level, I actually watched a game where only one guard actually had a real handle..which of course is the calling card of a NYC baller. And then my boy Apache and his St. Mike’s girls get roughed off by 2 barbie-squads from Jersey, no disrespect to St. John’s Vianney and Colt’s Neck they are excellent teams and put in some real work, but c’mon son you gotta represent.

One of the highlights of the weekend was getting to see some of my former NY Gazelles players coaching their old high school, Manhattan Center. Jaywana Bradley is the head coach, Eppie and Jessie Vilella are her assistants. J and Eppie played on the 17U team when I first began coaching and Jessie played for me on the 15U squad…those 3 were all such special players and I learned so much as a young coach being able to work with them.

Shout out to Coach Glenn from JFK High School for hosting a nice tournament. Of course there is always room for improvement, the packets could be better to include player’s addresses and phone numbers. But overall the vibe was great and the jerk chicken was banging, I will definitely recommend that some of the top DMV teams make the trip next year.

It was great to see DC’s favorite daughter, Ronika Ransford back on the court for HD Woodson. ‘nika is a straight balla, street ball flavor with a super high basketball IQ…I love watching her play because she knows how to entertain the crowd and play team basketball. Last year in the DC city title game at the Verizon Center(where the pros play) she put on a show like no other female basketball player that I have ever witnessed..she had the whole joint, including fans that came for the boys game on their feet stomping and cheering every time she had the ball in her hands. If this kid doesn’t win POY in the Washington Post I am going to take it personally. Athens Georgia here she comes!

Speaking of the Washington Post, what is up with their new high school sports page…it is a little too much. All I need to see is box scores quarter by quarter..that’s it! And what is the deal with the All-Met watch, everybody knows who is going to be 1st team All-Met, it is so politically and demographically staged. Don’t worry I’ll have my own All-LBoogie team at the end of the season, not sure what party favors I am giving out yet but it might be a pool party at my place or the players can raid my shoe closet.

You can always tell when it is the middle of the basketball season cause folks start showing their true selves. The heat is on coaches for real and there is no place to hide, especially when you have to deal with daily drama: star players getting injured, parents whining about playing time, school administration watching your every move, message board jockeys and bloggers(gulity) running their mouths in cyberspace and coaches from other programs looking to swoop in and pick over your remains. My best advice is just remember it ain’t about you, it is about those kids and if that doesn’t work hit the Grey Goose.

A couple more random thoughts:

What is going on with club teams putting out in public they are ready to pay real dollars for top talent?
This ain’t the boys side, there is no fat NBA contract at the end of the rainbow.

What is the deal with all these new jack hustlers trying to step into the game without any experience? I ain’t knocking anybody for trying to spark something off, but do your homework and pay your dues. All these random scouting services and event planners think that having a web site with a couple of pictures and video is going to instantly gain them fame, fortune or an assistant job at UConn.  But then what, do you have a business plan that is going to keep you relevant 5 years down the road, have you really studied the nuisances of girls basketball at the grassroots level, do you know who is really running shit. I love when men who have some limited experience on the boys side try to come on the girls side because they think it is an easy buck, the reality is that there is less money on the girls side and that money is controlled by a few people that have it under lock and key…sorta like the Mafia. And trust me, the Dons know everything that is going on in their sectors and when these newbies(who aren’t real a threat) become annoying enough they get ‘handled’. My advice to the new jacks is tread lightly in deep waters ’cause the sharks are waiting.

I am really getting tired of negative recruiting, especially by club coaches who have never put one player in college at any level.

I am officially over the flex offense.

I think it is hilarious that random people come up to me in the street and want me to put their daughter’s coach on blast in my blog.

What is going on at Herndon High School? The best player on the team gets benched after 4 games because of some fake beef with the coach and the girl’s parents. The coach has the girls in tight form-fitting uniforms that don’t fit, the girls are in desperate need of sports bras and other under garments that will keep their stuff from bouncing all over the place. It is embarrassing and this should have been addressed at the first team meeting.

I have recorded a lot of DII and DII games this season on my DVR, watching and analyzing them helps me do my job as a scout. And some of the games weren’t half bad.

I would love to see Oakton High play Colt’s Neck, NJ…they are basically the same team except Colt’s Neck plays real competition with a 30 sec clock.

Seneca Valley is undefeated, so why do I think they will lose in the regionals.

Forest Park is the most underrated team in the DMV…freshman point guard and a young squad are going to upset somebody come play off time.

My old team Wakefield Country Day, scored 11 points in a game..should I care?

The Baltimore Sun message board is the new Slam Jam, minus the real cuss words.

B-Mac vs Paul VI or Courtland vs Eastern View tonight?

Until the next time..see you in the gym.

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