Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Father and son in NBA grudge

By Ashley Hammond, Staff Reporter

Rivers senior and junior heading for a dream of competing against each other
Like father, like son 
Image Credit: Arshad Ali/Gulf News
 
Dubai: The NBA has seen only two father and son match-ups in its 65-year history, but Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and his son Austin, a freshman with collegiate side Duke University, aim to make it three.
For the record the other two were Jan and Butch Van Breda Kolff in 1976 and more recently Mike Dunleavy junior and senior in 2003.

With 19-year-old Austin having only made three appearances for the Blue Devils so far its still very early days for the youngster but both father and son interestingly dream of competing against each other in the NBA as coach and player as opposed to shooting toward the same hoop.

Legendary Doc Rivers, the 2008 NBA Championship winning coach with the Celtics, was in Dubai watching his son make his fourth appearance in an exhibition game against the UAE national side last night at Al Wasl Club, ahead of November's proposed NBA re-start.
Rivers, aged 49, told Gulf News from the sidelines: "He's [Austin] doing alright. He's played three games so far and he's playing pretty well. Offensively he's really good that's where he excels. Defensively he's getting better and I think going to college will help him improve."

Austin, initially shrouded by his father's success as a coach and player started to make his own name for himself at Winter Park High School winning back-to-back Florida 6A state championships and later named Naismith Prep Player of the Year in March.

Rivers senior added: "I hope that one day he plays [in the NBA] that would be great but I need to play against him. I mean coach a team against him. That would be fun because I know all his strengths and weaknesses.

"That's his dream too to play against one of my sides someday. I wouldn't mind him in my team but you know that would be tough because I have to go home to his mum every night."

Rivers junior said: "I've been playing okay, it's a learning curve and I'm still adapting to the system. We're not playing a lot of minutes at the moment they are trying to sub everyone to let everybody get a taste, so it's hard to get a feel for the game."

Valuable lessons
"Playing in the NBA is a dream but right now it's about getting better as a player and a person. I want to win a National Championship before I can talk about the NBA — my dad has taught me to stay humble and hungry and work hard, that's what you have to do to win and achieve your dreams — because there are a lot that have grown big headed and never lived up to the hype."

Speaking about the potential of perhaps joining his dad one day at the Celtics, Austin said: "I would love to play for any NBA team and that's always been the goal. I would never say no to anything like that but it would be more fun to go against him."

Contrary to what his father believes about Austin's strengths and weaknesses, the youngster adds: "He doesn't know. He thinks he knows but I've got more tricks up my sleeve that he doesn't know about."
A self-confessed playmaker who models himself on the likes of Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade and Deron Williams (interestingly none of which have ever played for the Celtics) Austin is anxious to cut ties with his dad, albeit in a good way.

Austin said: "I'm very proud of my dad and the way he handles everything. You'll never see my dad get into trouble with the law or be the guy on TV who says something ridiculous. He's very humble and does things the right way and I've learnt a lot from him more importantly as a person.

"Having him at the Celtics has given me an insight as to what it's like to be an NBA player, what it takes to get there and how to handle yourself once you are there. How to act and how not to act," said Austin.
Despite the praise for his father, if he is to make it all the way to the NBA one day don't be surprised if it's not for the Celtics.

BABC gets recognized by Five-Star


Boston Herald Highschool Insider

The BABC had a summer to remember, standing out against the best AAU programs in the country. Their achievements were so impressive Five-Star named the BABC the “Five-Star Summer Program of the Year” for its dominant top-to-bottom performance throughout the entire spring and summer, headlined by its 17U-14U squads.

The success was across the board in each of the BABC’s age group.

17U: Winners of the prestigious Nike Peach Jam title, BABC’s 17U squad rattled off an unparalled 92-4 ledger over the course of four months. They also claimed the Boston Shootout, earned a spot in the Super Showcase finale and notched 11 wins against Top 25 teams. BABC spent 17 weeks inside the Top 25, four weeks at No. 1 and finished second overall in our final rankings.

16U: Got ‘chips? BABC’s ultra-talented 16U squad piled up the hardware this summer behind the efforts of Nerlens Noel, Jaylen Brantley, Wayne Selden and Goodluck Okonoboh, who all were good enough to play up for the 17U team, too. They captured the Hall of Fame New England Championships, 16U Massachusetts State Tournament, Boston Shootout Championship, Hoopville Spring Finale and AAU National Championship. To top it off, they finished at No. 1 in the final Five-Star Top 25 with a 30-0 overall record.

15U: Success trickles downward for BABC. This mighty 15U team won the 9th Grade National Championship, and Boston Shootout, and even made a run all the way to the Super Showcase finals before losing to Team Takeover, 61-54, to secure the silver medal. Final record: 67-3. Not bad, eh?

14U: BABC 14s went 6-0 en route to a Rumble in the Bronx tournament championship. At Super Showcase, they went unblemished in pool play (3-0) and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Gold Bracket. BABC also won a pair of gold medals at the 2011 NEAAU District and Super Regional tournaments, but were surprisingly knocked out in the first round of bracket play at 14U AAU Nationals after going 2-1 in pool play action.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

All-Stars and Olympic Athletes Headline the RCC Foundation’s Sixth Annual Golf Outing

Tournament to Benefit the RCC Foundation and Reggie Lewis Center

Boston, MA – Boston Celtics legend Dana Barros, former Olympic Track Team Coach Russ Rogers, Track Gold Medalist Harvey Glance, and Olympian Ben Fields will headline the Roxbury Community College (RCC) Foundation and Sixth Annual Golf Outing on July 31, 2009, at Franklin Park Golf Course. The Honorary Co-Chairs of the Outing are Massachusetts State Auditor Joe DeNucci and RCC Trustee John Jenkins.

                                                                                                         (Photo by Jamarhl Crawford)

The goal of the event is to raise funds to support community outreach programs at the Reggie Lewis Center and provide necessary funds to deserving students in the Greater Boston Community. In addition to a great day of golf, 150 participants will test their skills with hole-in-one, longest drive, and closest-to-the-pin contests. Following the competition, a luncheon, catered by Kowloon of Saugus, MA, will be held for over 200 participants, local business leaders, elected officials, and supporters of the programs.

                                                                                                       (Photo by Jamarhl Crawford)

State Auditor DeNucci is glad to be partnering with the Golf Organizing Committee for the second straight year. “It is with great pleasure that I once again take part in this terrific event,” said DeNucci. “The Roxbury Community College Foundation and the Reggie Lewis Center provide our inner-city youth with both educational and athletic opportunities that were once unattainable. This worthwhile event raises the necessary funds, especially in these tough fiscal times, to benefit programs that help so many realize their dreams.”


                                                                                                       (Photo by Jamarhl Crawford)

Additional participants in this year’s Outing include NESN’s “Coach” Willie Maye, President of the Urban Strategy America Fund Kirk Sykes, Stanley and Bobby Wong of Kowloon, Owens Companies’ President and CEO Ed Owens, Monster’s Chief Diversity Officer Steve Pemberton, Roxbury Community College President Dr. Terrence Gomes, former Miami Dolphin and current Boston area attorney Eddie Jenkins, and Rom Homer of Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan Law Offices.

                                                                                                       (Photo by Jamarhl Crawford)

About the Roxbury Community College Foundation:
Originating in 1983, The Roxbury Community College Foundation is an independent organization, fiscally separate from the College, organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of Roxbury Community College and the furtherance of the education of its students. The Board of Trustees of the College certified the Foundation as the official foundation and sole fundraising agent for the college.


                                                                                                       (Photo by Jamarhl Crawford)

About the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center: Now in it’s 14th year, the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center, named after the local humanitarian and basketball hero, is home to a 70,000 square foot state of the art track – which hosts events such as the Nike High School Nationals, the USA Track & Field Championships, and the Boston Indoor Games. The Center is also involved in the community in numerous ways, hosting charity events and outreach programs throughout the year.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Corey Lowe signs a contract to play overseas

By: Dan Ventura - High School Insider
 
     Former two-time Boston Herald Dream Teamer Corey Lowe of Newton North inked a deal to play basketball for Maccabi Ashdod in the Israeli League.

    After leading the Tigers to pair of Division 1 state basketball titles as well as two Bay State Carey football crowns, the 6-foot-2 guard went on to have a stellar career at Boston University.

    A four-year starter under Dennis Wolff and Pat Chambers, Lowe ended his career among the school’s all-time leader in points (fourth, 1,815), field goals (fifth, 612), 3-pointers made (first, 313), assists (fifth, 411) and minutes played (second, 3,829).

  LOWE ROAD: Boston University guard...