TOP 10 of 2007-08: # 4 - Houston flexes hoops muscles vs. nation
Tuesday June 17, 2008
Written by Deborah Spradlin
(Friday)
(Saturday)
From Dec. 27-29, 2007 Original stories by Ahmard Vital and Dave Purpura
After the results were posted from the Houston vs. the Nation boys basketball tournament at the M.O. Campbell Center Dec. 27-29, many may have noticed something more than noteworthy: the Houston-area's level of basketball talent has risen to unprecedented heights in the past few years.
The Greater Houston area teams that participated in the tournament were 9-2 for the weekend while taking on some of the top-rated basketball talent in the country. Though Houston is known for its top-level football, it is evident sportswriters across the country will begin taking more notice to the city’s hoop game as well.
“Well they say it is football in the South, but I think it is basketball too,” Wheatley coach Willie Patrick said. “Dallas, Austin and Houston have a lot of talent. You we are getting a lot of scouts coming down to watch these kids and that is what it is about.”
Wheatley left the tournament with a 2-0 record beating two national teams in DeLaSalle, Minn. (64-53) and Albany (N.Y.) Academy (82-53). According to Jim Hicks of RCSSports.com, the Wildcats were ranked No. 11 in Greater Houston preseason polls. Aside from them, Houston ISD schools are ranked some of the top programs in the city.
And they were well represented at the tournament as well.
“It’s a great feeling to see HISD schools and the city of Houston do well,” Patrick said. “I know a lot of people didn’t think it would happen.”
Yates put on a show. Against national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy (Va.), the Lions used a fourth-quarter push to win 82-80. The next day, Yates knocked off another top-ranked team in St. Patrick’s (N.J.), 66-60.
Other notable wins included Cypress' Springs victory over the No. 2 team in the nation, Montverde Academy (Fla.). Coming in as the underdogs against a team that has not suffered a loss in two years, the Panthers pulled off a 65-59 win.
“I knew that playing a team at that level we would be up for it,” Cy Springs coach John Harmatuk said. “What the Montverde win did is let us know when we play at our best we can play with anybody. It gives us a lot of confidence.”
And the same went for Kingwood, St. Pius X, and Klein Collins, each of whom defeated national squads during the tournament.
“The level of talent in the Houston area I think is on par with any place in the country,” Klein Collins coach Tim Schumacher said. “It shows where basketball has come in the state of Texas and where it is in the city of Houston. Hopefully it will continue to move forward.”
The Tigers earned wins over Albany (60-39) and Montverde (45-43). What is interesting is that not only are the Houston-area coaches seeing a change, but also those who are in administrative positions.
“The wins here say that the population in the Houston area can play some basketball,” Aldine ISD athletic director Deon Samuel said. “It has always been said that the East Coast has the better basketball teams and we are only looked at as a football area. But that goes to show you over the years we have become a basketball state as well and Texas basketball is up there with the best of them.”
Schumacher agreed.
“This goes to show the depth and the quality of basketball in the city of Houston,” Schumacher said. “The city of Houston is so tough and well-balanced and there are so many teams on any given night that can beat you. You look at all of the Houston teams in this tournament and none of them are undefeated.
“They’re all playing each other and beating each other up. What this tournament allows is for us to get on a national scene. And hopefully people notice that.”
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