Peabody Duo signs with Kansas City Community College

It wasn't too surprising that Peabody star Kalvin Balque Jr.(right) would sign to play basketball at a higher level, as he did Thursday in signing with Kansas City (Kan.) Community College.


But it was surprising too see Brandon Morris, who split time as the team manager and cameraman for the Class 4A state champion Warhorses, do the same.

Balque averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals per game as a No. 3 (small forward) player for unbeaten Peabody as a senior, but Morris, who went to Aiken Optional School after too many no-shows at class as a freshman at Bolton, hadn't played high school basketball in two seasons. Even so, he played somewhere, he said, "every day" and sharpened his game the last two summers on Peabody's AAU team.

Balque's father, Kalvin, said his son had a "rocky start, too" to his high school career when Kalvin Jr. spoiled his freshman year at Alexandria Senior High with bad grades.

Balque transferred to Peabody as a sophomore and on the second day of school, he asked Peabody coach Charles Smith if he could play basketball.

"I told him to bring me his report card," Smith said, "and I think he had one A, in phys. ed., and the rest Fs. I told him he'd have to get his grades up as he sat out the first semester, and he pulled them up to a C average. He played JV ball the rest of the year and the next year he made the varsity.

"He needs to go to a junior college, though, to develop skills at the 1 or 2 guard," Smith added.

The 6-foot Morris, whom Smith coached the last two summers, was one of a group of players who played in a scrimmage that served mostly as a KCCC tryout for Balque (pronounced BAL-q), but he caught the attention of KCCC coach Bill Sloan just as Smith thought might happen, after nailing a couple of 3-pointers, making a dunk and getting a couple of steals.

"Coach Sloan asked me, 'Who is that?' And I told him, 'That's my manager.' He couldn't believe it. 'Manager?! If we'd have had him this year, we could've won the championship.'"

Sloan came to get one player at Peabody, and he got two.

Morris said he completed his required credits to graduate from Bolton High School on Tuesday, and he said his mother (Tammy Butler), coach Smith and friends from the Peabody team helped him get this "golden opportunity."

Balque said he remembered coach Smith telling him as a new sophomore on campus "that he wanted a student first, that he could get a player from across the street." He said he hoped to "continue to make better grades" at KCCC and use the experience as a "stepping stone" to play for a university.

Smith said both young men showed that, "By sticking with it and working hard, you can overcome your mistakes."

Courtesy of the Alexandria Town Talk

Three of the Lafayette Area's Best Headed to Baton Rouge Community College

Foster in 2008 while  at Christian Life

Former Christian Life coach Todd Foster continues to get off to a fast start in building the Baton Rouge Community College's men's basketball program.

Foster is expected to sign arguably three of the top five players in the Acadiana area in first-team All-Acadiana selections Xavier Blackburn of St. Thomas More, Jacoby Colbert of Westgate and Keelon Lee of Abbeville on Wednesday.

Colbert was honored as the All-Acadiana Most Valuable Player with Blackburn being the runner-up to that award. Colbert and Blackburn were both second-team All-State selections on the Class 5A All-State team, while Lee was a first-team All-State selection on the Class 3A team.


Louisiana Basketball Report's Assessment on each player:
 

Jacoby Colbert- Westgate High School 6'3" Guard
District 4-5A MVP and All-Acadiana MVP
2nd Team 5A All-State 21 ppg. 5.5 rpg 3.6 apg

• Colbert is a quick, athletic wing that can handle the ball and has great range. One of the top shooters in the Lafayette area and has developed as a player each year he has been at Westgate. Colbert was dual-sport athlete and was also a star on the Westgate football team

Keelon Lee- Abbeville High School 6'7" Forward
District 5-3A MVP and All-Acadiana 1st Team
1st Team 3A All-State 17.2 ppg. 10 rpg

• A physical athletic post that beat you with athleticism, speed, quickness or just pure toughness. Lee is still a little raw offensively but can finish at or above the rim with ease. Very good shot blocker and defensive rebounder, Lee is a versatile big that can step out to hit an occasional jumper.

Xavier Blackburn- St.Thomas More 6'4" Guard/Forward
District 4-5A 1st Team and All-Acadiana First Team
2nd Team 5A All-State 17.8 ppg. 8 rpg.

• Blackburn is combo type player. A mixture of a wing and a forward. Blackburn has good enough handles to be a wing but has more natural skill on the low block as a post. A kid with a developing skill-set that once he gets in the gym with Coach Foster could be a heck of a player. A hard-worker that is coming from a great program and legendary coach in Danny Broussard

Helpful Coaching Information, Plays, Drills and Motivational Quotes

In what will be our newest edition to the Louisiana Basketball Report we will be adding a page for coaching tips, plays, drills and motivational quotes. Our first post is a 20 minute workout by Steve Nash for ALL guards and versatile, athletic forwards that can handle and shoot the ball. I hope you all enjoy this new p...age on our site that will continue to set us apart as the best in the state. This page is an idea brought to us by Coach Mike McGuire of Country Day in Metaire. You can find the link under our "site navigation" column to the left or you can click on the link below. Also Below you will see the five key points that Steve pointed out before doing his workout.

Helpful Coaching Information, Plays, Drills and Motivational Quotes

 

Steve Nash 20-Minute Workout

1. In basketball, teams are made during the season; individual players are made in the offseason.
2. Don’t come to the gym counting how many shots you take.
3. Count how many you make.
4. Don’t end on a miss.
5. Stay on balance and use your legs when you’re tired.

Unsigned Senior Showcase This Saturday @ Baton Rouge Comm. College 1:00 P.M.

UNSIGNED SENIOR SHOWCASE

BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

201 COMMUNITY COLLEGE DRIVE

BATON ROUGE, LA 70806

SATURDAY APRIL 10, 2010

12:30-1:00 PM REGISTRATION DON’T BE LATE!

BONNE SANTE’ WELLNESS CENTER ARENA

COST: $20 NO REFUNDS

BRING YOUR OWN GEAR

ALL SENIORS OR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES(LA., MS, AL, AR, TX, AL, TN, FL) WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEEN BY COLLEGE COACHES ARE WELCOMED

ALL PLAYERS WILL PLAY IN 3 GAMES

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL 225-216-8043 OR EMAIL fostert@mybrcc.edu

Breaking News: Ronald McGhee Commits to North Texas

Ronald McGhee with the TX D1 Ambassadors

at the Manhattan Classic May 2009 at Kansas State

Former Univ. of New Orleans commitment Ronald McGhee has now officially committed to North Texas. The 6'4" sharpshooting guard from Istrouma High in Baton Rouge, LA is going from one Sun Belt school in UNO to now the Sun Belt Conference tournament champs Mean Green of North Texas where he will play for former LSU coach Johnny Jones. McGhee will also get to join forces with Louisiana natives Josh White, also of Baton Rouge(Christian Life) and Kedrick Hogans of New Orleans(Edna Karr). Mcghee, the 2010 7-4A district MVP and 1st team All-State Selection averaging 22.4 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds. McGhee led Istrouma to it's first quarterfinal berth in his high school career before falling on the road to eventual state champion Peabody. McGhee is the son of Ronnie and Cheryl McGhee. Stay tuned for a full article to come soon on Scout.com

Unsigned Senior/Post-Graduate Workouts

Dear Coaches and Players:

We hope this correspondence finds things well for you and your team as the season nears completion and post-season is set to begin! Our seasons, as always seem to be the case, have been a roller coaster of both the highs and lows and we hope you have had more highs than lows!

We are writing to invite you and your graduating seniors to an annual event held every Spring since 1998. Jeff Moore, currently an assistant coach at Northwestern State University, began a Senior Exposure workout at Lake Arthur, LA high school that Spring and it has grown and provided tremendous opportunities for many young student-athletes. As Jeff has moved up to the NCAA Division I level, he can no longer be directly involved in providing this opportunity. As former colleagues of Coach Moore, we were with him at the beginning and have assisted in the organization of that day for a decade and we want to continue to provide your athletes with this opportunity. Coaches from all over the country have been individually invited to evaluate and recruit terrific players from the state of Louisiana. We hope your athletes have an opportunity to attend. Enclosed you will find an information sheet on that weekend, as we have 2 different sites in order to help travel and provide those of us from a distance to be more efficient with our time. This past decade we have had the opportunity to sign many students from the state of Louisiana, as well as meet a multitude of terrific coaches, parents, and people, and this is truly a highlight of our recruiting calendar.

The Programs: a few of the colleges / universities that have consistently attended and signed young men from these workouts:

Southern University-New Orleans (LA) Missouri Valley College (MO)
Brookhaven College (TX) McCook Community College (NE)
Tyler Junior College (TX) William Penn University (IA)
Lewis and Clark Community College (IL) Louisiana College (LA)
John Wood Community College (IL) Southern Arkansas University
Columbia College (MO) Culver-Stockton College (MO)

The Dates:
*click on school name for maps*
Thursday, March 25, 2010 Southwood High School in Shreveport, LA
TIME: 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Participant Fee: $5

Saturday, March 27, 2010 Southern University New Orleans inNew Orleans, LA
TIME: 12:00PM – 4:00PM

There will be a minimum of 8 college programs(JUCO – NAIA I/II – NCAA II) represented – from Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana etc.
"The Louisiana Connection": A portion of the former Louisiana High School Players that were signed

Name High School

Ronnie Ross Jeannerette High School
Jonathan Edmond St. Thomas More High School
Brandon Powell Dunham High School
Milton Guillory Rayne High School
Dean Taylor Lacassine High School
Leon Veal Vandebilt Catholic
James Smith Grambling High School
Michael Brooks Lake Charles Boston
Joshua Everage West Jefferson
Jermaine Grimm Patterson
Abraham Saxon Evangel Christian
Kenneth Smith Family Christian
Koby Acahne Welsh High School
Tyrese Burise Pineville High School
Cedric Clark Rapides High School
Craigory Christopher Morgan City High School
Harry Bonnet Houma High School
AJ Kormier Komeaux High School
Marquis Prudhomme Jennings High School
Bryan Tardy Franklin High School
Mike Shaw Ouachita High School
Henry Sidney Ouachita High School

Please consider the above information for you and your student-athletes and call or e-mail with any questions or concerns. Furthermore, if you have a student-athlete that you believe has the potential to play college basketball, feel free to give us a heads up before that day as we are all looking for great people, solid students, and impact basketball players from the State of Louisiana.

Thank you for your time and please advise your athletes at each of these workouts we have consistently attracted over 120 potential student-athletes to be evaluated individually by coaching staffs from varying levels. Again, do not hesitate to call any of us with any questions.

YOURS IN HOOPS,
KEVIN M. HURST, Brookhaven College, khurst@dcccd.edu, 972-860-4838
DALE VALDREY, Southern University- New Orleans, dmvaldery@yahoo.com
BRAD HOYT, John Wood College, bhoyt@jwcc.edu, 217-430-1158
BRANDON LENHART, McCook College, lenhartb@mpcc.edu, 308-345-8128
CHAD A. LANCE, Missouri Valley College, lancec@moval.edu, 660-831-4189

Kevin M. Hurst, Head Coach ♦ Office 972/860-4838 ♦ Fax 972/682-7171 ♦ 3939 Valley View Lane ♦ Farmers Branch, TX 75244

Country Day's Matt Derenbecker wins Gatorade Player of the Year

Courtesy of Player of the Year Gatorade Site

METAIRIE PARK COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED
GATORADE® LOUISIANA BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO (March 18, 2010) — In its 25th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Matt Derenbecker of Metairie Park Country Day School as its 2009-10 Gatorade Louisiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Derenbecker as Louisiana’s best high school boys basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March, Derenbecker joins an elite alumni association of past state boys basketball award winners, including Chris Paul (2002-03, West Forsyth HS, N.C.), Kevin Garnett (1992-93, Maudlin HS, S.C.), Chauncey Billups (1993-94 & 1994-95, George Washington HS, Colo.), Jason Kidd (1991-92, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS, Calif.), Paul Pierce (1994-95, Inglewood HS, Calif.) and Chris Bosh (2001-02, Lincoln HS, Texas).

The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Derenbecker led the Cajuns (38-6) to the Class 1A state championship game this past season, averaging 26.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.9 steals per game. A returning Class 1A First Team All-State selection as named by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, the 6-foot-7, 195-pound senior swingman clicked for 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Class 1A state title game, but Country Day fell to Christian Life, 49-42. The Most Valuable Player of last year’s state championship game, he averaged 23.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game as a junior, leading the Cajuns to the 2008-09 Class 1A state championship.

Derenbecker has maintained a 3.53 weighted GPA in the classroom. A member of Key Club International, he has volunteered on behalf of his church’s youth group as well as an elementary school playground restoration project in addition to completing week-long youth service retreat in North Carolina.

“It’s amazing the respect that other players have shown for him,” said Country Day Head Coach Mike McGuire. “After every game, people come up to him and say, ‘Man what a player you are.’ He’s a one-man show. It’s hard to put in words. He can play any position on the floor and he was called upon to be the best player on the court every night. Thing I love the most about him is that he refuses to lose. You don’t get that from everybody. He’s an absolute rarity.”

Derenbecker has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at Louisiana State University this fall. The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPN RISE and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Derenbecker joins recent Gatorade Louisiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year Greg Monroe (2007-08 & 2006-07, Helen Cox) among the state’s list of former award winners. To celebrate the award’s 25th anniversary, Gatorade wants you to vote for the All-Time Greatest Players of the Year at gatorade.com/POY25. To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.

First Tournament: Ice Breakers in Houston, TX.

We are preparing to go to Houston and compete with some of, if not all of, the best talent in the state of Texas this weekend. I will update you all as often as I can to let you all know how we do. I 'm expecting alot out of this group this summer because they are so talented at a young age. That's one of the reasons we decided to play up an age group this year. We will be playing 16u instead of 15u. So stay tune because it's going to be an exciting season!

The Louisiana Basketball Report Welcomes Coach Shawn Bridgewater and the Louisiana Dream Team 16Under Travel Team

I would just like to let you all know that Coach Shawn Bridgewater, a former University High Cubs player with former U-High stars such as the Boston Celtics Glen Davis, former Stanford running back Anthony Kimble, former Air Force Academy star Anwar Johnson and another NBA player Garrett Temple who is currently serving a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Coach Bridge played his college ball at Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas and also served as an assistant coach there. So, we would like to really thank coach for joining the site and keeping us updated on his AAU team that includes his little brother Brian Bridgewater(right) who is the nation's top rated freshman by Hoop Scoop. Coach Bridgewater's team is the Louisiana Dream Team and features some of the top freshman and sophomore's in the state. So we would like to welcome you on board. So to all the fans, when you see a post by "Louisiana Dream Team", enjoy because it will feature some of the state's most elite prospects in the 2013 class.

9th Annual Houston Spring Ice Breaker this WEEKEND

MARCH 19 - 21st: RCS SPORTS' 9th ANNUAL SPRING ICE BREAKER BASKETBALL SHOWCASE!

This wknd: March 19 - 21st in Houston!





SITES: Reagan HS 413 E 13th St. Houston 77008, Washington HS 119 East 39th St Houston 77018, Lutheran North HS 1130 W 34th St, Houston 77018, and St Pius HS 811 W. Donovan St, Houston 77091

*****YES, NON D1 COLLEGE COACHES WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE*****

142 COMMITTED TEAMS!

17s Division (60): A-Level Elite, Alief Hurricanes, All 4 Sports Dream Red, All 4 Sports Grey, Alodia Eclipse Red, Austin Ice, Cat 5 Hurricanes, Coast 2 Coast, D Gib Hoops, D1 All Stars, East Houston Vipers, Franchize All Stars, Franchize Red, Franchize Wildcats, Full Court Athletes, Galveston Hornets, Goose Creek Phenoms, Gulf Coast Blue Chips-Jackson, H-Town Takers Black, HOPS, Hstn Blazers, Hstn Celtics, Hstn Clippers Blue, Hstn Clippers White, Hstn Defenders, Hstn Fever, Hstn Gold, Hstn Elite Red, Hstn Elite Grey, Hstn Elite White, Hstn Emeralds, Hstn Hoops-Lowe, Hstn Hoops- Rudy, Hstn Hoops- Taylor, Hstn Hoopstars-Pinkney, Hstn Hoyas, Hstn Hurricanes, Hstn Knights-Essuman, Hstn Outlaws, Hstn Swoosh Select, Hstn Superstars Elite, Jr Hardballers, Katy Hoopstars, Louisiana Dream Team, New Orleans Elite, Port Arthur Heat, Power Plus One, Project Hoops ROA, San Antonio Flight, San Antonio Over Time, Southside All Stars, South Texas Stallions, Str8 Ballin, SWAG Elite, Team Truth, Texas Ballers, Texas Cagers-Jackson, Texas Finest, Texas Heat, Texas Phenoms, Texas Superstars, TJ Ford Elite, Unknown Ambassadors

16s Division (22): All 4 Sports Red, Alodia Eclipse Black, Conquerors Through Christ, Cut the Nets, Franchize Black, Gulf Coast Blue Chips-Matt, Gym Warriors, H-Town Takers White, Hstn Elite White, Hstn Hoops 16s, Hstn Knicks, Jr Hardballers 16s, Katy Hoopstars - Eric, Louisiana Dream Team - Green, MidTown Hoopstars, New Waverly Select, Northside Rockets, Oppelousas Rockets, Streetlife Worldwide, Team Truth 16s, Texas Airmen, Texas Cagers-Dirk, Texas Superstars- Dones, Total Package-Ivory

15s DIVISION (23): Air Force 1 - Franchize, All 4 Sports 2013 blk, Alodia 3T, Baskteball University, Cat 5 Hurricanes 15s, Franchize Blk, Gulf Coast Blue Chips 14s, HOPS 15s, Hstn Clippers 14s, Hstn Hoops- Begg, Hstn Hoops 14s Red, Hstn Hoops 13s, Hstn Outlaws-Key, Katy Hoopstars 2013, New Orleans Elite 14s,, Port Arthur Heat 14s, Power Plus One 14s, South Texas Stallions 14s, Team Truth 15s, Texas Cagers 15s, Texas Superstars-Andrus, Texas Superstars-Butch, Westside All Stars 14s

UNSIGNED SR TEAMS (12): Brazoria Ballers Srs, East Houston Viperz Srs, Hstn Knights Srs, Jr Hardballers Srs, Team Genesis Srs, Team Truth Srs, Tx Heat Srs, Tx Hurricanes Srs, Tx Phenoms Srs, TJ Ford Srs, Twenty-Ten, WM 2010

UNSIGNED SR INDIVIDUALS (6): Team 1, Team 2, Team 3, Team 4, Team 5, Team 6

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION (12): Beaumont Ozen, Kingwood Park, Lee, Liberty, Nimitz, St Pius, St Thomas Episcopal, St Pius, Terry, Washington, Willowridge, Yes Prep SE

CHICKS (8) : Austin Wildcats, Ball Players Work, Fast Breakers, Imperial Ice, Lady Hoyas, Nimitz, Platinum, Texas Superstars

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRIDAY, MARCH 19th! (Saturday & Sunday schedules will be released on Tues & Wed)

REAGAN HS Ct 1 REAGAN HS Ct 2

4PM HS: Liberty HS: Austin 4PM HS: St Thomas Episcopal HS: Yes Prep NE

5:10 N: All 4 Sports Red N: Jr Hardballers 16s 5:10 HS: Kingwood Park HS: Terry

6:20 G: A Level Elite G: Hstn Celtics 6:20 HS: Lee HS: Liberty

7:30 G: Hstn Fever G: Hstn Outlaws 7:30 HS: Yes Prep NE HS: Wilowridge

8:40 H: Project Hoops H: Hstn Knights - Essuman 8:40 HS: Austin HS: St Thomas Episcopal

WASHINGTON HS Ct 1 WASHINGTON HS Ct 2

4PM HS: Willowridge HS: Washington 4PM S: Texas Cagers 15s S: Cat 5 Hurricanes 15s

5:10 J: Hstn Hoops Rudy J: Hstn Hoyas 5:10 J: Texas Cagers - Jackson J: Texas Ballers

6:20 T: Hstn Hoops 14s Red T: Gulf Coast Blue Chips 14s 6:20 M: Texas Cagers - Dirk M: Hstn Knicks

7:30 D: D Gib Hoops D: Clippers Blue 7:30 U: Hstn Hoops 13s U: Power Plus One 14s

8:40 D: Katy Hoopstars-Pinkney D: Team Truth 17s 8:40 N: Gulf Coast Blue Chips-Matt N: New Waverly Select

LUTHERAN NORTH Ct 1 LUTHERAN NORTH Ct 2

4PM S: HOPS 15s S: Tx Super Stars - Andrus 4PM U: Clippers 14s U: Hstn Hoops 13s

5:10 R: Hstn Outlaws - Key R: Tx Super Stars- Butch 5:10 J: Clippers White J: Coast to Coast

6:20 Q: Cut the Nets Q: Tx Super Stars - Dones 6:20 F: All 4 Sports Grey F: HOPS

7:30 P: H Town Takers White P: Streetlife Worldwide 7:30 Q: Alodia Eclipse Blk Q: Northside Rockets

8:40 E: H Town Takers Black E: Tx Super Stars 8:40 T: All 4 Sports Black T: Westside All Stars

ST PIUS X Ct 1 ST PIUS X Ct 2

4PM P: Conquerors thru Christ P: Team Truth 16s 4PM U: Power Plus One 14s U: Franchize White

5:10 S: Alodia 3T S: Team Truth 15s 5:10 R: Basketball University R: Franchize Air Force

6:20 K: Goose Creek Phenoms K: Unknown Ambassadors 6:20 K: Tx Phenoms K: Franchize Hstn Wildcats

7:30 E: Hstn Gold E: Cat 5 Hurricanes 7:30 N: Total package-Ivory N: Franchize Black

8:40 HS: Ozen HS: Terry 8:40 H: Alief Hurricanes H: Franchize Red