Duck Tales
Basketball 2010-11

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  Jon "Duck" Gray is one of our most ardent website supporters. His main sport is basketball, but he has become a legend on the football trail, too. How cool is it that his nickname is a good fit with Tom "Puck" McKenna and Ed "Huck" Palmer?   You may contact Duck at jdtrilogy@aol.com
JAN. 13
PUBLIC A
Simon Gratz 74 George Washington 60
  Well, I never thought it could happen but it did. In the second quarter of a Public League basketball game in which both teams came into the game undefeated in league play, a discussion occurred and as a Public League observer the question was posed to me. “Duck, if you had to pick between Spencer Moses or Terrance Stafford, who would you choose?” Mind you it was a question that I answered while Gratz only led by four during a break in play against a talented Washington High School team that may be the Bulldogs' fiercest competition within Division play, and I’m getting asked which tailback I would pick. After all this game was in North Philadelphia at 1798 Hunting Park Ave where Rasheed Wallace, Aaron McKie, Harry Moore, Reds Smith, Mike Cuffee and others played on the hardwood and I’m getting asked which tailback would I pick. (The answer in an extremely close call is Stafford. His will to win on the high school level is incredible!) Anyway, the Bulldogs took control during a spurt in the second quarter in which their pressure defense forced three turnovers and the Bulldogs finished the turnovers with dunks. First, Nigel Caldwell skied two-handed for a slam, then Aquil Younger jammed one and then Andrew Moye tomahawked one. Moye was a monster in this one as he posted 22 points with 12 rebounds. Moye plays several positions for the Bulldogs and he plays all of them extremely well. Younger is a masterful ballhandler who controls the tempo of the game with his ball control and court vision. The Drexel-bound point guard is fun to watch. Caldwell is a super athlete, he and fellow senior Daquan Bryant (17 points) did an excellent job of slinking along the baseline and finishing in traffic. Younger had 10 points and six assists; the final assist was an alley-oop pass to Caldwell who skied high to slam it home. The Eagles did not go lightly and it would be interesting to see them against Gratz again in a playoff setting, which is a possible scenario. 6’3 sophomore wing Kendall Truitt was solid as he totaled 22 points. Truitt showed some serious energy all game long and never stopped competing/ hustling against the Bulldogs. Senior guards Keith “Beefy” Richardson and Kawaun Chavis had their moments. Richardson, who has some Maureece Rice-type elements to his game (Not as athletic or as superbly skilled as the “Scorelord”) was only able to muster 10 points. Richardson did not take many shots and he has a nice-looking outside shot (two threes) but he does handle the basketball really well against pressure and has excellent court vision. I will try my best to see him play again soon. Chavis had 19 points and he brings the same kind of energy that Truitt does. In time the Eagles could improve and be a real problem by the season’s end. As for the Bulldogs, they do not have the height or depth that we come to expect from them but something tells me that they will get better as well as the season goes on.
  Table Talk- Well I’ve not been out too much. One thing I want to say is that from talking to a lot of youth coaches and middle school coaches a common theme is being said. A lot of high school coaches are hoarding ninth graders and finding ways to weed them out. I find that sad. I understand encouraging a couple 9th graders to your school but going all out and getting ten-twenty ninth graders a year is a bit much. Remember they are kids and at fourteen being recruited to sit the bench or serve as practice fodder may not be the best for some kids’ self-esteem. Also, many kids wind up transferring because they are unhappy where they are.
DEC. 21
PUBLIC A
King 56, Kensington 48
  This was not a memorable game but in time both schools' programs can improve. Both teams have young rosters and my suggestion is that the PL has some doubleheaders so kids can play junior varsity and varsity to help their growth curve. especially combined with some spring-summer activity. King won in large part because they have some feisty guards. The feistiest is 5’3 junior point man Trayvon King. The smoothest is Damian Bryant, a sophomore scorer from New York. Football players Randy Siler, Mark Ryles and Damon Hudgins all made contributions in regards to hustle and defense. Kensington is not very talented. Senior Bruce White and 6’3 Fahqueil Robinson had moments and sophomore guard Julius VanGuine definitely has some potential. Hopefully, I will get to see the teams later this season.
  Table Talk- I watched this game with Ben Dubin and he seems to really care about the improvement of Public League Hoops . . . King AD Marge Stinson showed off her Thanksgiving Day trophy. It has been a few years since she last won it and poor Ms. Stinson has to get the scores for the last couple of years on the trophy.

DEC. 17
NON-LEAGUE
Strawberry Mansion 49, World Communications 41
  Well I had to get started on the basketball scene, so I decided to watch this contest featuring Mansion and World Communications. The Knights were hit hard by graduation and also the transfer of swingman Khyree Wooten to rival Imhotep Charter. “World Comm” returns their top player in 6’3 do-everything type Markeith Mont. Anyway this one was not the easiest on the eyes. They were a lot of fouls (most were correct calls) and also neither team is terribly great shooting the ball. Mansion won in large part because at key junctures they showed some real toughness and scrappiness in getting to loose balls. The Knights have always had a go-to guy but right now they do not have a true star. In this one, junior James Cole, a smooth 6’2 combo guard, served as the Knights main scorer. Cole, a transfer from Prep Charter,  played a lot at the point and was solid at the line late by going 11-13 in the final stanza as he finished with 14 points. The game MVP for me was 6’2 inside bulwark Tyrone “Chub” Madison. Madison came in off of the bench and made a strong impact on the glass. Madison battled against two mobile and long 6’7 forwards in Nicholas Brown (8 rebounds and 6 blocks) and Anthony Guess. Madison snared 10 rebounds and his only basket a put-back while absorbing contact from two WC players earned the loudest of cheers from the passionate Mansion fans. WC has a chance to make noise. Mont, who is a master of body control, mustered 13 points while Quamier Johnson added 9 points. I liked what I saw from point guard Shon Phillips in the early going; he is extremely unselfish. Coach Kenyatta McKinney seems to have a good handle on his club and I expect them to grow as the year goes on. Mansion Coach Matthew “Moo” Johnson’s squad has some parts to keep an eye on. 6’3 small forward Karon Keene is long and athletic while being active on defense. Senior forward Shareef Green is a late bloomer while guards sophomore Amir Butler (9 points) and Sultan Smith showed moments.
   Table Talk- Well this season is underway. I must say the growing rift amongst rival programs is starting to come to a head. Some people do not like many things (some political, some philosophical). For some reason, wherever I go people ask me questions. I will answer them clearly right now. I don’t like the current basketball culture- it has gone too far. I mean we all are competitive people but there are a lot of kids caught in the middle and my feeling is there needs to be a discussion on the term balance. I will elaborate more in the weeks to come. Play ball!!!