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What Does “Reclassification” Truly Mean? How does reclassification effect youth basketball today?

S tar on the Rise - A Chat with Taja Cole The Richmond star goes national and joins University of Louisville

Perfect Practice Makes Perfect Micah Lancaster CEO of I’m Possible Training

NCAA Eligibility Center Quick Reference Guide

Behind the Local Legend Coach Walt Webb opens up to Hoops Elite and talks about his new facility, Hoops Plus

Reaching New Heights A Chat with Dawn Brown, Head Girls Basketball Coach of Prairie View A&M Head Women’s Basketball Coach, By: Karan Kauhal

ntroducing Lamont Taylor GetMeRecruited.com’s CEO and the new Director of Scouting Relations of Elevate Basketball Circuit

Top Boys Youth Travel Basketball Tournaments Where to play the best tournaments in 2015

A Minute of George Hill Hoops Elite does rapid fire with star of the Indiana Pacers

Top Class Rankings See the Top 100 players for the class of 2016, 2017 and 2018

Getting to Know Grace Men’s Asst. Head Basketball Coach and lead recruiter of UCLA, David Grace talks with Hoops Elite

Taja Cole brings her talents to Louisville

George Hill of the Indiana Pacers Production Director: Jayden Designs Contributing Writers: John Howard, Karan Kauhal, Bridgette ‘Bree’ King, Micah Lancaster, David Resa, Wendall Dumas, Ericka Greene, Terrance ‘Trip’ Gordon Photography: Chris Jones Photography Hoops Elite Magazine www.HoopsEliteMagazine.com Editor@HoopsEliteMagazine.com

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Hoops Elite Magazine

By Bridgette “Bree” King

What Does “Reclassification” Truly Mean? With so many youth sports clubs pushing for athletes to “reclassify”, it is truly an interesting thing when it is determined that many coaches, players and the players’ parents do not have a true understanding of what “reclassifying” truly means. Many view reclassifying as simply retaining a player in a grade for an additional year in junior high in order to be the biggest and strongest on the court. Many think that reclassifying is strictly for athletic purposes. However, the reality of the matter is that reclassifying is purely for academic reasons, but, has been manipulated in reverse for athletes to have a leg-up on the competition and potentially earn Division I scholarships. First, which athletes does reclassification apply to? Reclassification can apply to any student-athlete seeking to start college early, however, as far as athletics is concerned, reclassification-as it is applied to athletes competing in youth sportsnormally only applies to those studentathletes seeking admission to compete at a NCAA Division I college or university. Now, let’s look at the definition.

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The definition of “Reclassifying” is an academic one and it is as follows: “Reclassifying is deciding to change the date you graduate from high school and/or enter college after you have started the ninth grade” (“Reclassifying 101: Important Info To Consider Before Reclassifying”, 2001-2014). When a student participates in athletics, reclassification comes with some very important deadlines and the major one is as follows: According to “Reclassifying 101: Important Info To Consider Before Reclassifying” (2001-2014),” The most important academic consideration when reclassifying is the NCAA’s core-curriculum time limitation, from Bylaw 14.3.1.2.1: A prospective student-athlete must complete his or her core-curriculum requirements not later than the high school graduation date of the prospective student-athlete’s class [as determined by the first year of enrollment in high school (ninth grade) or the international equivalent…]. Graduation from high school or

secondary school shall be based on the prospective student-athlete’s prescribed educational path in his or her country. This generally means that a prospect must have finished the NCAA’s 16 require core courses by the time he or she finishes high school. A prospect’s GPA is also more or less locked in based on classes completed before graduation (Academic Issues). To summarize, reclassification means that a high school student-athlete may apply to reclassify to change the date that they graduate and enter into a Division I college, however, the student athlete must complete their required NCAA 16 required courses by the time their original class reaches their graduation date. This requirement does not apply to NCAA Division II and non-NCAA colleges and universities. For example, if there is a player on the roster who graduates in the year 2020 and wants to attend the University of Texas and play the sport of Basketball, even if he or she reclassifies, the student-athlete still only has until 2020 to complete the NCAA 16 required core courses for eligibility to play

Hoops Elite Magazine for the University of Texas. However, due to this rule, reclassification is rarely granted and oftentimes leads to a student athlete losing a year of NCAA eligibility-thus their chance at playing for a Division I programbecause they do not complete their NCAA academic requirements within the required time period. This has prompted what is now occurring, which I term “Reverse Reclassification”, where athletes and their parents are encouraged to retain a player during their Junior High years so that the NCAA Reclassification rule does not apply and the student-athlete can still graduate with their original class and still hopefully earn an athletic scholarship to a Division I university. Now, let’s think about this a little further. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) Section 441 states that “Amateur Athletic Status does not apply to students until the first class day of their ninth grade year” (University Interscholastic League, 201415, “Section 1400: (h) AMATEUR RULE.”), meaning that the Amateur Rule does not apply to Junior High athletes. There lies the problem. In recent years, there has been a national outcry of cheating in national youth sports leagues and organizations because there are players that are actually a year older playing down because their parents have retained them in either the 7th or 8th grade so that they are much larger and more developed in both physique, as well as, mental and physical skills development. This also allows the student-athlete to enter into high school after playing three years of Junior High UIL Basketball and they have, in essence, played seven (7) years of UIL ball when they should have only played six (6). The student-athlete’s potential high school NCAA academic eligibility standards and requirements are not in jeopardy. All of this leads to potential increased percentage of the athlete earning a Division I scholarship because they are so much bigger, much stronger and developmen-

tally better than the players that they are competing against. The issue has been exasperated even more, and has become even larger problem, due to NBA players such as Jalen Rose coming out in support of reclassification. Where a player should be playing in the 8th grade, they are encouraged to repeat the 7th grade purely for athletic-and not academic-reasons. Now, before I go any further, let’s discuss what reclassifying is not: • Reclassifying is not delaying the start date of a child in Pre-K or Elementary school in order to be bigger for sports • Reclassifying is not allowing an athlete who has failed a grade to repeat that grade and play sports • Reclassifying is not a student that has been held back in school because he or she cannot pass a standardized test and they can’t promote until they do Those are loopholes being exploited, but by definition, not reclassifying. Now, many youth sports coaches may not have a problem with-and may encourage parents of their players-to reclassify. The wins by squads with reclassified players leads to these coaches making names for themselves and their programs potentially being sponsored by global athletic brands, giving their program and their players the right to play in high profile tournaments where only Division I scouts and recruiters will be. But, why not make those players play in their true grades and compete against players their size and at their developmental level instead of dominating smaller, lessdeveloped squads? That is why so many parents and coaches of ethical and moral foundations view reclassification as cheating instead of what it is meant to be-a plan of action to allow high school athletes to start their college coursework early in order to prepare to compete at the college level.

References Reclassifying 101: Important info to consider before reclassifying. (2001-2014). Retrieved from http://www.athleticscholarships.net/2012/07/13/reclassifying-important-info-consider.htm University Interscholastic League. (2014-15). Junior high coaches manual. Retrieved from http://www.uiltexas.org/files/athletics/manuals/JH_Manual_14-15.pdf.

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Star on the Rise A chat with Taja Cole

Hoops Elite Basketball sat down to talk with the University of Louisville recruit star guard, Taja Cole. Before taking the trip to Louisville from her hometown in Richmond, Virginia, Cole gave her first interview to HEM and talks about basketball, her clothing line and the road to Kentucky. HEM -Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Taja. Let’s jump right into it as we have so much we want to learn about you. First things first, when did you start playing basketball? TC – Thanks for having me. I started playing basketball when I was 7. HEM - What does your training regime consist of? TJ - I have multiple trainers for different reason. I have a speed and agility trainer, a point guard/defense/IQ trainer and 2 shooting trainers; one for form and consistency and the other for ways to get your shot off quicker so it can be affective. No matter what trainer I’m with I still try to incorporate ball handling, defense and footwork in my workout, because those are 2 very key parts of my game. HEM - What is your drive to play basketball? TJ - My drive to play comes from my love for the game. I grew up around basketball and I guess my family’s passion and “gohard” rubbed off on me. Also, my sister passed away after giving birth so I feel like I don’t only live and play for myself

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anymore… what I do is for her. I strive daily to be an even better person so I can be a role model in my nephew’s life. HEM – Is there a player in college or the WNBA that you consider your skills most mimic? TJ - Yes, Diana Taurasi. I think I mimic her game by watching how good she sees the floor. I try to do the same. Some people ask how many points they scored after the game but for me… I want to know how many assist I had. It’s a big thing to me to get my team involved. I like to score, but I also like to do whatever I have to do to see my teammates shine and to get the win. And I think I learned a little bit of that from DT3. HEM - When did you realize that you were better than most in basketball? TJ - Probably when I was 10. I’ve always played 2 age groups up during AAU. And I didn’t want to have the average 10 year old game. My dad always told me you always want to be 1 or more steps ahead of everybody else. If you’re in middle school, you should be playing and preparing

yourself like a high school athlete, and if you’re in high school you should be playing like you’re a college athlete. So I just took that in and surrounded myself with good people that I knew would take my game to the next level. HEM - We know you have chosen U of L for your college. What other colleges were pursuing you? Why did you chose U of L? TJ - I chose to be a cardinal because I felt like it was the best fit for me overall; Basketball and family wise. I love being around my family, and Louisville felt like a family environment. Louisville moving into the ACC was a big factor in my decision because I wanted my parents to be able to come see me without having to travel too far. Now they can do that at places like UNC, Duke, and UVA; which is close to home. HEM - What are you going to school for (major)? TJ - Sports Administration. HEM - With you going to U of L, several other highly ranked players followed you

Hoops Elite Magazine to Louisville. Do you think your decision helped shape theirs? TJ - I’m not sure, if it did or not. However, I’m excited about playing with my teammates, and I give credit to our great coaching staff for choosing the right pieces. HEM - Do you plan to play basketball after college? TJ - Yes, my dream has always been to play in the WNBA, and I’m very excited to now because the fan base at the games has improved drastically, and even the All-Star game went in triple digits this year (shout out to the former Louisville player Shoni Schimmel)! HEM - Do you ever pay attention to your rankings via scouting services and ESPN? TJ - Not really. I just focus on getting better and winning. I was taught by my parents that rankings are simply ones opinion and that I should play and let my game speak for itself. I am very competitive though, so I always tried to match up against the top ranked players and use that to evaluate my own game. HEM - Most scouts say you are a great lefty guard that can score under pressure. You are also known for your defending skills. What do you think your top basketball qualities are? TJ - I think my specialty is breaking my man down off the dribble and creating plays from there… whether it’s for my shot or for the kick or no look. I think once I get in the paint it’s hard to determine what I’m going to do next. I also have a pretty consistent pull up, that I continue to work on. HEM - Some may also know that not only are you a great basketball player, but also you have a knack for clothing design, sparking your own line at 13, Team Cole 5. What does the name Team Cole 5 mean? TJ - It’s actually one word (Teamcole), but it stands for Taja Cole and 5 is the number I’ve worn all my life, but it means 3 words to me… Humble, Hungry and Hardworking. All individual characteristics. HEM - Who do you design Team Cole 5 clothing for? Is it only for basketball players? TJ - Teamcole is for everybody whether you play a sport or work in an office all day.

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As long as you outwork at your craft and stay focused and humble about it you’re a part of the team.

TJ - Yes. I do. With the help of my teammates and my coaches. I think about winning a National Championship at U of L a lot.

HEM - What do you see the clothing line becoming in the future? TJ - I see my clothing line becoming the next big thing. I want people to know it’s my clothes when they see it and I want it to have a positive effect on people’s lives.

HEM - Do you plan on having your own basketball camps in the future? TJ - Yes. I enjoy volunteering and coaching youth, so a TC5 camp is in my future plans.

HEM - You are known to have a variety of styles and looks when you dress. Does your styles and creativity inspire your clothing line? TJ - Yes it does. I like different/weird things and colors that jump out at you to catch the audience attention. But at the same time I like neutral colors like black and white that can go with any and everything. I dress according to how I feel, I think that’s important for people to be true to who they are. HEM - How do you see your clothing line expanding while starting a new life at U of L? TJ - I know if I do my job while I’m there academically and on the court the fan base and my team will really embrace, support and help me continue to grow my clothing line. I got to do big time things to make big time sales, that’s how I look at it. HEM - What’s the easiest way for someone to order from Team Cole 5? TJ - By visiting my website… www.teamcole5.com HEM - Louisville is a very basketball friendly area, with a large following of fans, much like a professional team. How do you plan to handle the stardom that comes from being a U of L basketball player? TJ - The “TC5 Way”, I plan to stay humble, hungry, and work hard every day. HEM - How does it feel to be named the number one class in the nation for 2015? TJ - It feels great, but it’s only the beginning of our journey. It kind of shows that the U of L coaching staff hand-picked each of us to be a part of something BIG! HEM - Do you think you can bring a National Championship to Louisville?

HEM - What is the highlight of your career thus far? TJ - Starting off playing for my parents program, which was a small local program… deciding that I wanted to be one of the top players in the nation, working hard and never giving up, being offered a starting spot on Coach Boo’s (Williams) team… proving that I was able to accomplish my goals as one of the best players in the nation and earning a scholarship to an awesome college! HEM - If you have a choice to play for a WNBA team, who would it be for? Why? TJ - LA Sparks. I’ve liked them all my life, back when Candace Parker played for Tennessee and got drafted to them. Also, I was blessed with the opportunity to meet Lisa Leslie and talk to her about the team when she came to my school basketball camp at the end of my sophomore year. HEM - What do you listen to in your IPod? TJ - I listen to different varieties of music. But I’m mostly a Chris Brown, and Jay-Z fan. HEM - Angel McCoughtry is the most celebrated women’s basketball player at U of L. Though playing different positions and styles, do you see yourself being named in the likes of her? TJ - Yes, because of my determination to get better. I always want to learn something new and I study the game a lot, and try to add different pieces from great players to my game. HEM – Taja, we are excited to have you coming to Louisville. We look forward to covering your growth since you are in our hometown for the next four years. Can you save us a front row seat for the season? (laughs) TJ – (laughs)…I’ll see what I can do, but I can’t make any promises! (laughs)

Hoops Elite Magazine Micah Lancaster,

CEO and Founder of I’m Possible Training I’ve often told players that while they have adult dreams, they have child-like processes. Their mindset is often the problem and we as coaches have often been guilty of being the root of that problem through myths that we spread. In today’s issue we will discuss one of the major myths that we must conquer at all costs to help player’s develop better game results.

PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT The term “practice player” is a common term used to describe players who are great in practice, but poor in the game. These types of players represent one of the game’s biggest mysteries, but I believe there is a simple cure wrapped up in a simple myth. You’ve heard it before and you may even say it often, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” Behind this myth is one of the main reasons why some gym rats find themselves on the bench and why some players who only seem to play pickup games get all the playing time. We all know that the game of basketball is imperfect in nature. There is contact, there is chaos, and there are reads and reactions that constantly change from situation to situation. That’s why perfect training can never realistically match up to an imperfect game. In order for a player to find game results, they must be shown

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how to train realistic to the game in terms of the chaos, the contact, and the unpredictability that player’s will experience in the game. I, for one, suffered from this same fault in thinking. Like many players today, my coaches told me that I needed to make 70-80% of my shots when shooting alone in an empty gym in order for me to become a great shooter. This caused me to get everything perfect and shoot in such a way that I saw the ball go in more. That’s pretty simple. However, I started to see the game-results that come with such a process. My practice results were always much, much better than my game results. In the end, I discovered that perfect practice only makes the perfect “practice player”. See, if a player is always set on doing everything perfectly and always focused on making such

an unbelievable percentage when shooting the basketball, they will never approach their training in a game realistic way. After all, how many player’s actually make 80% of their shots in a game!?? But if a player is able to practice the game in an imperfect setting, they are able to better simulate the imperfect situations and circumstances that most resemble real game action. They may only make 45-50% of their shots practicing “imperfectly” but that may just transfer over to 45-50% in the game itself! In reality, the best advice to give players is not to give them the age old philosophy of “perfect practice makes perfect” but instead remind them that training is messy in nature. Make mistakes often, correct the mistakes, and always remember that it takes imperfect training to near perfection for an imperfect game!

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Behind the Local legend Walt Webb Hoops Elite Magazine got an opportunity to sit down and met with Coach Walter Webb, Founder and CEO of Slam City Management Group (SCMG). Known in the DMV area as a talented coach, trainer and motivational speaker, Webb also is the director of the top nationally ranked program SlamCity Elite, primed to have some of best talent the country has to offer. Becoming the first ever team to have an Adidas deal for their 6th-8th grade middle school teams, this former NACA National Coach of the Year doesn’t only have basketball savvy, but also a nose for business. His latest accomplishment, the opening of his own basketball facility in Sterling, Virginia. We catch up with the multi-talented Coach Webb for a one-on-one to learn more about this new venture.

HEM – Hi Coach Webb, thanks for taking the time to talk with us. Coach Webb – My pleasure. HEM – Ok…so you have one of the top teams in the country, strike a deal with Adidas and Andrew Wiggins’ Team Loaded, and now you are dropping a new facility. It’s been a good year for you coach. Tell us about your new facility. Coach Webb - I have certainly been blessed to be involved in the opportunities that’s come in front of me. The facility will be called Hoops Plus and it’s a 40,000+ square foot facility with three courts. It will be the home of the SlamCity GrassRoots program and it will be used for basketball practices, training, camps, evaluations and tournaments for both boys and girls.

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HEM – That’s great! So when does it open up and do you already have programs and trainings slated for Hoops Plus? Coach Webb – Well..it’s been a little slower than what I wanted, but we are finally going to do our ribbon cutting ceremony on the first of the year. But are open now for walk-throughs to various teams, community leaders and coaches so they get to see the facility before we start operations. We do already have classes ready for the Hoops Plus opening. From Monday to Friday we have group fitness classes in the morning, but it will open to the community for more than basketball. HEM – Like what? Coach Webb – Above all, it will be a gym that promotes positivity to the community and those that visit. SlamCity does have the elite programs, but we have several programs that are at the recreational and developmental level. We do that so we can affect the entire community, giving us an opportunity to truly impact their future. During the year, we will have camps and clinics for our community for not only basketball but also cheerleading, boot camps, group fitness and Zumba. We do all the training, have school programs and we are even looking at starting a possible Prep school. HEM – So your mission is to help the community with basketball? Coach Webb – We want to be able to change the culture of basketball and the approach to the game of basketball by making sure athletes have the prerequisites that they need to go to the next level. HEM – Do you have plans to open more facilities in the future? Coach Webb – Eventually. We currently have several organizations throughout the country that has asked for our advice on building a solid program and wanting to use our model, so we are really consultants right now. But the goal will be to have several other facilities throughout the country that we manage and own under the Slam City Management Group. HEM – Coach Webb, I know that you have a busy day ahead of you, so we appreciate the time you gave us to sit with us and talk about the grand opening of Hoops Plus. We would love to be there for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Coach Webb - No doubt. We would love to have Hoop Elite there. HEM – Thanks coach, we will see you on the first of January in the next year then! Coach Webb – My man.

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Reaching New Heights Coach Dawn Brown Dawn Brown who started as an interim coach was officially named Prairie View A&M head women’s basketball coach in April of 2014 and coached the Lady Panthers to their fourth consecutive NCAA Women’s Basketball Division I Tournament appearance and the team’s fourth straight SWAC Tournament Championship this past season. She opens up about the environment of her team and her future aspirations. Transition not difficult Having developed an efficient system in the team and a good rapport with the players, Dawn Brown didn’t have any particular struggles adapting to her role as a head coach from that of an interim. She takes advantage of the opportunities presented before her and advises her team to do the same and works on the past mistakes of the team and how to correct them efficiently throughout the season.

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Written By: Karan Kauhal

Hard work pays off Brown attributes the success of the team to all the hard work they put in and commends the team for being hungry for success and accepting the challenges put in front of them. She also claims the pre season games where they play against a tough opponent (some teams are of the national level) is important to start the season on a good note. One of the best attributes

of the PVAMU is mixing the young talent with the seasoned campaigners. Coach Brown lays special impetus on the young players or the new recruits they have on the team and for them to not get nervous and make a strong connection with the other members on the team some of which have been playing together for close to three years.

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Great team environment “The new team is gelling together just fine,” says Coach Brown. “The pre-season defeats will help the team to gain the experience needed to perform well and clean up all the loopholes as the season progresses. We have a fearless team with some shortcomings which we iron out slowly by watching the game film together.” She is excited at the prospect of players scoring well in spite of some close defeats and she is confident that the team will be a force to reckon with. Goals for the season “It’s all about the team and not my goals which should be prioritized,” explains Coach Brown. She also explains how before every match every player writes down their own individual goals for the game and she encourages them to set their goals high so as to have maximum positive influence on the game. The commitment and sacrifice of the team as a whole are more important than any individuals’ goal. The team desires to go undefeated and desires to win another championship. Beyond the court “I had some great coaches and some great mentors during my time as a student

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athlete which helped me be disciplined which I impart to my team as well. We are accountable for the girls that come to join our program.” She also tells about how she has a close relationship with the team and doesn’t turn a deaf ear and pays proper attention to them. We have girls from California, Phoenix, Las Vegas and others so it is our responsibility to be there for them while they are away from their families. She also talks about how she helps the girls to be winners off the court as well. “Education is also very important for their careers when the girls move on from Prairie View. We make sure the players are going to the classroom and getting proper education and it’s not just about them being eligible to play at this level.” Qualities that make the players recruitable “The players should have a motor. Whether you are down 20 or up 20 points the intensity should remain. The players should be coachable. As a coach it is my job to pay attention to them and help them learn and grow. She also speaks how a player should be self disciplined and be academically eligible.” When asked about the SWAC conference she says,” We are not as fortunate as some BCS schools but we make with

what we have. The conference is a good opportunity to learn from other coaches. The people here the staff, coaches, players and administration knows what it’s like to give yourself to the program.” Looking into the future “Right now I just want to focus on the task at hand and enjoy my time here at Prairie View. There’s no telling what the future will bring us so my goal is to make the best of the situation while I’m here. In the future though, I want to be an athletic director.“ When asked about which WNBA team she would like to coach if given an opportunity she answered ‘Chicago Sky’ as she has a close relation with the coach and is familiar with the whole mentality of the team as they are risk takers and are confident in their young talent. She also opens up about the music she likes to hear and about her pre-game rituals as a player and as a coach. She adds, “I like to hear gospel music and some rap music. Music helps me to grow as a person and it’s good for the soul. Pre game rituals include eating some oatmeal and doing 35-40 minutes of cardio. But it all starts off with a Starbucks coffee!”

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Introducing

Lamont Taylor GetMeRecruited.com’s CEO and the new Director of Scouting Relations of Elevate Basketball Circuit

Lamont Taylor was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Lumberton, NC. A Navy veteran, Lamont holds a BS in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a MBA in General Business from Capella University. Lamont has an extensive basketball background, which consists of over 20 years of coaching on multiple levels and a host of strong relationships within the college basketball realm. He has helped many players develop and get recruited by a variety of DI, DII, DIII, and junior colleges through his relationships with college basketball coaches. Many players grant their success to Lamont for his guidance and advice in helping them to choose the correct school for their talent and compatibility. He is well-known and beloved for his passion for the game and his compassion for players. He is also well respected by countless college coaches, recruiters, and scout evaluators as a reliable source for judging a prospective player’s talent level and abilities. Lamont is the uncle and past legal guardian of YouTube sensation and NBA player Quincy Miller. He coached and helped guide Quincy throughout his path from an unknown 9th grade player to a YouTube phenomenon and eventually to the NBA. Lamont has gained valuable knowledge and experience in helping to guide players on all levels of talent through the recruitment process.

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Taylor has begun to lay the foundation for what’s becoming a household name in high school basketball recruiting, GetMeRecruited. Launched in 2012, is the brainchild of Taylor and GMR’s Vice President Robert Scruggs, a Richmond, VA native. In just over 2 years, Lamont and his GetMeRecruited staff have solidified their organization as a highly respected and very credible source of everything high school basketball in the southeast region of the country. In March of 2014, GetMeRecruited hosted its 1st annual high school showcase, the “Super 60 Showdown”. Named a “Must See” event by USA Today, the “showdown” has become THE most coveted showcase event in the southeast. The Elevate Basketball Circuit welcomes Lamont Taylor and his basketball acumen as our National Director of Scouting Relations. Lamont will be the go to guy for the media, college coaches, and coaches and players of the EBC as well. He would love to get feedback or suggestions of players he should be on the lookout for. During the season look for write-ups, articles, and social media activity from Lamont. You will likely see Lamont scouting players of the EBC throughout the country in a gym near you. A guy who loves to be amongst the people and as friendly as they come, if you spot him at one of the sessions do not hesitate to speak!

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Top Boys Youth Travel Basketball Tournaments The list of tournaments that have been selected were gathered from direct feedback of NCAA and NAIA college coaches. Feedback was also received from multiple recruiting services, player ranking services and travel team coaches from across the nation.

March 27-29, 2015 Elevate Basketball Circuit (EBC) Battle of the Divisions – Norfolk, VA

June 5-7, 2015 Rumble in the Bronx in NYC – Bronx, NY (June 5-7, 2015)

April 3-5, 2015 Knoxvegas Heat Invitational Knoxville, TN Real Deal in the Rock - Little Rock, AR Norman Parker Showcase - Atlanta, GA

June 12-14, 2015 AAU 21st MIT – Baltimore, MD Rumble in the Bronx in NYC – New York, NY

April 10-12, 2015 Boo Williams Nike Invitational – Hampton, VA April 17-19, 2015 Southern Spring Invitational Tournament – Birmingham, AL EBC vs the World – Leigh High Valley, PA April 24-26, 2015 Under Armour Jayhawk Invitational – Olathe, KS Under Armour Pitt Jam – Pittsburgh, PA May 1-3, 2015 Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions – Atlanta, GA May 8-10, 2015 Next Level Nationals – Dallas, TX May 22-25, 2015 Capital City Hoop Classics – Annapolis, MD (May 23-25, 2015) Adidas Memorial Day Classic – Houston, TX NOLA Super 60 Primetime – New Orleans, LA May 29-31, 2015 Elevate Basketball Circuit (EBC) Go Hard or Go Home Playoffs – Nashville, TN

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June 19-21, 2015 Slam City Grassroots #5 - Chantilly, VA July 8-13, 2015 Elevate Basketball Circuit (EBC) National Championships - Virginia Beach, VA Under Armour National Championship – Louisville, KY (July 6-8, 2015) Real Deal in the ‘Ville Shootout – Franklin, TN (July 8-9, 2015) July 14-20, 2015 Elevate Basketball Circuit (EBC) Grassroots Championships Virginia Beach, VA Nike Peach Jam – Augusta, SC (July 15-19, 2015) Eddie Ford Hoopfest – Louisville, KY (July 15–19, 2015) Great American Shootout – Dallas, TX (July 16-19, 2015) July 22-29, 2015 AAU National Super Showcase – Louisville, KY (July 22-25, 2015) BigFoot Hoops Las Vegas Classic – Las Vegas, NV (July 22-26, 2015) Adidas Super64 – Las Vegas, NV – (July 22-26, 2015) Las Vegas Fab 48 – Las Vegas, NV – (July 23-30, 2015) July 31 - August 2, 2015 Slam City Grassroots #7 - Chantilly, VA

Hoops Elite Magazine

A Minute with George Hill George Hill Questions: 1. What was the biggest change from going from college basketball at IUPUI to playing professional basketball? A. The speed of the game, mental preparation, and understanding that you are playing against an all american every night. There is no days off. 2. What are 3 things high school kids should know about going and playing in college? A. 1)Find a balance between academics and athletics. 2)You must be more responsible and you will be held accountable for your actions. 3) Try to have good relationships with your professors. 3. Why did you chose your jersey number? A. Grandfathers birthday was May 3rd, and its me, my mom, and my dad=3. 4. Who was your inspiration while growing up? A. Mom, Tina Hill. 5. Who is the toughest player to guard in the NBA and why? A. Kobe Bryant. He has no weakness. 6. What do you do to get prepared for a game? A. Just relax, eat the right food take a nap and listen to some music. 7. You have a youth basketball league, George Hill Rising Stars. What directed you to start your own youth basketball program? A. Just wanted to give back to my city. Show people if you provide kids with the proper resources they can make it on and off the court. 8. What do you consider a successful season? A. NBA Championship would be nice...lol.., improving from the year before. No major injuries 9. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the different in play from regular season to playoff games? A. People pay more attention to detail. Weaknesses are exposed more because you can focus on your opponent 10. What is currently in your CD Player/IPod? A. Chris Brown

19 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine The Youth Travel Basketball Authority

Hoops Elite 100 Class of 2016 November 2014 - Edition # I

Thon Maker

Rank Player Name

Position

Height

School

Thon Maker

F/C

7'0

Mono, ON Athlete Institute

Harry Giles

6'10

Winston-Salem, NC Wesleyan Christian Academy

Josh Jackson

6'6

Napa, CA - Prolific Prep

Jayson Tatum

6'7

St. Louis, MO - Chaminade College Prep

Malik Monk

6'3

Bentonville High - Bentonville, AR

Dennis Smith, Jr.

6'1

Trinity Christian - Fayetteville, NC

Edric Adebayo

6'8

Northside High - Pinetown, NC

Terrance Ferguson

6'6

Home School - Dallas, TX

Derryck Thornton

6'1

Chatsworth, CA - Findlay College Prep

Blake Harris

6'3

Montverde Academy - Montverde, FL

Lonzo Ball

6'5

Chino Hills High - Chino Hills, CA

Udoka Azubuike

6'10

Potters House Christian - Jacksonville, FL

De'Aaron Fox

6'3

Cypress Lakes High - Katy, TX

Tyus Battle

6'5

Gill St. Benard's School - Edison, NJ

Jamal Murray

6'4

Kitchener, ONAthlete Institute - Kitchner, OH

T.J. Leaf

6'9

Foothills Christian High - El Cajon, CA

Braxton Blackwell

6'8

Christ Presbyterian Academy - Nashville, TN

V.J. King

6'7

Paul VI High - Fairfax, VA

Kobi Simmons

6'5

Saint Francis High - Alpharetta, GA

Miles Bridges

6'6

Huntington Prep - Flint, MI

Josh Langford

6'6

Madison Academy - Madison, AL

Juwan Durham

6'9

Tampa Prepartory - Tampa, FL

Jaylen Fisher

6'1

Bolton High - Arlington, TN

De'Ron Davis

6'8

Overland High - Aurora, CO

Seventh Woods

6'0

Hammond School - Columbia, SC

Abdul Hakim Ado

6'9

Hamilton Heights Christian - Chattanooga, TN

Dewan Huell

6'10

Miami Norland High - Miami, FL

Omari Spellman

6'9

The MacDuffie School - North Royalton, OH

Marquise Bolden

6'10

DeSoto High - Dallas, TX

Mustapha Heron

6'5

Sacred Heart High - West Haven, CT

Justin Jackson

6'8

Findlay College Prep - Scarborough, Ont, CA

Rawle Alkins

6'4

Christ the King High - Brooklyn, NY

Frank Jackson

6'3

Lone Peak High - Alpine, UT

Shakwon Barrett

6'3

Findley Prep - Las Vegas, NV

Tony Bradley

6'10

Bartow Senior High - Bartow, FL

20 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine 36

Amir Coffey

6'7

Hopkins High - Minnetonka, MN

Jarrett Allen

6'9

Saint Stephen's Episcopal - Austin, TX

Michael Cage, Jr.

6'9

Mater Dei High - Santa Ana, CA

Cassius Winston

6'1

University of Detroit Jesuit High - Detroit, MI

Payton Pritchard

6'2

West Linn High - West Linn, OR

Devearl Ramsey

5'9

Sierra Canyon High - Chatsworth, CA

Schnider Herard

6'10

Prestonwood Christian - Plano, TX

Mario Kegler

6'7

Arlington Country Day - Jackson, MS

Kwe Parker

6'2

Wesleyan Christian - Fayetteville, NC

Seth Towns

6'7

Northland High - Columbus, OH

Chris Lewis

6'8

Milton High - Alpharetta, GA

Derek Funderburk

6'9

Saint Edward High - Lakewood, OH

Matthew Moyer

6'7

Lincoln High - Columbus, OH

Jaquan McKennon

6'0

Jefferson High - Brooklyn, NY

Sedee Keita

6'10

Vermont Academy - Saxtons River, VT

Nick Marshall

6'11

Lexington High - Lexington, TN

Trent Forrest

6'4

Chipley High - Chipley, FL

Nick Ward

6'7

Lincoln High - Gahanna, OH

Alterique Gilbert

6'1

Miller Grove High - Lithonia, GA

Kessley Felizor

6'6

Coastal Academy, NJ

Temple Gibbs

6'2

Seton Hall Prep - Scotch Plains, NJ

Maverick Rowan

6'5

Cardinal Gibbons High - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Kyle Guy

6'2

Lawrence Central High - Indianapolis, IN

Cameron Lard

6'9

Natchitoches Central High - Natchitoches, LA

Lamar Stevens

6'6

The Haverford School - Philadelphia, PA

Kobe Gantz

6'4

McCaskey Lancaster PA

Jordan Fullerton

G/F

6'4

Toronto, Canada

Xavier Simpson

5'11

Lima Senior High - Lima, OH

Michael Hurt

6'7

John Marshall High - Rochester, NY

Zach Norvell

6'4

Simeon Center Academy

Jabbar Shy

5'11

West Philadelphia, PA

John Mooney

6'9

Lake Brantley High - Altamonte Springs, FL

Bruce Brown

6'3

Vermont Academy - Saxtons River, VT

Issac Humphries

6'10

LaLumiere School - La Porte, IN

Trevor Stanback

6'10

Maranatha High - Pasedena, CA

Jonathon Issac

6'8

International School of Broward - Hollywood, FL

Mark Vital

6'5

Prime Prep - Dallas, TX

Jermaine Haley

6'6

New Westminster - New Westminster, BC

Keyon McCutcheon

6'3

Reading, PA

Eron Gordon

6'2

North Central High - Indianapolis, IN

Eric Hester

6'3

Oldsmar Christian, Oldsmar, FL

Daron Henson

6'8

Bishop Alemany - Mission Hills, CA

Kenny Cooper

6'0

Franklin Road Academy - Nashville, TN

21 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine 79

Thomas Booker

6'0

East Nashville - Nashville, TN

Howard Washington

6'2

Montverde Academy - Montverde, FL

Josh Townsend

6'5

Imhotep - Philadelphia, PA

Zach Collins

6'9

Bishop Gorman High - Las Vegas, NV

Keith Smith

6'7

Rainer Beach - Seattle, WA

D'Marcus Simonds

6'4

Buford High - Buford, GA

Kevin Rimmer

6'3

Ezell Harding - Antioch, TN

Jarron Cumberland

6'4

Wilmington High - Wilmington, OH

Jayce Johnson

6'10

Jserra Catholic - San Juan Capistrano, CA

Rodney Miller

6'11

Oak Hill Academy - Mouth of Wilson, VA

Gabe Osabohain

6'6

VA Academy

Montrel Morgan

6'1

Impact Prep - York, PA

Marquise Bell

6'3

Trenton Catholic Academy, NJ

Nick Rakocevic

6'10

St. Josephs - Westchester, IL

Josh Hall

6'6

Genesis Academy - Lynchberg, VA

Lindell Wiggington

6'1

Oak Hill Academy - Mouth of Wilson, VA

J.J. Caldwell

6'0

Cypress Woods - Cypress, TX

Joe Hampton

6'7

Oak Hill Academy - Mouth of Wilson, VA

Jordan Bone

6'1

Ensworth High - Nashville, TN

Jordan Bruner

6'7

Spring Valley - Columbia, SC

Barrett Benson

6'9

Hinsdale South - Willowbrook, IL

100

Javonte Miller

6'7

Burlington, NC

* Rankings based on multiple National Ranking Services, multiple National Recruiting Services and assembled by Hoops Elite National Ranking Committee.

22 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine The Youth Travel Basketball Authority

Hoops Elite 100 Class of 2017 November 2014 - Edition # I

Troy Brown, Jr

Rank Player Name

Position

Height

School

DeAndre Ayton

6'10

Balboa City School - San Diego, CA

Troy Brown Jr.

6'5

Centinnial High School - Las Vegas, NV

Jarred Vanderbilt

6'7

Victory Prep Academy - Houston, TX

Zach Brown

7'0

Miami Beach Senior High - Miami, FL

Michael Porter

6'9

Father Tolton Catholic - Columbia, MO

Brian Bowen

6'7

Arthur Hill High - Saginaw, MI

P.J. Washington

6'8

Lone Star High - Frisco, TX

Jalek Felton

6'3

Mullins High - Mullins, SC

Billy Preston

6'9

Redondo Beach - Redondo Union High

Lonnie Walker

6'4

Reading High - Reading, PA

Cody Riley

6'7

Sierra Canyon High - Chatsworth, CA

Trevon Duval

6'2

Saint Benedict's Prep - Wilmington, DE

Wendell Carter

6'8

Pace Academy - Atlanta, GA

Austin Wiley

6'9

Spain Park High - Birmingham, AL

J.J. Smith

6'4

E.E. Smith High - Fayettsville, NC

M.J. Walker

6'5

Jonesboro High - Jonesboro, GA

D.J. Harvey

6'6

DeMatha Catholic High - Hyattsville, MD

Keyshon Montague

5'11

D'Youville - Toronto, CAN

Victor Bailey, Jr

6'3

McNeil High - Austin, TX

Jermaine Samuels

6'6

The Rivers School - Franklin, MA

Jordan Tucker

6'7

Archbishop Stephinac High - White Plains, NY

Lavar Batts

6'1

Concord, NC

Melo Eggleston

6'8

Washington, DC

Mitchell Bullock

6'4

Eudora High - Eudora, KS

Ty-Shon Alexander

6'3

Montverde Academy - Charlotte, NC

Tomas Murphy

6'8

Northfield-Mt. Hermon - Wakefield, RI

Jeremiah Tilmon

6'9

East St. Louis High - East St. Louis, IL

Isaiah Jasey

6'8

Ellison High - Killeen, TX

Devontae Shuler

6'2

Irmo High - Columbia, SC

John Petty

6'5

J.O. Johnson High - Huntsville, AL

Oshae Brissett

6'7

Findlay Prep - Henderson, NV

Paul Scruggs

6'3

Southport High - Indianapolis, IN

Ira Lee

6'7

Sierra Canyon High - Chatsworth, CA

Isaiah Stokes

6'8

Lausanne Collegiate - Memphis, TN

Kristafer Wilkes

6'6

Indianapolis, IN

23 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine

Brian Bowen

Jalek Felton

Chyree Walker

6'5

Cheltenham, MD

Trae Young

6'1

Norman, OK

Tavion Atkinson

6'6

Red Springs High - Red Springs, NC

Mitchell Robinson

6'10

New Orleans, LA

Zach Gunn

6'5

Fishers, IN

Kevin Hamlet

6'6

St. Benedict - Newark, NJ

Nicholas Richards

6'10

Manhasset, NY

David Caraher

6'5

Chapel Hill, NC

Brandon McCoy

6'10

San Diego, CA

Kobe Thomas

6'7

Archbishop Wood - Philadelphia, PA

Josh Linder

6'7

Kathleen, GA

Tremont Waters

5'11

New Haven, CT

Chris Giles

6'2

Allen, TX

Blake Williams

5'11

Memphis, TN

Aaron Simmons

6'4

Mt. Zion Prep - Durham, NC

Kimani Lawrence

6'6

Ashburnham, MA

Matur Maker

6'9

Martinsville, VA

D.J. Russell

6'7

Jacksonville, FL

Mohammad Bamba

6'9

Norristown, PA

Jamir Moultrie

6'0

Bowie, MD

Justin Roberts

5'11

Indianapolis, IN

Malik Williams

6'9

Fort Wayne, IN

Jaylen Nowell

6'2

Seattle, WA

Hasahn French

6'6

Middletown, NY

Victor Uyaelunmo

6'11

Miami, FL

24 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine 61

John Carter

6'2

Summitt High - Spring Hill, TN

Koby Thomas

6'4

Mastery Charter - Philadelphia, PA

Deondre Bourne

6'4

Brooklyn Lehman High - Brooklyn, NY

Clashon Gaffney

6'7

Clarksville, TX

LaTravian Glover

6'7

Miami , FL

Terrell Turner

6'4

Miami, FL

Isaiah Carpenter

6'9

Pennsbury High - Philadelphia, PA

Gary Trent

6'4

Apple Valley, MN

Nate Pierre-Louis

6'2

Plainfield, NJ

Luis Hurtado

6'5

Decatur, GA

Markus Howard

5'11

Gilbert, AZ

Jeremiah Alexander

6'5

Antioch High School - Antioch, TN

Quade Green

5'11

Philadelphia, PA

Jamal Johnson

6'4

Houston, TX

Manny Dixon Stokes

6'7

Notre Dame - Trenton, NJ

Rheaquan Taylor

6'7

Montross Christian - Queens, NY

Victor Enoh

6'7

Decatur, GA

Tyrell Gumbs

6'4

St. Benedict - Newark, NJ

Marco Beastly

6'8

Ross Shepard High - Edmonton, CAN

Eric Ayala

6'2

Wilmington, DE

Kobe Reeves

6'3

Hillsboro High - Nashville, TN

Jerome Desrosiers

6'6

Mount Hermon, MA

Jamir Harris

6'1

North Brunswic, NJ

Rick Nelson

6'0

Houston, TX

C. J. Roberts

5'11

Arlington, TX

Colin Sexton

5'11

Atlanta, GA

Wyatt Wilkes

6'4

Orlando, FL

Charles O'Bannon, Jr

6'4

Las Vegas, NV

Malik Zachery

6'1

Syracuse, NY

Obi Prince

6'10

Comenius Prep - Fort Mill, SC

Chirstian Popoola, Jr.

6'3

Las Vegas, NV

Zeke Vaughn

6'5

Faith Christian - Roseto, PA

Sidney Wilson

6'6

Bronx, NY

Tyler Polley

6'7

Weston, FL

Darian Scott

6'9

Las Vegas, NV

Aaron Thompson

6'1

Glendale, MD

P.J. Horne

6'5

Tifton, GA

David Beatty

6'3

Philadelphia, PA

DeAndre Ballard

6'4

Douglassville, PA

100

Bradley Belt

6'2

Huntsville, AL

* Rankings based on multiple National Ranking Services, multiple National Recruiting Services and assembled by Hoops Elite National Ranking Committee.

25 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine The Youth Travel Basketball Authority

Hoops Elite 100 Class of 2018 November 2014 - Edition # I

Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Marco Baucum

Rank Player Name

Position

Height

School

Marvin Bagley II

6'9

Gilbert, AZ

E.J. Montgomery

6'6

Ft. Pierce, FL

James Lewis

6'1

Atlanta, GA

Nazreon Reid

6'9

Ashbury Park, NJ

Reginald Chaney

6'5

Tulsa, OK

LaDarius Marshall

6'5

Jackson, MS

Jordan Brown

6'8

Roseville, CA

Kenneth Jones

5'10

Elizabeth, NJ

Kris Banks

6'4

Newark, NJ

Trevor Moore

6'2

Houston, TX

Bol Bol

6'6

Kansas City, MO

Gavin Schoenwald

6'4

Brentwood, TN

Omar Kieta

6'9

Jackson, MS

D'Marco Baucum

6'4

Washington, DC

Greg Williams

6'3

Lafayette, LA

Nicholas Bonitto

6'3

Miramir, FL

Demonte Dixon

6'8

Spring Hill, TN

Atiba Taylor

5'11

New York, NY

Kevin Easley

6'3

Indianapolis, IN

Ethan Henderson

6'5

Little Rock, AR

Reginald Perry

6'7

Tallahassee, FL

Cateare Gordon

6'6

St. Louis, MO

Will Dillard

6'1

Greensboro, NC

Damon Harge

5'7

Orlando, FL

Byron Etienne

5'10

Houston, TX

Jamal Whittlesey

6'4

New Castle, DE

Justin Winston

6'5

West Orange, NJ

Jordan Morris

6'5

Chicago, IL

Antwan January

6'6

Inglewood, CA

Robert Woodard

6'5

Columbus, MS

Alex Jones

5'9

Alpharetta, GA

Jaryan Brooks

6'5

San Diego, CA

Brandon Slater

6'2

Fairfax, VA

Marquis Brown

6'0

Chicago, IL

Ameer Johnson

6'5

Philadelphia, PA

27 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine

Gavin Schoenwal

Nazreon Reid

Luther Muhammad

6'1

Trinton Falls, NJ

Coulter Dotson

6'4

White Bluff, TN

Jordan Simmons

5'8

Chicago, IL

Jonathon Kabongo

6'2

Toronto, CA

Anthony Johnson

5'11

Pittsburgh, PA

Dakari Johnson

5'11

Fayetteville, NC

Gavin Lewis

6'3

Madison, AL

Andrew Tuazama

6'2

Raleigh, NC

Amari Sherrod

6'2

Gary, IN

DJ Weaver

6'7

Houston, TX

Javonte Smart

6'1

Baton Rouge, LA

Cassius Stanley

6'3

Encino, CA

Cameron Reddish

6'4

Eagleville, PA

Camron Johnson

6'0

Madisonville, KY

Chase Adams

5'1

Park Forest, IL

Courtney Ramey

5'9

St. Louis, MO

Darrell Simpson

6'6

Justin, TX

Alex Marrow

6'2

Washington, DC

Myikel Wilson

6'0

Trenton, NJ

Devin Cambridge

6'3

Nashville, TN

DJ Sims

5'9

Lawton, OK

Nayshan Kane

6'4

Brooklyn, NY

Bayley Rice

6'8

London, KY

Jonathon Howard

6'1

Nashville, TN

Chris Mullins

6'3

Mansfield, TX

28 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine 61

Carlos Sandifer

6'0

Memphis, TN

Ahmad Price

5'11

Louisville, KY

David Smith

6'0

Nashville, TN

Cedric Washington

6'2

Katy, TX

Ernest Williams

6'9

Middleton, OH

Riley Battin

6'4

Westlake Village, CA

Willie Hill

6'2

Louisville, KY

Jaden Lewis

5'10

Columbia, TN

Kirland Surratt

6'5

Loretto, TN

Tai Carter

5'10

Columbia, TN

T. J. Moss

6'4

Memphis, TN

Antoine Davis

6'1

Houston, TX

Jamari Smith

6'4

Jonesboro, GA

Walter Talley

6'8

New York, NY

Roderick Brown

6'6

Cordova, TN

Drue Dinnon

6'0

Smyrna, GA

Mohammad Abdulsalam

6'7

Atlanta, GA

Jalen Preston

6'2

Pearland, TX

Michael Feinberg

6'2

Chatsworth, CA

Elijah Brown

6'3

Charlotte, NC

Shariff Kenny

6'0

Washington, DC

Stephon Wynn

6'2

Greenville, SC

Tony Johnson

6'3

Eufaula, AL

Maxwell Huff

6'8

Dallas, TX

Nonte Davis

6'5

Columbia, TN

Gabe Bryant

6'7

Spartanburg, SC

Diante Wood

6'4

Anniston, AL

Tyler Harris

5'9

Memphis, TN

Armoni Sexton

6'7

Patterson, NJ

Jordan Kimbrough

6'7

Neptune Township, NJ

Saliou Diop

7'0

Philadelphia, PA

Zaire Edwards

6'3

Henderson, NC

Jacob Graham

6'6

Franklington, NC

Kareem Thompson

5'8

Forest Park, NY

Keith Coleman

6'0

Indianapolis, IN

Jared Bynum

5'8

Washington, DC

Chauncey Sterling

6'0

Hackensack, NJ

Zach Scott

5'11

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Noah Thomas

6'1

Cypress, TX

100

Omar Kelly

6'2

Wilkes Barre, PA

* Rankings based on multiple National Ranking Services, multiple National Recruiting Services and assembled by Hoops Elite National Ranking Committee.

29 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine

Getting to Know Grace Men’s Asst. Head Basketball Coach and lead recruiter of UCLA, David Grace talks with Hoops Elite

Hoops Elite Magazine got a chance to chat with David Grace, Assistant Head Coach and top recruiter for the UCLA Bruins Men’s Basketball Program. Mentioning the new elite travel basketball league, Elevate Basketball Circuit, as place that he will be coming to watch athletes for the 2015, HEM decided to outline the career of Coach Grace.

Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

UCLA April 2013 – Present (1 year 8 months)Los Angeles

Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

Oregon State University June 2008 – April 2013 (4 years 11 months) • Started coaching in 1997 with Boo Williams AAU of Hampton,VA • Has coached at AAU,Highschool,and college levels • Grew up in Aberdeen,MD • Dad was a referee for 35 years in Maryland • David and wife have 6 children

U.S. Air Force

1983 – 2003 (20 years) and part of Operation Desert Storm David Grace begins his second season as an assistant coach at UCLA in 2014-15. Grace has served as an assistant coach in the Pac-12 Conference the last six seasons, including a fiveyear stint at Oregon State University (200913). Working alongside head coach Steve Alford in 2013-14, Grace helped UCLA compile a 28-9 overall record and the 2014 Pac12 Tournament title.

30 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015

Hoops Elite Magazine Grace arrived at UCLA after serving as an assistant coach the previous five seasons (2009-13) at Oregon State. Early in his tenure with the Beavers, Grace became one of the leading recruiters in the Pac-12 Conference.

UCLA responsibilities:

24/7 job as an assistant coach with Steve Alford’s staff and the Head Recruiter at UCLA. “We recruit the best players in America who want to and can compete at the highest athletic level and meet the academic expectation with UCLA’s higher standards at one of the world’s greatest universities,” Grace tells HEM.

What do you look for in a recruit?

“We first request the player’s transcripts and check to see if they are a good person off the court, a good example of a family oriented individual, a good teammate, do they have heart and good work ethics, if the player has the talent to play in the Pac 12 and in the NCAA tournament. We want to make sure the player wants to be in the best environment of top national competition with challenging classwork surrounded by the best weather in America.”

Globetrotter:

Grace travels to Australia, Germany, Canada and every area in the USA where he can find the right players to help UCLA win and compete every year for NCAA Championships. His typical travel schedule can start off with a trip to Milwaukee to talk to AAU coaches, watched players that night, get two hours of sleep, and get up early to catch another flight to Atlanta, watch more action at high school gyms, then off to Florida for more basketball recruiting.

Success at Westwood:

Twenty months into his tenure as an assistant under Steve Alford at UCLA, Grace has used his affable personality and relentless work ethic to entice several of the nation’s most coveted prospects to come to Westwood. Grace has been able to help the Bruins land many of the top McDonald’s All-Americans in less than two seasons. Grace loves coaching at the college level and keeping in touch with his many former athletes after they’ve graduated and starting families and careers. At some point, Grace hopes to parlay that fierce work ethic into a head coaching opportunity. He’s in no rush to leave UCLA, but he considers that to be the final step in his career path. “It would mean everything to me,” Grace said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time at UCLA. I think the world of my head coach and the administration here. Its 75 degrees and sunny every day. Who wouldn’t want to recruit to here? But to become a Division I head coach is a dream of mine.”

31 | Issue 1 - Jan 2015