Class of 2015 D-1 Ambassadors Gear Up For 2009/2010 Season

#4 Kennedy Harris a 5-6 wing player is one of the hardest working ladies in the business. She is very active & aggressive around the basket with a desire to be the best she can be. The Prodigy Camp top performer has developed a Nice perimeter game with good ball handling, passing, and dribbling skills. She is averaging 23 points a game and grabbing countless rebounds for Murchison Middle School. Look for Kennedy to be a nice prospect in the class of 2015.

#21 Desiree Lampkin a 5-3 wing player who averages 21 ppg and 7 rebounds for Bailey Middle School has really stepped up her game. Desiree has great ball handling, dribbling, and passing skills with a nice mid range shot. Desiree works hard on both ends of the floor and continues ti improve in all areas of the game. Look for Desiree to be a nice prospect in the class of 2015.

#23 Japreece Dean a 5-5 point guard continues to be a burden for most teams. Del Valle will tip off their season in a few weeks and it should be pretty interesting.

Japreece has excellent ball handling, dribbling, passing, and shooting skills with the ability to take you off the bounce. She plays excellent team ball with the skills to dominate the game at any moment. Japreece is quickly developing herself into a high quality player.

Visit the 2014 Team page

http://texasbasketball16.wordpress.com/

High School Scrimmages Under Way

Pflugerville-Leander-San Antonio Reagan Scrimmages

All coaches will tell you that scrimmages aren't important. There have only been a few opportunities to practice and "run your stuff". To be sure some coaches, like SA Reagan's Jimmy Littleton will definitely put his stamp on his bunch and they'll improve as the year goes along.However, basketball is basketball and there is no denying talent. The preseason nod goes to perennial powerhouse Pflugerville who hosted the scrimmage games today. They will be State ranked, and certainly one of the top teams in the Austin-San Antonio area.

Players To Watch:

San Antonio Reagan Rattlers. Frankly, I expected more from Reagan. They've got three very nice 2011 players. They remind me of Westlake last year. They'll be good, but are a year away from really being OUTSTANDING. Looks like they need someone to step up and handle the ball. Losing 6'7" Senior Ray Chase (apparently up and quit the team) is a big blow to their frontline depth.

2011 CG 6'2" Tre Demps. Demps has put on muscle, while increasing his quickness. Along with San Antonio Taft's Dylan Elias he is the class of the guard spots in San Antonio. Demps is physical and can get to the rim, especially going to his right. Lay off his drive, and he'll pull up with a deadly three point arsenal.

2011 P 6'8" Darrious Hamilton. Hamilton is coming off a torn patella tendon, so he was expectedly a step slow. He's long, and according to his Pops still growing. I like his touch down low, and out to 12-15 feet.

2011 W 6'4" Max Yon. I've watched Yon since he's been a youngster. He's becoming more selective with his shots but still is indecisive at times. He has a nice first step off the dribble, expecially coming in from the wing. He can knock down the three and attacks the offensive glass with abandon.

Pflugerville Panthers

2011 PG 5'11" Deon Mitchell. The Baby Faced Assassin looks like he's shedding some of his "little boy" look. He looks sleek and can effortlessly get to the rim anytime he wants. He has NBA range from the perimeter and can finish with ewither hand.

2010 W 6'5" Demetris Smith. Smith will sign with Lamar in the Southland Conference this coming Wednesday. He was the most complete player on the court attacking the rim, shooting threes and rebounding like a demon.

2010 SG 5'10" Jarrell Turner. Turner has to complete his game by improving his ball handling and committing to playing defense BUT if you leave him unguarded he's going to bust three after three in your face.

2010 P 6'2" Joseph Omozee brings energy and plays an "anything goes role for the Panthers. Want a rebound?..he'll get it. In short, he can be an important piece of ENERGY that the Panthers will need if they want to defend their District title against a very strong Westlake team.

Leander Lions

2011 P 6'6" Mark Nwakamma. Mwakamma's absence is a real problem for Leander. Their first playoff appearance in 10 years last season is in jeopardy if the Big Fella's sore foot requirtes surgery. He's got an abnormal growth on a bone that's being montored as to what further treatment is needed. I pray for a speedy recovery.

2010 P 6'6" Jean Maurice Blanchard. Blanchard has springs in his feet, rebounds the ball well and can finish around the goal. He's got to carry the load until Nwakamma comes back. If so, the Lions will have a nice one-two punch.

Girls Tryouts 6th-8th Grade

The Texas D-1 Ambassadors will be conducting tryouts for 6th-8th grade girls on Sunday November 15th. If you have an interest in playing basketball at a high level during the spring & summer months please contact us at the email address below.

http://txambassadorsd1@yahoo.com

For more information and updates about tryouts visit http://texasbasketball16.wordpress.com

ESPN RISE MAGAZINE COVER 2009

For the 3rd year in a row a Texas D-1 Ambassador graces the cover of ESPN Rise's Regional Magazine cover. This year's honor goes to 2010 6'9" Daniel Alexander of Dripping Springs, TX. Daniel has committed to Texas A&M to play for the Aggies. National Signing Day is November 11th and I'll be there in Dripping Springs to share the moment with Daniel and his Family, Big Dan & Lynn Alexander of Dripping Springs. Daniel will be the first ever male basketball player from "Drip" to receive a scholarship at the Division One level. The article is really very cool. It speaks of Daniel's statement to his dad at 5 years old while living in Washington, DC after seeing the Harlem Globetrotters play of how one day he too wanted to play for the historically Black basketball team. Fairly prophetic, as we now see his accomplishments on the court being realized in a big way.

I've had the pleasure to coach Daniel in over 100 AAU games. Daniel has deep range. In fact, it's EXTREMELY comfortable NBA catch and shoot range. Daniel first made a national splash when he accompanied myself and several other Texas D-1 Ambassadors team mates to the prestigious Pangos All American Camp in Los Angeles which is run by Dinos Trigonis. It took all of 5 minutes for ESPNU & Scout.com correspondents to start gushing over his athleticism, shooting range and slick passing ability for a big man.

Above: With LeBron James, and Below: With Vince Carter

A month later in July, on center court in the Adidas Super 64 Tournament in Las Vegas, (against Derrick Favors one of the top recruits in 2009 )Daniel hit 7 three pointers running with the Texas D-1 Ambassadors vs. the Atlanta Celtics. This caused him to be a HOT commodity and his recruitment shot through the roof on the National Scene. All the big boys came calling including Arizona and Marquette. Texas never seriously recruited Daniel. Baylor did, but the Alexander Clan fell in love with the whole A&M experience. They'll also be able to make regular trips to see their son play which is a real plus.

Daniel was one of the top players in the country receiving an invite to Nike's LeBron James Academy in Akron, OH. He also was one of only 20 wing players in the Nation to be invited to Vince Carters Skills Academy in Orlando. I'm not sure who had more fun, myself or Daniel as we sat at a table with Vince, ate wings and watched the NBA Draft.

Overall, Daniel had a disappointing summer because of his nagging injuries. His back kept driving him crazy. There were glimpses of superior play though as he had a great game in the Texas D-1 Ambassadors Championship win vs. Georgia Blazers in Jeff Schneider's Atlantic Slam Tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC. Daniel is sometimes criticized for not being "tough enough" because he's a big guy who excels on the perimeter. Make no mistake about it though...He is TOUGH. After coaxing and prodding him all summer his "sore back" was finally diagnosed as a cracked vertebrae!

He's rehabbed now and ready to lead Dripping Springs into the 4A playoffs. Daniel is a great player, but he's even more outstanding as a person and as a team mate. He truly has been an Ambassador in every sense of the word for our basketball program. Daniel, welcome to the Texas D-1 Ambassadors Hall of Fame and best of luck on the next level!

Coach Max & The D-1 Ambassadors Family.

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Below: 2008 ESPN Rise Cover Boy 6'10" Cory Jefferson, Texas D-1 Ambassadors and Killeen High alum is now a freshman at Baylor University. He texted me a week ago, and all is going well. He's putting on weight and developing his offensive game. Baylor Assistant Mark Moorefield says, "Cory's like a sponge". Everyday he gets better and gives a 100% on the court and in the class room. Seems like just yesterday that Cory was a gangly 8th grader who could barely run up and down the court. Look at him now! Cory is the son of Ms Fancy Pace of Killeen, TX.

Below: Former Texas D-1 Ambassador and San Antonio Madison player 2007 6'8" Carlton Scott is now doing his thing at one of the Nation's most prestigious institutions, The Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Carlton battled various injuries throughout his career but has showed remarkable perseverence. Look for him to get big minutes this year in the rough and tumble Big East Conference. Carlton is the son of Mike & Cherita Scott of San Antonio, TX

Best of luck to all of these guys as they represent Central/South Texas at the highest level....Coach Max

Gunslingers Walk The Streets of Austin, TX

Walk down Austin, TX 6th street and at first glance you're likely to run into a punk rocker, a preppie college kid, a dotcom millionaire in khakis, an East Coast business man in an Armani suit, and of course Leslie our beloved drag queen mayoral candidate. (and that's just on ONE street corner..lol). But beware, Austin, TX is full of native son gunslingers.

These guys aren't toting six shooters though. However, they do have howitzers for arms and pinpoint aim. I'm talking about bad boys chucking the pigskin all over the place, like it's the Wild West. I'm not talking about a couple of hundred mile radius here now, how about roughly 10 miles within Texas' most diverse city. Here's a sanpling:

On Sunday (every Sunday), Austin Westlake's Drew Brees is about to bury an NFL defense with two gun barrels full of passing yards as he brings his dead eye aim to the New Orleans Saints as pro football's most deadly passer.

On Saturdays look out for several of the NCAA's big boys who also hail from the Capital City. The Nation's number one recruit, University of Texas freshman Garrett Gilbert of Austin Lake Travis quietly waits in the wings while Colt McCoy chases a Heisman Trophy and attempts to lead the Longhorns to a national Title. Expect Gilbert, (the son of an old friend of mine Gale Gilbert, ex QB at Cal Berkely and the Buffalo Bills) to really light it up for the Horns as a sophomore and then to follow his pops and have a stellar NFL career. Gilbert led the Lake Travis Cavs to back to back State 4A titles where they destroyed all comers.

Let's bounce back over to Austin Westlake again and check in on Class of 2007's Nick Foles, who resides just down the road from the REAL OK Corral in Tombstone, AZ. Foles is the NCAA's leading passer and has the Arizona Wildcats in the hunt for a PAC-10 title since taking over as the starter in Week 4. His latest outing yesterday led the Wildcats to a 27-13 win over UCLA.

The Kansas Jayhawks has mostly been a laughingstock in the world of NCAA football until the arrival of Austin Lake Travis' Todd Reesing. While he had a rough outing this past weekend against the Oklahoma Sooners, Reesing is on pace to fire it up to the tune of 3600 passing yards this season. If he does, he'll have 10,000 passing yards for his illustrious career.

The only outsider to crack the party of Westlake & Lake Travis QB's making their mark on the national stage is Pflugerville Connally's Steven "Sticks" Sheffield. Sheffield, one of the original Texas D-1 Ambassadors from 2000 took over the reins for Texas Tech University and in his first game as a starter he fired an NCAA record 7 touchdown passes. Sadly, Sheffield suffered a foot injury and will be sidelined for 2-3 weeks. Look for the redshirt junior to throw for 5000 yards next year in Mike Leach's pass happy system.

So, there you have it. Austin's a lot more than boots, bar-bq, politicians and transplanted Californians. There's still a posse of old fashioned gun slingers in "them thar parts" roaming the streets. Who's our next high school phenom that will make noise on the national scene, or in political terms where's our next Smoking Gun?

D.J. Stephens: Perfect 10 Dunk @ Memphis Midnight Madness

D.J. Stephens shown with the Texas D-1 Ambassadors, doing what he does best. Throwing it down!

Wow! How quickly things can change. The 3rd week of August D.J. Stephens of Killeen Harker Heights and the Texas D-1 Ambassadors (an unsigned senior) had still not signed scholarship papers, and school was starting in less than a week. It's been chronicled here that the Pride of Killeen, TX signed on the 24th of August with perennial powerhouse Memphis Tigers and will play as a freshman.

Fast forward less than 2 months. I spoke to D.J. a couple of weeks ago on the phone and there was a heck of a racket in the background. I asked him where he was..."At a party?" He said, "No Coach, I am signing autographs at the football game." A few days after that and his mom forwarded me a link with D.J. doing a solo 4 minute interview on Fox Sports. He's growing up QUICKLY...lol

This morning I spoke with Memphis 1st year Head Coach Josh Pastner and he told me D.J. is improving daily. He's already put on 13 lbs of muscle and is up to 183 lbs. The freakish 43" standing vertical stands out, even amongst great athletes like the Tigers have. It was great feedback from Coach.

I finally had a chance to go watch the video from last Friday night's Memphis Midnight Madness. There were 18,500 in attendance and the Fire Marshall turned away 1000's more. In the dunk contest, D.J. had what most people considered the dunk of the night. He scored perfect 10's from the judges. Now get a load of this. The 3 judges were: Penny Hardaway, Rudy Gay and Allen Iverson. In fact, his between the legs windmill dunk from the wing was so impressive that Iverson "bowed down" to Stephens. The fans went nuts.

The link to this event is: http://www.gotigersgo.com/multimedia/mem-multimedia.html

Once you get there, click on "Launch All Access" then go to "Free Events" and then click on basketball. The ladies take up the first half of the event, with the men's introductions starting at the 45 minute mark for those of you who want to fast forward. The dunk contest starts at approximately 1 hour 15 minute mark.

Enjoy! Coach Max

ESPNU & Texas Basketball Inc. What A Team!

A little over 1 year ago, I decided to experiment with a "blog" and write a little bit here and there about local basketball. Quite honestly I had no idea how it would be received by the general public. I just went off a gut feeling that the Austin & San Antonio basketball community was grossly underserved when it came to RELIABLE & POSITIVE news and that the many high quality players in the area deserved a voice to get their name out Statewide and on the National scene. I wandered around Austin and San Antonio from school to school asking high school coaches if I could watch practice, evaluate players, take pictures, etc. With the exception of a few dinosaurs, I was given a warm welcome by most everyone.

Some 250 plus stories have been written over the last year and I have enjoyed every minute of it. It has been a joy seeing kids grow up before my eyes and being able to report their successes, giving them publicity along the way. Today I was honored to come to an agreement with ESPNU to handle the sharing of information to their site of all Division One basketball prospects and recruits. I will be reporting as always on which school the kids are considering attending, which college coaches are in town and who they are interested in. They've asked me to provide them with evaluations on new prospects as well as the more established names.

In one year, it's come to this. Last week we had 14 of Austin area's (along with a couple of San Antonio teams) top programs in our Inaugural Texas Super Showcase. It gave me a chance to see many of the area's top guys as they head into the 2009-2010 school season. I interviewed several high school coaches and several of their key players. These videos will be posted soon.

Like most folks with the best of intentions, I sometimes get overwhelmed. There are plans in the works for a class by class ranking of players (both boys and girls) as well as a basketball magazine which will provide info about various high school programs in the Austin-San Antonio area. Player spotlights will be done, with every college in the country receiving a copy of this resource/media guide of the area's big time ballers. There will also be an opportunity to allow parents to purchase an ad/shout out to their son or daughter.

Sincerely

Coach Max Ivany