Thursday, July 30, 2009

2010 G Cody Doolin Commits To San Francisco

Dual threat Cody Doolin goes up for a jumper with the Texas D-1 Ambassadors.
2010 PG Cody Doolin shown driving to the hole last week with the Texas D-1 Ambassadors v Joe Jackson and the Memphis Magic.
2010 PG Cody Doolin of Austin Westlake has just returned home yesterday from a long but productive summer with the Texas D-1 Ambassadors. After trips to Myrtle Beach, SC, Memphis, TN, Kansas City, MO & Phoenix, AZ where he helped lead his team to a 17-6 "NCAA Live" record and an overall season record of 55-12 Cody lay his head on his pillow. He got a great night's sleep then headed to the orthodontist with his pops, Jim Doolin. The next order of business was to close the door on the many suitors for his basketball services.

At 1PM today, Cody Doolin committed to play Division One basketball for the University of San Francisco. Papa Jim called me today and said. "It's official, Cody's going to USF. It was the right fit for him academically and the relentless yet low key recruiting style of Assistant Jeff Linder and KU legend Rex Walters for the past year was what really made him feel welcome. Loyalty plays a big role in our family's decisions."

Doolin attended the USF Elite Camp in June and that's where his heart told him that San Francisco was the place he wanted to be. USF is located in a dynamic city and according to Cody has some of the best international chefs cooking up meals on campus. And that boy loves to eat good food! He's not your typical fast food kid.

So, the son of Becky and James Doolin will head to the West Coast and look to be a part of bringing national pride back to USF who won two national titles ling ago with a fella named Bill Russell patrolling the paint and a guard named K.C. Jones both who helped USF to National Championships and followed up with the same with the Boston Celtics.
It also gives Coach Max & Papa Jim an excuse to go to the Bay Area and play a little golf at the Olympic Club! Doolin joins the long list of D-1 Ambassadors guards playing at the college level and becomes the third member of our 2010 Class to commit, following Daniel Alexander (Texas A&M) and Brian Williams (Oklahoma State)
Doolin is a crafty point guard who knows how to get his team mates involved and can shoot the ball as well. He's got a great change of pace and at 6'2" with gangly arms can get to the rim and finish. Doolin rebounds extremely well from the guard spot and brings great leadership and a competitive drive to the table. Doolin was the glue that led the Texas D-1 Ambassadors to back to back Kingwood Classic championships back when it was the #1 tournament in the country.
Congratulations Cody!
Coach Max & Chip Ivany




Friday, July 24, 2009

Hoop City Classic Top 20 Kansas City

Texas D-1 Ambassadors 82 All Iowa Attack 80

After winning what was the toughest pool in the tournament, the D-1 Ambassadors received a first round bye and headed into bracket play in the Kansas City Hoop Classic Top 20 Tournament with a date against All Iowa Attack. We knew they'd be a tough matchup because they could shoot the ball extremely well. They also had several very good prospects including a 6'7" Wing/Post player who had committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Our biggest (and only lead of the game) was 1 point with about 5 minutes to play. We were down double digits a couple of times but kept plugging away. With the score tied and about 15 seconds to play 2010 PG Paul Garnica dropped a nifty pass into the post to 2009 W William Nelson. We held our breaths as "King Willie" went up for the lay up...and up and up....Boom! Nelson thunder dunked on one of the Iowa defenders. Garnica then stole the inbounds pass and it was ballgame over.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Hoop City Classic Top 20 @ Kansas City, Mo

Twenty of the country's top summer basketball teams have gathered in Kansas City, playing in front of a packed house of college coaches, including Louisville's Rick Pitino. The Texas D-1 Ambassadors were placed in a pool of some of the marquee programs year in and year out. We knew we'd have our hands full with Mean Streets (IL), Howard Pulley (MN) and The Family (MI).

Texas D-1 Ambassadors 72 Mean Streets (IL) 66

The Ambassadors raced out to an early 17 point lead behind Cody Doolin and Daniel Alexander holding off a furious late charge by the Chicago kids.

Cody Doolin 17
D.J. Stephens 15
Conner Kemper 10
William Nelson 9
Mark Nwakamma 8
Daniel Alexander 7
Jonathan Perry 6

Texas D-1 Ambassadors 76 Howard Pulley (MN) 66

With most of the Big Ten coaches in attendance the two heavyweights traded long range three pointers until late in the half when the Ambassadors grabbed the lead for good. At times the lead was built to as much as 21 points as we cruised to the win.

Paul Garnica 15
William Nelson 15
Daniel Alexander 14
D.J. Stephens 12
Cody Doolin 10
Mark Nwakamma 4
Jonathan Perry 4
Conner Kemper 2

Texas D-1 Ambassadors 77 The Family (MI) 72

Down by as many as 10 in the 1st half nd then by 7 in the 2nd, the D-1 Ambassadors kept their composure and beat a tough, talented group out of Detroit to win their pool and grab a bye in bracket play which begins tomorrow afternoon.

Cody Doolin 18
William Nelson 16
Jonathan Perry 10
Daniel Alexander 9
Conner Kemper 7
Paul Garnica 7
D.J. Stephens 7
Mark Nwakamma 3



Tuesday, July 14, 2009

River City Showdown Tournament-Memphis, TN

After winning the prestigious Atlantic Slam in South Carolina we hopped in our van at 2AM for the 2 hour drive to Charleston, SC to catch our flight out to Memphis, TN. As luck would have it our 6AM flight was cancelled so we spent 10 hours in the airport waiting for the next flight out.

It's tought to ask kids who just gave their all (going 9-1) the past four days to come in and play rested opponents who for the most part have slept in their own beds. We dragged, and I do mean DRAGGED ourselves to the University of Memphis and checked in Monday at 7:30 PM and played the NW Mississippi Wildcats. We were sluggish as expected but we held it down winning the game 68-54.

Texas D-1 Ambassadors 68 NW Mississippi Wildcats (MS) 54

Scoring

Dalenta Stephens 16
William Nelson 15
Daniel Alexander 8
Mark Nwakamma 6
Jake Kocher 6
Cody Doolin 6
Jonathan Perry 5
Tre Drye 4
Paul Garnica 2
Conner Kemper 2

Texas D-1 Ambassadors 81 Memphis Stallions 73

Despite a barrage of almost 40 points against us by Memphis star G Chris Jones, the D-1 Ambassadors raced out to a 20 point lead and held on to pick up a nice win in front of a packed house.

Scoring

Cody Doolin 19
Tre Drye 12
Mark Nwakamma 11
Daniel Alexander 10
Jonathan Perry 8
D.J. Stephens 8
Jake Kocher 7
Conner Kemper 6
Daniel Alexander 2
William Nelson 6

Memphis Magic Texas D-1 Ambassadors

Unfortunately, after 6 days on the road and facing an outstanding opponent and a hostile crowd in a packed gym at the University of Memphis the kids fell short by 10 points to the Memphis Magic. Joe Jackson, one of the country's premier point guards dropped 28 points on us. We just couldn't keep him from getting to the rack and earning a living at the free throw line.

With Paul Garnica & Cody Doolin in foul trouble most of the game we just couldn't get on one of our patented runs. The closest we came in the 2nd half was to cut it to 7 points.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Texas D-1 Ambassadors Win Atlantic Slam II

After losing a very tough championship game in Atlantic Slam I, the kids set a goal of not leaving South Carolina without a championship.They were not to be denied.

Texas D-1 Ambassadors 96 Team Impact (GA) 59
Texas D-1 Ambassadors 80 West Virginia Rising Stars (WV) 64
Texas D-1 Ambassadors 77 Raleigh's Finest (NC) 62
Texas D-1 Ambassadors 97 North Carolina Stars (NC) 87 (Semi Final)
Texas D-1 Ambassadors 67 Georgia Blazers 48 (Championship)

Friday, July 10, 2009

Atlantic Slam I Myrtle Beach, SC

The Texas D-1 Ambassadors head to one of East Coast's most beautiful beaches (one we'll never see because we'll be in the gym) for my old buddy Jeff Schneider's Atlantic Slam I Tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC. Schneider formerly played at Virginia Tech, and was a D-1 coach for about 15 years so he's cultivated countless college and NBA coach's relationships. In the first day of the two day event there were 130 college programs represented at Socastee HS where all the big boys were playing.


We've got 3 teams from our organization in attendance; Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Ivany, Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Houston & Texas D-1 Ambassadors-McMullen. Our showing at the tournament was as follows:


Texas D-1 Ambassadors-McMullen 3-1


Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Houston go 2-2





Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Ivany 83 Dillon Intimidators (SC) 78



We went 11 deep on our bench (as we most always do) to outlast a tough, athletic bunch from the South Carolina Coastal area. At one point we had an 18 point lead with 6 minutes to play but somehow betwen mediocre ballandling and poor coaching the game was tied with 58 seconds left. The kids pulled together though and scored the last 5 points of the game. A key and one bucket by 2010 G San Antonio Lee's Paul Garnica and a huge offensive rebound by 2011 Tre Drye of Baton Rouge Glen Oaks sealed the deal in the last seconds of the game.


Scoring


William Nelson 10
Brian Williams 10
Jonathan Perry 9
Jake Kocher 9
Tre Demps 9
Tre Drye 8
Cody Doolin 7
Paul Garnica 7
Mark Nwakamma 6
Conner Kemper 4
D.J. Stepehens 4


Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Ivany 68 Team Vision (NC) 40


Earlier in the day Team Vision had beaten a very good team with two ACC commits, including a 6'9" P headed to Clemson so we were not about to take them lightly. We came out on fire with 2010 Cody Doolin setting the tone early by alternately getting to the hole and creating for his team mates. Our smothering, trapping defense and depth caused the game to be a rout.


Scoring


Mark Nwakamma 11
Cody Doolin 10
Conner Kemper 9
Paul Garnica 6
D.J. Stephens 6
Brian Williams 6
Tre Demps 5
Jonathan Perry 5
William Nelson 4
Tre Drye 4

Jake Kocher 2


Texas D-1 Ambassaors 77- Roanoke Pacers (VA) 62
Texas D-1 Ambassadors 70 Florida Elite 67 (Semi Final)
Team Takeover (DC) 92 Texas D-1 Ambassadors 89