Basketball: Northwest boys
Nov. 10, 2008 @ 9:33 p.m. by Joannaby joanna
I’m definitely sporadic with my hits on basketball, but I do have this thing called football going on right now. Essentially, I’m just trying to feed the beast a little bit. We’ll start running previews on Sunday.
So here’s some quick thoughts on basketball and Northwest boys:
We had our basketball preview photos taken on Saturday at East High — thanks to East for hooking us up with the gym for a couple hours. It’s always interesting seeing the kids come in for these photos because they’re totally out of their element. Some come with parents, some come with girl/boyfriends, some come alone.
Most of them smiled for their photos — although it was primarily girls. What is it with guys and smiling. And there were even a few that engaged my 5-year-old son as he ran around the gym, alternately playing basketball and soccer — with his basketball that has the handy-dandy hands on them. The Independent’s Drew Bendell even played a little hoops with my son. That’s just cool.
At one point toward the end of our session, this man walked in. He’s an East grad from 1986, if I remember right. He played football for the Aces, and he just wanted to take a look at the school. He was back from Iraq and wanted to see what his alma mater looked like now.
OK, moving on to Northwest.
I talked to Chris Collins, in his first year as the head coach, just today. He’s such a cool guy and so earnest and so ready to make this his team. There’s a few seniors on the team, including Anthony Dumas, a 6-4 forward, and junior Demarcus Robinson will be key for the Grizzlies’ depth. There are some young players, as well — I had heard about the freshmen class at Northwest and it does sound good.
But it’s not going to be easy at Northwest, which graduated 10 seniors from its nine-win team. There’s a lack of experience, but as Collins said, that just means the slate is clean.
That’s just a little taste to keep you until the previews start running. They’ll be going every day up through Dec. 4, so keep an eye out for your team.
CLFAN says:
November 10th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Could you give us an update on the Cowley team? How are the City League stars doing up there?
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
Swim Mom says:
November 11th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Hi Joanna. I know football and now, bball are keeping you mighty busy. When do you estimate you will have swimming previews? Sure has been a fun football season, keep up the good work.
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
joanna says:
November 11th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Swimming previews will run as we get closer to the season — I know the City League season starts Dec. 4. Who do we need to watch for swimming?
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
AT 17 says:
November 11th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Too early for bowling previews?
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
joanna says:
November 11th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Bowling doesn’t start until Jan. 10. So they’ll come then.
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
Swim Mom says:
November 11th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Swimming will be tough to call because of the great swimmers that graduated. I don’t know who is coming in. I will go out on a limb and say that North is a team to watch. Even with Lent gone they will be strong, they have some great talent. I don’t know who returns for Heights. Kapaun is dangerous because they are loaded with year-round swimmers. And don’t forget about East. My personal (sentimental) favorite I won’t mention, because my son swims there and I will embarass him!
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
AT 17 says:
November 11th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Thanks for the update! =)
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
varsity1 says:
November 11th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Northwest looked really good in the Hoop Mountain fall league. They beat a good heights team and hung tough with eventual winner East High. Freshmen Craig Nicholson and June Johnson competed hard against the upperclassmen they were matched up against.
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
NWBB says:
November 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am
You can tell Northwest basketball not to highly thought of. People would rather talke about bowling and swimming! lol
They do however have a good young coach to change that though, who from everything you hear is just full of energy!
And that freshman class (top to bottom) is the best in the CL.
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
varsity1 says:
November 12th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Nwbb, i think they were trying to be sarcastic, but i do agree with your statement about Coach Collins and the talent level of that freshmen class. Heights and East also has some good young talent. Not too sure about the other schools. It will be interesting watching which kids separate themselves from the others.
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
99problems says:
November 12th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I hate to talk about kids who havent played one CL game. But including the kids (i should say young men) at Nw there are some talented players who have been playing some high level AAU basketball. there is alot more to the CL than Perry Ellis (who is going to be great).
I will say this there have been alot of kids who came into hs highly regarded and then after a couple of years they discover they prefer girls, making bad grades, or just hanging out. I hope all these kids sustain their level of play until they are seniors but we will see. I will say that fortunately for NW they have some young kids who can play. When you have talent spread out throughout the city as opposed to 2 or 3 schools it makes the CL much more interesting. I will admit i will look forward to watching Craig and June develop and maybe get a chance to play sooner as opposed to later. they are some quality young men and great students and you wont hear that they got arrested or were disrespectful as some other kids in the cl have been in years past.
Varsity 1 I will agree HEights and East has some great young players as well. But that young talent is why the CL is regarded as among the best in the state.
nwbb I heard a rumor that Craig would be playing for KC Pump and run this summer?
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
NWBB says:
November 12th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Heights, East and Southeast have really good freshmen classes as well. 99problems, you are correct I am not factoring in which kids will fall by the wayside for girls, grades, trouble or just not putting in the time in gym to get better. But just on basketball talent, the 2012 class (city wide) could be a really special class of basketball players.
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
varsity1 says:
November 12th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Let’s not forget about the 2011 class. Look for a couple of those guys to start and lead their respective teams this season. As far as the KC Pump n Run comment. If Nicholson does that, i know and understand why, however i still say the best 2011’s/2012’s combined can compete AND beat those Kansas City teams. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. But until these Wichita coaches unite and utilize their resources, not just KC, but you will see coaches and programs from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Colorado come in and pick from the litter. Question of the day. Anyone can respond. What 2 things do the following kids all have in common? Perry Ellis, Ja’ln Williams, Gavin Thurman, Cameron Cornelius, Dreamus Smith, Craig Nicholson, Evan Wessel, and June Johnson.
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
NWBB says:
November 12th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
You are correct about 2011, nice group. And what do all these kids have in common?
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
varsity1 says:
November 13th, 2008 at 8:39 am
#1/All Wichita kids.#2/ But play on different summer teams. Tell me that all these kids on 1 team couldnt compete. A couple of these kids play on the same team. But none of them play together on 1 team. That’s the problem i spoke about pertaining to the Wichita coaches and the divide between them. Everyone else is reeping the benefits.
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
NWBB says:
November 13th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
One thing Northwest will be short of is size. The CL appears to be getting huge and looks like Dumas is about all they have in the way of size.
Sounds like Southeast and East must have 5 or 6 kids each 6-4 and BIGGER!
[REPORT A VIOLATION]
CLBBall says:
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Northwest looked very impressive in hoop mountain, and not only do they have a great freshmen class, but a couple of good sophomores as well in Jeremy Love and Cody Bridges (younger brother of John Bridges who played for NW last year). Look out for them to show up the CL powerhouses in Heights, Southeast, and East.
[REPORT A VIOLATION]