LitlBuck;2327986; said:
USA Basketball tryouts intense; SVSM's V.J. King makes 1st cut: Eric Flannery coach blog
St. Vincent-St. Mary freshman V.J. King, with ball, is among 30 players USA Basketball's U-16 coaching staff is considering for this summer's national team during tryouts in Colorado. The staff includes St. Edward coach Eric Flannery. Flannery, a USA assistant coach, will be blogging about the team and its experiences for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. (Steven Maikoski, USA Basketball)
By Eric Flannery, Special to The Plain Dealer
on June 03, 2013
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - I have been extremely fortunate in my basketball coaching career. It has taken me to many places, I have met a lot of people, have seen an unbelievable amount of basketball talent, and have learned from some of the best minds in the game. This current experience with USA Basketball may end up ranking as one of the best.
USA Basketball has invited the best 30 freshmen and sophomores in the country to try out for a final roster of 12. One of the players is St. Vincent-St. Mary freshman V.J. King, the only player from Ohio. On Sunday we reduced the roster to 16, including King, and will make our final cuts Monday night. The final team will be announced Tuesday morning.
SVSM's V.J. King helps lead U16 U.S. basketball team to gold medal game: Eric Flannery coach blog
St. Vincent-St. Mary incoming sophomore V.J. King, with ball, tallied eight points and eight rebounds Friday to lead the U.S. U16 boys basketball team to a spot in Saturday's title game at the FIBA Americas Championship in Uruguay. (Steven Maikoski, USA Basketball)
Eric Flannery, Special to The Plain Dealer
June 14, 2013
MALDONADO, Uruguay - We are coming home with a medal, V.J. King and I. The question is will it be silver or gold?
I am sitting in the arena shortly after our 93-64 semifinal win over Puerto Rico, watching Canada play Argentina. We play the winner Saturday in the title game. (All of the games will be shown live over the Internet here).
King, from St. Vincent-St. Mary, has really stepped up the last two games. He had eight points and eight rebounds Friday in 15 minutes of play.
Friday he provided a spark off the bench by getting some big offensive rebounds and a few deflections on defense that led to some steals. We started the game very sluggish and were trailing until King entered the game.
He is now sitting down next to me and I asked him if he has a message for back home. Here it is: "I came here to get a job done, and I am still not finished. I want a gold medal." My sentiments exactly.
http://highschoolsports.cleveland.c...tate-title-mr-basketball-in-his-sights-video/V.J. King of St. Vincent-St. Mary has state title, Mr. Basketball award in his sights (video)
St. Vincent-St. Mary's V.J. King is one of the top recruits in the nation for the Class of 2016. (Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain Dealer)
By David Cassilo, Northeast Ohio Media Group
on November 26, 2013
AKRON, Ohio – Vincent and Lo King had the same conversation all the time.
“When are you going to start working out with V.J.?” Lo King would ask her husband.
Their son, barely in grade school, was showing real promise as a basketball player. There was a future ahead.
“Honey, he’s got to fall in love with it first,” Vincent King would reply.
The elder King had played basketball professionally in Europe and knew he could teach his son all about the game. But he also knew something about himself.
“I only have one speed, and it’s pretty fast and hardcore,” Vincent King said. “I didn’t want to turn him away from the game.”
So when the father and son would head to the gym, it was all about fun. They would try to kick the ball through the basket or bounce it off the floor.
Soon, the moment came. On their way back from a recreation league game, V.J. King had something to tell his father.
“Dad, I want to be a basketball player,” he said.
When they made it home, Vincent King walked in with a big smile on his face and a message for his wife.
“I got him,” he said.
cont...
