This clinic would deal with athletes who suffers from depression and anxiety, helping them to overcome life challenges and adversities. An Oakland native who had played hoop for UC Davis in the early 1980s, Hill had been a mentor to other Oakland players, and Ward felt hed be a good person to help Powe stay on the right track. Your account has an invalid email address. Getting his start as a coach at a local YMCA, Coach Jay developed a passion in teaching the game and helping the youth. Juno Thomas, former coach and now Youth Director of the Oakland Soldiers Organization spoke about what makes this 2020 team so special. I feel like Im pretty slept on. A transfer from Butte College and Las Plumas High School, Coach Donovan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Soldiers program. Its in a cool area, I think San Diego is a good place. Almost two decades earlier, Ward was himself an up-and-coming player one whose star rose early and fell hard. #Salute. We lived in Berkeley and even Vacaville.. I worked with Coach Begin on film edits and breakdown for some of my EYBL players and the most striking thing about coach is his attention to detail and the passions he has. covering the latest events, top athletes, training and equipment tips, and more. He graduated from San Jose State in 2017 with a B.A. He promptly underwent surgery to repair the damage, and was forced to miss Techs myriad preseason summer games and the various exposure camps where young careers are made. As a Division 1 basketball player at Idaho State and California Baptist University, he achieved Freshman of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and was apart of the All-Big Sky Conference Team three straight years. Although Powe was athletic and could move up and down the court well, he lacked in his footwork and shot. Coach White brings 25 years of Coaching experience and is an incredible teacher. It was a friendship that would change both of their lives. He embraced his painful rehabilitation, swimming, running, and lifting weights to help strengthen his leg. Following Saint Andrews, he spent two years as Head Coach at Rolling Hills Middle School in Los Gatos California. Olivier had. UNLV and Oregon State are recruiting me as well, plus San Diego State. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I can remember one time we were at the park playing basketball and I told Leon to do a certain move, Ward recalls. 1,299 Career point scorer, Rookie of the Year, First Team All-NJAC and Overseas professional from 2011-2022 for various clubs. Leons 34-year-old mentor is a stocky man with a dark-brown complexion who wears his brownish-orange hair in a short Afro. And even if the Dogs dont end up clinching the trophy, the odds are still good in Vegas that the saga of Leon Powe will have a happy ending. Real tough, he replies, fiddling with his hands under the table before looking up to face the camera. aWdodD0nMCcgc3JjPSdodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNv Purves was named Coach of the Year in the professional Philippines and Indonesia leagues, and is a former NBA assistant coach. This is just one stage in their development and they know that. Mullissa Willette is a long-time South Bay resident, with a long history of civic engagement and a demonstrated commitment to the community, with considerable experience working with community-based organizations. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. Player Premium. I also did it based on the support I could receive from the people who have watched me play over the years., With Powe on board, Cal boasts one of the top-ten recruiting classes in the nation. So far this high school season, Shelstad is averaging 31 points per game and recently accepted a summer roster spot with the Oakland Soldiers, one of the premier AAU programs in the country.. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. In the process, he caught the attention of college coaches and NBA scouts, who began comparing him to Elton Brand. phone: (888) 675-6047. Powe would eventually change that, although not freshman year. Mission Statement:The best players want to be pushed to the highest level, and compete in settings geared towards a future in high school and college basketball; the serious player. They showed me the facilities and everything theyve got down there. Back to School Takeoff August 12-13, 2023. But Olivier found Powe to be a quick study. I can score it really well and I can get others involved. He may not want to, though, she adds, referring not to Leons file, but to CPS petitions in general. We had some apartments, but my mother wasnt able to keep up with the rent., We lived all over the place, Leon adds. DaRon Jacques Burgess born and raised in San Francisco,Ca comes to Soldiers as a talented student-athlete with a passion for the game and people. Oregons offer is the latest in a string of scholarships for Shelstad, who also recently added Arizona State, Houston, Texas Tech, Stanford and others to his list of suitors. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our. Y3JpcHQiKVswXTsgcy5hc3luYyA9IHRydWU7CiAgICAvLyBsb2FkaW5nIHRo Eric Martins 3. from San Jose State Univ., along with a M.A. Hes such a hard worker, probably one of the hardest workers Ive ever been around. We welcome Will to the Bay and Bay Area Basketball. I see a lack of concentration on his part, but hell be alright., Powe says his knee feels fine, although he continues to play with a brace. That said, Coach P does not only know the game, but knows and understands how to teach the game as well. Having won 200+ games as a Head Coach, a lot of knowledge and quality teaching/coaching will be provided at the highest level. Ward played for Cal State Hayward for a short time, but slacked off in school and before long found himself in trouble for grindin selling dope on the streets. It was too late to save Shamare, who ended up at the Preston Youth Correctional Facility on felony robbery and assault convictions. Credits: Chris Duffey; . He has been fortunate enough to learn under mentors such as, Kenny "The Jet" Smith, Rick Croy and Bill Evans both Division 1 Head Coaches, and is excited to give quality mentorship back! Walker and Morrow have been turning heads since they were in 6th grade. A tidy, energetic 33-year-old with dark hair and light-green eyes, his face lights up when talking about Leon and his brother. Like most kids, hed shoot around at the park, but he wasnt serious about it, nor did he try out for the school team. He then went on to complete a year of M.A. These reports are very graphic. Ive had a relationship with the coaching staff for awhile and they really wanted me to get down there at the start of June when the live period started back up, Shelstad said. Following a year at UNO, summer 2007 he was hired as an Assistant Coach at the University of California, Riverside. VE0tTUY2UFhYQycpOwo8L3NjcmlwdD4KPG5vc2NyaXB0Pgo8aWZyYW1lIGhl Tech has a slogan for its athletes: No books, no ball, and with a GPA of 1.9 his first semester, Powe wasnt living up to it. When Powe returned to Tech as a sophomore, he was a changed player. And in Utah, Tech beat Davis, the previous years Utah state champion, and West Jordan, the runner-up, but lost to Bingham, another Utah team, in a tight game they should have won. Phong Do comes to the Soldiers from Branham High School where he is currently the girls varsity assistant coach and the girls JV head coach. Class of 2023 West Linn point guard Jackson Shelstad wasted no time in traveling to the University of Oregon to get an in-depth look at the program, taking an unofficial visit Tuesday. It was a great visit. Martn Gallegos. In 2014, Coach Jay graduated from San Jose State University, earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Brandon Davis, EYBL Oakland Soldiers Coach. As an elite player Ward was finished, but he managed over the next five years to get the rest of his life in order. Focus: Development Specific on increasing shooting % and defensive concepts within a competitive season. small forward Isaiah Elohim will have the eyes of coaches and scouts in Las Vegas due to his strong . Coach Jay has been coaching youth basketball in the Bay Area since 2015. #Salute. Messi beer can from Florida makes news in Argentina - Sun Sentinel I always refer back to the history of our organization, it humbles the kids. Thomas Said. She admitted to collecting $7,459 in cash and food stamps to which she wasnt entitled. No fouls were called, and we were all going at it. Ward nudges him to sit up, prompting Powe to reposition his lumbering six-foot-eight-inch, 230-pound frame. And the streets beckoned. The young man was forced to be a comeback kid long before he competed in a serious game of hoops, and that he now stands on the brink of a basketball career says as much about his strength of character and the dedication of his mentors as it does about his rebounding prowess. SAI is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation led by professional men and women who volunteer their time and efforts to help expose youth to the essential educational and athletic disciplines necessary to become productive student-athletes. ICAgIGo9ZC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KHMpLGRsPWwhPSdkYXRhTGF5ZXInPycm Sadly no player/scoring info was available from Oakland Soldiers following the game. In November 1990, according to court records, an undercover cop approached a man named Louis Tappin on Martin Luther King Jr. Way and asked for a dove a $20 crack rock. Not until he began working out with Ward, and started playing eighth-grade hoop at Carter Middle School, did Powe start to attract some notice. Bernard was in the mode of a Baron Davis. He is currently the Head Varsity Assistant Coach at Valley Christian High School (VCHS) in San Jose, CA, and is the former Junior Varsity Head Coach at VCHS. I met with the coaching staff and got a better look at the school and the program. A young leader, with high aspirations in life, Coach Dean has impeccable character and will set a great example as a young community leader. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Since Leon is over eighteen, she notes, he has the right to come down and view the files for himself. Staff Oakland Soldiers The next summer Powe was part of an Oakland Soldiers lineup that read like a whos who of national ball, with names such as LeBron James, John Winston, DeMarcus Nelson, Rekalin Sims, and Marquise Kately. "These two kids are phenoms, we haven't seen anything like them here since Lebron James." Said Olivier. Leon can relate to Ward and where he came from. Professionally, Coach Moreno works at Santa Clara University in their Athletic Department. Coach Braz concluded his playing career at Fresno State University, earning the scholar-athlete award in 2005. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. To me, that showed that Leon had heart. Leon Powe Jr. was raised on poverty and instability, not hoop dreams. I am sure Bernard sees part of himself in Leon, says Zuckerman, who knew both Powe and Ward individually before they became tight. You missed too many free throws. cmlwdCIpLCBlbCA9IGRvY3VtZW50LmdldEVsZW1lbnRzQnlUYWdOYW1lKCJz Then I started believing in myself.. The eighth grader promptly took the baseline and in one quick swoop brought the ball through the hoop over his defender. Hype Her Hoops West Coast Clash 2023 Having a person like that around me to mentor me, I just cant ask for anything better than that. Also in the event was Vegas Elite and its 16u and 15u EYBL teams also playing up, and Team Lillards 16u and 17u 3SSB Teams were in the event. Leon was a complete unknown in the Oakland basketball community, where news of a hoop phenom spreads quickly. Our merge becoming the Silicon Valley Soldiers will integrate a strong developmental approach with a burning desire for players to also receive a quality AAU experience. He came away impressed. For more than a year after the fire, Landry had received AFDC but neglected to tell welfare workers about her earnings from Diversified Personnel, the temp agency that placed her at Highland. He went on to Contra Costa College, where he was an All-State junior college player. What Powe wanted was a critique of his basketball skills, something Ward knew a thing or two about, despite his five-foot-ten stature. He comes to the Soldiers after playing basketball throughout K-12 and at the AAU level where he played for numerous elite programs. Search for tournaments View schedules and pool play Get updated schedules and scores View standings and bracket play Click on facilities for driving directions Follow teams Get game result notifications With time draining fast, Bulldogs coach Hodari McGavock looks over at his benched weapon. While Morrow and Walker may be the headliners for this team, the rest of the supporting cast is nothing to sleep on. Leon was getting double- and triple-teamed, but other people on our team havent been stepping up, says McGavock. Teams. What does the future hold for this group of 8th graders? We are excited to have Brandon as a part of the Family! Tech had a decent basketball program, but it wasnt championship caliber. College/NBA terminology, concepts, and skill work will be implemented into the development. 2020 Oakland Soldiers Roster Loaded With Top-Notch Talent It paid off with an offer from Dana Altman. Shamare was increasingly flirting with trouble, and sometimes bringing a reluctant Leon along for the ride. Weve grown close academically. Oakland Soldiers Roster, Stats, Schedules, Awards, Depth Charts - RealGM Its not the first time Powes been on television, but in a sense this is his prime time a face-to-face with Oaklands black community, which has watched him progress from an oversized unknown to become one of the nations most promising young basketball talents. Greg Davis. Coach Cristo Ortega comes to the Soldiers family after having spent ten years as a Collegiate Assistant and Head Coach at San Francisco State University. From the fall of 1991 through December 1992, Landry worked part-time as a temp secretary at Highland Hospital. Coach Elijahs roots are in Sacramento and Folsom, CA, he moved to the Bay Area six years ago for college. Coach Evans goal is to positively impact every player and family he can through passion and positive mentorship. As a mature, level headed, players coach and trainer, we are excited to have Coach D on board! Oakland Soldiers Spring Extravaganza: Top 20 Underclass Performers The D Zone Basketball Teams Oakland Soldiers. Powe led the Bulldogs to a 28-3 record, averaging 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. He knows what theyve gone through, and seems genuinely happy about their progress. Robert Passalacqua, aka "Coach P", returns to Soldiers Academy for his 3rd season total after missing a full year of action. Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. As they moved toward adolescence, though, the two boys began growing apart. The antithesis of a high-strung sports parent, Ward seems to turn inward during the games, showing little, if any, emotion. During a five year span at UC Riverside, Coach Braz developed both guards, as well as big men in the BIG WEST Conference. Download our Latest App: SOLDIERS BASKETBALL Soldiers Basketball gives coaches, parents and fans real time tournament information. The weekend Bay Area trip that helped make LeBron James a star in healthy and physical education/fitness from Madison Univ. In 2015 BMG Academy was created to integrate established high level training/skill development through BMG Skills Academy. In her desperation to stave off poverty, Landry got herself in a heap of legal trouble. Following completion of a year at Drake, Brazelton was hired in Spring 2013 as the Associate Head Coach at San Jose State University. Powe wasnt, really. Fresh from a grueling rehabilitation workout, Leon Powe Jr. is kickin it with his mentor, friend, and unofficial guardian Bernard Ward in the threadbare studios of Oakland cable television station Soul Beat, where host Colette Moore has invited them as guests on her call-in talk show, Sports Beat. Bad break. Youth1s Recruiting Counselors are on a mission to educate you on the recruiting process - one that's very competitive and starts early. He plays with energy, is twitchy, shoots the ball well, and is disruptive on defense. Summer Slam July 22-23, 2023. Most kids wouldnt have done that, he says. He is entering his first season with Soldiers Academy. Leon Powe might have been the quickest person to come back and play basketball after having ACL surgery, the trainer says. I had to do this so my mom could go to the flea market and sell stuff., Leon becomes reserved when he reflects on his mother. Summer Hustle July 15-16, 2023. bjsKICAgICAgICB3W2xdPXdbbF18fFtdO3dbbF0ucHVzaCh7J2d0bS5zdGFy Through passion and a strong vision, the organization is committed to helping mold young people into future leaders in basketball and in life. We are excited to have him on board, and allow him to share passion and enthusiasm with anyone he comes in contact with. Loren Leath. Powe has no trouble recalling the chance meeting that started him down the road to a Cal scholarship. Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. "These two kids are phenoms, we haven't seen anything like them here since Lebron James." Since the formation of this team in 2013, they have enjoyed immense success winning major tournament events such as the 2014 AAU National Championship and the 2015 NYBL Championship. Boogie Ellis to Duke | Zagsblog Things just happened, he says. He was very quiet and he was not tremendously outgoing, Zuckerman says. Donovan shot 44% from 3pt line in College, 2nd highest percentage in the league, and was top 10 honor role four times. The play got so physical that Hill thought he was going to have to step in and stop a fistfight. Leon is a powerful and skilled player, proclaimed Cal head coach Ben Braun in a statement after accepting Powes letter. Team Spotlight: Oakland Soldiers (2026) - Prep Hoops Next So far this high school season, Shelstad is averaging 31 points per game and recently accepted a summer roster spot with the Oakland Soldiers, one of the premier AAU programs in the country. Powe is equipped with an arsenal of moves around the basket that enables him to score almost at will against his high-school opponents. About the Program. It was a big tournament game for us, Powe recalls. Hes a kid without a support network. And he wasnt yet an impact player the kind who immediately makes a difference on a team. Lebron James even suited up for the Soldiers back in the day. It took mentors, and a kid with a superstar character. It wasnt hard for us when we were placed in foster care, Tim says. Its not just that his protg is a great player, or that he overcame great odds. Powe stepped in to fill the void, averaging 24 points and 13 rebounds a game, which helped lead Tech to a 24-3 finish and a slot in the Northern California Division I semifinals, where the Bulldogs lost by four points to De La Salle. But the rally comes too late Westchester is able to withstand the attack to win 80-75 and walk away with the prize. In his first season with the Bulldogs, he pulled off a respectable fifteen points and nine rebounds a game, but it seemed he was playing hard only in spurts, and not being nearly as aggressive as he should. Although Ward attracted scholarship offers from Arizona, UNLV, and other Division I colleges, he says he was channeled into the wrong classes at Contra Costa, stifling his chances of transferring to a top school. Phillip White comes to Silicon Valley Soldiers as a Senior Leader/Coach, having known Coach Braz for 10 years, both connecting as Collegiate Coaches. His first game back after rehab, Powe scored 32 points against San Franciscos Balboa, but Balboa was a joke next to the many nationally ranked teams on the Bulldog schedule. When other kids dont see him clowning around, then they dont.. From the ninth grade to the tenth grade, he improved 100 percent., Hill and Ward kept Powe on a daily training regimen of shooting and moves they say has both improved his skills and made him tougher. We are having joint evaluation workouts for all areas in one location. The young Oaklander was blocking shots, grabbing every rebound that came off the rim, and dominating the floor in a fashion that had everyone asking about him. On his last few weeks: I feel like Ive really stepped my game up lately. Coach Premium. Together, the older men drilled Leon on the court, and kept after him about his schoolwork and general demeanor.