DMV Clinic A Success

Ron Bailey, Publisher

September 22, 2008 – Saturday, Keith Stevens, Director and Head Coach of new travel team juggernaut Team Takeover held the first of what is sure to be an annual event, the DMV Basketball Clinic; an effort to teach high school and travel team coaches aspects of roundball that was held at DeMatha Catholic High School, assets such as this are definitely needed.

“I think everybody got a chance to be educated on a lot of different things” said Stevens today, of what the DMV Clinic provided the approximately 77 attendees. In his estimation, this included not only basketball “concepts” but also “the ability to teach them”, all of which will better assist coaches guiding their players “how to be prepared for college”.

Xavier's Sean Miller

Stevens, though conceptualizing the DMV Clinic wanted to ‘dap’ those behind the scenes that were instrumental in the event becoming a reality. “I want to thank of course DeMatha and its coach, Mike Jones, for the facility” he said. “Also Kenny Johnson for organizing everything, and the rest of the Team Takeover staff”.

If you missed the all day happening, following is a ‘cliff-noted’ version of Xavier’s Sean Miller’s presentation. The head coach at that Cincinnati, OH located school, Miller shared some of his knowledge of zone offense, as these lecture bullet points indicate:

1) Zone Offense – Know who is on your team; its personnel.
2) What’s the Role of the three point shot in your zone offense – We do what we do.
3) Attack the Logo – Attack the middle of a zone (regardless of its alignment)
4) Post Players – Post players must get offensive rebounds
5) Pace Mindset – Beat the zone down the floor
6) Know How to Play/Concepts – Team must know the role of fakes
7) Who Rule – Who is guarding you and your teammates; recognize mismatches

From here, Miller demonstrated some plays, and their counters, which incorporate the abovementioned concepts.

Multiply this by Quentin Hillsman (Syracuse’s woman’s team), Gary Williams (Maryland), Tom Crean (Indiana), Jim Larranaga (George Mason) – all current college head coaches, along with ex-Maryland/James Madison head guy Lefty Driesell, and there are definitely readers who should feel they blew an excellent opportunity to learn from the best (adding to that angst should be the Hall of Fame status of both Driesell and Williams).

Don’t despair, there is always next year.