E.G.O.S.’ POY’s Shine in Broadcast Event

Ron Bailey, Publisher

May 12, 2007 – Education, Goals, Opportunities, and Sports, Inc. has presented player of the year awards to deserving basketball and football players in their senior year of high school since 1998: In doing so, the group’s effort, led by its director Walter Ray, has become an institution, so much so recipients are featured on Washington’s News Channel 8’s local sports/celebrity show, Sports Talk.

Last night was no different, as senior hoop stars Deontay Twymon (Sherwood), Jasmine Thomas (Oakton), and Augustus “Gus” Gilchrist (Progressive Christian Academy) were tri-awardees, justifying their election by representing themselves and loved ones well. Once again, Ray and staff have chosen expertly.

The E.G.O.S POY's are picture here, with Glenn Harris (rear, third from right). Before attending the show, the young people and their families attended a lavish dinner, provided by Bob Sheahin and his restaurant, The Golden Bull (Gaithersburg, MD). Sheahin has been an avid supporter of E.G.O.S for years.

Twymon, a 5”11” two sport star who starred in the 34th Annual Capital Classic, is in rare company, as only a handful of athletes since the inception of the Washington Post’s All-Met awards have been named first team performers in both football and basketball during the same year. Sports Talk’s host, Glenn Harris evoked the names of Al Daniels, Brendan McCarthy, and others of that esteemed class of athlete when discussing the uniqueness of such a designation. Twymon, a point guard and quarterback, proved himself something of a D.C. area history buff, knowing the last person before himself to be awarded in that manner was Lawrence Moten.

Probably the most decorated high school basketball player in the area – bar none – is Thomas. The 5’9” guard will only be an All-American, but competed in the McDonald’s All-American game before being named that contest’s MVP, was Virginia’s Player of the Year, has attended top camps such as the Nike Skills Academy, along with being the D.C. All-Met Player of the Year (girls). If that’s not enough, Thomas may have a chance to tour Europe with USA Basketball this summer.

Not to be overlooked is Gilchrist, the 6’9” power forward/center, a second team All-Met pick widely considered the best pivot man in the area last year. Having transferred from Friendly High School to Progressive last fall, Gus dominated competition locally and nationally, including foes in Illinois and Tennessee, with the latter resulting in a national championship for the school. Gilchrist was also the MVP of the 34th Annual Capital Classic.

Harris has seen local talent come and go literally for decades, and was quick to impress upon these young people the necessity of having a “plan B”; as to ascribe to a career in professional athletics is tenuous at best. All three have legitimate academic interests, with Gilchrist relaying “I want to major in business so I can probably get a job in a corporation or have my own business, while Twymon wants to focus on “education, that way I can teach and coach”. The ever composed and communicative Thomas desires to major in “communications”, ending up possibly as a television personality. That last possible vocation caused Harris to laugh and note her obvious ability to do just that.

Thomas presently is the only student-athlete to have a firm understanding of where she will be headed next year – she’s signed, sealed, and delivered to Duke University. Gilchrist had previously signed a letter of intent to attend Virginia Tech, but used the Sports Talk interview to share he has re-opened his recruitment, while Twymon is presently undecided. Per Deontay before the show, “Ball State, Robert Morris, Texas – Corpus Christi, and Radford” have all offered basketball scholarships. He expects to make his decision soon, possibly as early as “Monday (the 14th)”.

Wherever he and Gilchrist end up, they will join Thomas in an expectation of immediate court minutes. “I expect to play right away” said Twymon, before Gilchrist noted “I also want to play right away”. For her part, Thomas indicated “I was recruited to play right away”.

(l. to rt.) Deontay Twymon, Glenn Harris, Jasmine Thomas, Gus Gilchrist, and Walter Ray. Ray estimated he has helped "Hundreds" of young people - many overlooked - matriculate to two and four years colleges.

The show’s host, Harris, after dialoguing with the awardees, put a positive vibe on his guests, stating “Everybody who comes on the show with E.G.O.S. does great the next year”. A brief evaluation of E.G.O.S. player of the year recipient supports that claim, as Kevin Durant, Nigel Munson, Roy Hibbert, Jerome Habel, Warren Williams, Roger Mason, Monique Currie, and Catrice Williams are but a snapshot of former hoops winners. From a gridiron perspective, Derek Williams, Marcus Winbush, Marcus Mason, Wesley Jefferson, Ahmed Brooks, and Chris Sheahin are some of the prior awardees.

Ray, E.G.O.S’ director since its inception in 1994, is pleased to recognize young people. “We try to get a good representation from the area, from Montgomery County, to Virginia, to D.C.” said the longtime talent producer with a fondness of working with young people overlooked by the mainstream hoops community. “With a lot of these kids it’s special, because you’ve seen them grow up”.

That he has, and will continue to, given his immersion in not only helping young people develop skills in football and basketball, but life itself.

Judging from the reactions of this year’s awardees, his work is appreciated. “It was fun, I’m happy I won it” shared Twymon of the experience, a sentiment shared by Thomas, who felt it’s importance was magnified “considering all the other girls” that could have been chosen. Gilchrist expressed similar sentiments, and actually prepared for the experience. “I watched it last night” he said of Sports Talk. “Angelo Dundee was on”.

Leave it to a decorated athlete to understand the need to prepare. Hats off to Jasmine Thomas, Gus Gilchrist, and Deontay Twymon, 2007’s E.G.O.S. Players of the Year. The world is their oyster.