Golden Child Awards Illustrate The Good In DC Hoops

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Eric Henderson, here with his father Jay Blackmon (left) and mother Nadine Blackmon (right). Bill Wright, co-founder of the Golden Child Award Foundation is standing behind Eric.

June 19, 2006 – For those in attendance, this past weekend’s 6th annual Golden Child Award Foundation tournament was an affirmation of the good in Washington’s hoops community. Most importantly, Eric Henderson, a 6’2”, high flying senior guard from Bowie High School (Bowie, MD) who suffered brain trauma during a basketball accident February 2nd, was presented with a monetary donation made possible by the event. A side benefit was the great basketball played during the three day event.

Henderson had not been released from the hospital prior to Sunday. As to be expected, his recovery has been an extreme challenge not only personally, but to his parents, Jay and Nadine Blackmon. “It’s been wild”, said his father. “I got called to active duty (before the accident). When it happened, I got a call and they said come back”.

Eric has been fighting in his recovery like he did on the basketball court – with an irrepressible spirit and will. Blackmon revealed “The doctor (at Washington’s National Rehabilitation Hospital) says his progression is beyond expectations”. Henderson, unlike many others recuperating from serious brain trauma, has been talking and relieving himself without assistance, for a couple of months now; therefore, his prognosis for recovery is bright.

The young man displayed his progress, by reading a statement of thanks to the crowd, graciously receiving a $3,000 monetary award and commemorative plaque, and warmly greeting well wishers. Eric, stood and stands as inspiration for anybody facing an unexpected challenge – severe or minor; He’s handling it, and is pressing on.

Henerson is seen here, after being presented the monetary award, and plaque.

Positioned around the awards presentation yesterday, were the tournament’s high school and pro finals. In the schoolboy bracket, Progressive Christian (PCA) defeated Hoop Booth, 65-35, while in the senior division, St8 Ballerz bested two-time returning champion Team Madness 129-128 via a pair of free throws converted with a second on the clock.

PCA fell behind early, but by the 11:28 mark of the first half, tied the score at 14, and never looked back. Led by senior Jeremiah Bowman (13 points) and junior Jasper Williams (17 points), PCA closed the half on a 37-14 run. Bowman and Williams consistently applied significant on-ball defensive pressure, and on the other end of the floor penetrated to find either open shooters, or senior Gary “Chip” Artis (14 points) cutting to the hoop and posting. For his exploits during the tournament, Artis would garner high school MVP honors.

After the game, Artis deflected attention from himself, saying “It was Jeremiah and Jasper, most definitely” that were responsible for his success. Both Bowman and Williams praised Gary. “That’s (Artis) my roll dog. He was hot, so I kept going to him” said Bowman. Jasper felt similarly, stating “Chip does a lot for us. He’s a scorer and he gets a lot of rebounds. I try and reward him”.

Gary Artis, Jeremiah Bowman, and Jasper Williams, all displaying their first place trophies.

Their coach, Vann Whitfield, primarily praised his team’s defensive intensity for their impressive first half scoring run. He did recognize his guard tandem’s exploits, saying “Gary Artis was the MVP, but Jeremiah Bowman and Jasper Williams create MVPs”. It is Whitfield’s expectation that his guards provide the ball to any forward that runs the floor and works on the boards – things Artis does consistently.

Hoop Booth, a summer travel team based in Prince William County, VA and coached by Craig Booth, entered the game missing three-fifths of their starting lineup, yet battled gamely throughout the contest, even when the game had basically been decided. Further crippling the team was the loss of their playmaker due to foul difficulty and eventual disqualification, senior Steven Shepp. Booth provided, “We look to him for leadership. His foul trouble took us out of our game”.

Junior Emilio Calvin (8 points) paced Hoop Booth in scoring, while classmate “D” Cromwell (7 points) was a close second.

At first blush the Pro division game seemed as though it would not be competitive, as Team Madness boasted NBA veteran Eddie Basden (14 points) and recent league alumni Rodney White (36 points), in addition to a team stacked with talented minor league ballers. Further adding to ST8 Ballerz perceived disadvantage was their roster of only seven players.

Eddie Basden (left) presently of the Chicago Bulls, and Rodney White, ex-Denver Nugget and current Spanish League star, take time out from their pre-game warm ups for a picture.

From the outset, it looked as though first impressions would be a harbinger of the game’s outcome, as Madness led throughout the first half, taking a 62-52 led into intermission. White and Omar Weaver (31) seemingly scored at will in the first stanza, with both repeatedly sinking the long ball, driving to the cup, and finishing fast breaks. Aki Thomas’ (30 points) inside presence, Deandre Wallace’s (25 points) dribble penetration and defensive ball pressure, and Andre “A-Rock” Bolton’s maestro-like lead guard performance, kept the game within hand for St8.

Almost as if inspired by Henderson’s heroic fight, St8, who found themselves down by seven with 55.9 in regulation, kept believing and slowly negated their deficit. After Madness turned the ball over with just seconds to play, Ron Williamson was fouled; a single click stood on the clock. He calmly sank both free throws, thereby securing the victory.

Ron Williamson, having just won the championship at the free throw line, recives his trophy from Bill Wright.

St8 Ballerz’s coach and a co-founder of the Golden Child Awards tournament, Bill Wright, shared afterward “I wanted to win this badly”, partly because “We hadn’t won it since the first year”, and also due to Madness having earned the title the previous two years in a row.

But wins and losses were secondary to Wright and everyone else: First and foremost was Eric Henderson’s well being and recovery. “It made me feel good to Eric smile today” said Wright. “The healing is not just going on in the hospital. You can’t put a price on that”.

Fellow Golden Child Foundation co-founder, Chris Yezzi agreed, and shared his six year involvement, has been a labor of love. “It started with Harris Bates, they young man who was shot at the zoo six years ago” Yezzi revealed. “Bill said, Let’s give it a shot and see what we can do”. The two have yearly helped a child faced with a life altering challenge, ever since. Wright and Yezzi hope to replicate this regionally, culminating in a national Golden Child Award event.

Jus because the event is over, does not mean Eric’s family’s need is also. Henderson is projected to be discharged from NRH on July 14th, at which time a significant portion of his medical expenses must be covered out of pocket by his family. In that regard, all donations, large and small, can continue to be forwarded to:

Golden Child Awards Foundation
PO Box 90113
Washington, DC, 20090-0113

Much respect goes to Eric Henderson, his family, Bill Wright, Chris Yezzi, and everyone else involved with the 6th Annual Golden Child Awards Foundation event. The young man is engaged in the fight of a lifetime, yet is tackling the challenge. Many around him are assisting him, with more surely to follow. For those that say basketball has no positive value outside of recreation, the organizers, players, the Draft Picks (rappers Ty L.A.W and S.R.) and fans who attended disproved that assertion.

Henderson is seen here, giving well wishers 'dap', while displaying is won't-say-die spirit.

(The Golden Child Awards Foundation would like to thank Converse, Pepco, State Farm, Universal Madness, Safeco and their other sponsors for supporting this mission)