DeBellotte Provides Kids First (Lamond) League All Stars
Ron Bailey, Publisher
DeBellotte issues Kids First League All Stars, along with concern and care.
September 2, 2009 – Lyndon 'Black' DeBebellotte is a fixture on the D.C. basketball scene, having first starred in high school - a current college coach calls him, along with Johnny Dawkins of Duke/NBA fame and now coaching Stanford Univerisity, the best shooting guards in DC over the last 30+ years. Following his stupendous career at Cardozo High, DeBellotte went on to play at UDC, putting up big numbers there.
After his playing days were over, Lyndon could have been like most ex-players of such note, comfortable in being who he is, and subsequently enjoying the recognition and perks that status affords in a baskteball crazy town like DC; there is a reason why many ex-standouts stay in their hometown. And that goes for Baltimore, Philly, New York, Chi-Town, L.A., you name it.
Lyndon DeBellotte (blue) works with both male and female players. These young ladies are fixtures at the Lamond Rec Center.
But DeBellotte is still in the game, this time coaching players, many of whom are overlooked: The prima dona baller is not sent his way, Lyndon works with guys and improves them. It's just like him to 'look out' people, on and off the floor, as well as with DC Parks and Recreation, for which he runs the upper Northwest's Lamond Recreation Center.
Enter the Kid's First Basktball, Inc. 2009 Summer Basketball League.
"I started the league to give exposure to kids in the inner-city" shared DeBellotte recently, via email. Having initiated it five years ago, Kid's First or the 'Lamond League' is an effort close to his heart. Later, Lyndon shared another reason for the confab as "It's also a way to provide entertainment for the seniors in the city and to keep kids off the streets".
He also hopes "To have a young kid look at the older players and picture one day being out there", and then shared "The league is in tribute and memory of my mother Eunice DeBellotte".
His team's entry, Kids First won the league 'chip', with tourney MVP awards going to it's 6'2" shooting guard, Justin Drummond.
Below is the official All-Star listing.
Hats off to DeBellotte for his labor of love, one that is positively impacting not only the Lamond community, but the entire region. It goes to show what happens when a guy's heart is in the right place.
MVP Justin Drummond gets to the rim against McKinley Tech.
KidsFirst Basketball,Inc
2009 Summer Basketball League All-Star Team
MVP: Justin Drummond KidsFirst Basketball,Inc.
Northwestern High School 6’6” Small Forward Obinna Oleka
Northwestern High School 5’7” PG Torre’ Somerville
Ballou High School 6’3” PG Donte’ Thomas
Ballou High School 5’10” PG, Zalmico Harmon
Ballou High School 6’7” Power Forward Marquis Gentry
Blake High School 6’1” 2 Guard Carlton Agwu
Blake High School 6’3” Small Forward Matthew McGugan
Blair High School 5’10 PG Cooper Neimand
Progressive Christian Small Forward 6’8” Jordan Goodman
Progressive Christian Shooting Guard Kerwin Rameau
Cesar Chavez 6’4” Wing Markee Mazyck
Cesar Chavez 6’3 Wing Nolan Jones
KidsFirst 6’3” 2 Guard Justin Drummond
KidsFirst 6’1” PG Ian Baker
KidsFirst 6’7” Small Forward Anthony Estes
KidsFirst 6’8” Forward Steele Davis
Roosevelt High School Power Forward 6’7” Ryan Tanner
Ideal 6’0” PG Justin Winston
McKinley Tech=2 06’5” Wing Antonio Jennifer
McKinley Tech 6’1” 2 Guard Robert Smith
Cardozo High 6’1” 2 Guard Titus Jones
TC Williams 6’5” Small Forward Billy Rowland
TC Williams 6’4” Shooting Guard Ryan Yates
TC Williams 6’4” Wing Ricky Matthews
Ivey 23 6’1” Combo Guard Ture Lawrence
Ivey 23 6’0” PG Jauris Lyles
Wilson High School 6'3" Marcellous Matthews
Einstein High School 6’3 Guard Kwane Asant