Coolidge’s Sims Signs with Walsh

Ron Bailey, Publisher

May 14, 2008 – Yesterday at Calvin Coolidge High School (Washington, DC), Steve Sims officially accepted a scholarship offer to attend and play for North Canton, Ohio’s Walsh University. The opportunity to attend that university is momentous for both Sims and his high school coach, Vaughn Jones.

“At first, I’ll play mostly the three (small forward) and some four (power forward)” for the NAIA Walsh Cavaliers, said Sims holds a 3.4 GPA and will major in Pre-Law studies.

Standing 6’5” and weighing around 200 pounds, Sims should soon be able to help the Cavilers, annually one of the best NAIA programs in America (2005 NAIA champions and finishing within the top 16 of such schools between 2006-2008), as the cerebral and active player will do whatever is necessary to achieve team success.

Steve Sims and Vaughan Jones with his commitment letter. Sims' adive to younger players: "Just work hard, play every game like its your last. Play defense and get good grades".

“I will come in, play my role and become a leader” shared Sims of his upcoming plans at Walsh; expect him to provide rebounds, score, defend work hard, and buy into a team concept, just the things Steve did at Coolidge, where he averaged 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks per game.

“He was the captain of our team this year” stated Jones, a former high school All-American and standout at George Washington University who went on to play professionally. “He’s my first kid who signed to go to college”.

The two share a strong bond, as Sims followed Jones, a head coach with two years experiene presently to Coolidge last year from D.C. rival M.M Washington (Jones was 18-8 there, and 23-9 last year). Steve credited Jones for getting him to this point, since “Before I met him, I wasn’t going to play basketball again”.

“He’s a great kid, works hard, is respectful” said a proud Jones of Sims, before later attributing the Southeast, D.C. (Hillcrest section) native’s manner to the young guy’s family. “He has great parents” said Jones, “By doing outreach work, I can tell when parents support kids, and they definitely support him” (in addition to communicating with the Sims family frequently).

The Sims’ instilled in Steve a strong work ethic – “Both my mother and father” stay on him about his books noted Steves – which will continue this summer in preparation for Walsh. “I’m going to lift weights and work on my ballhandling, so I can hopefully play some two (shooting guard) on the next level”.

He’s already looking to the future. Jones, the coach, was not surprised, and portends great things for Steve, as he opined “He’s going to be successful in basketball, law, and in life”.

There is no doubt about that. Congrats go out to Steve Sims. He got it done to the tune of a college scholarship to Walsh University, via hard work, dedication, and a will to do the right thing.