Watch Out For Team Takeover

Ron Bailey, Publisher

August 29, 2008 – As a part of the Triple Threat travel team organization, Keith Stevens was able to help that group become highly respected, closely watched by college coaches and recruitniks alike. That focus will now travel with him to Team Takeover.

“The biggest thing is Artie (Jones, the originator of Triple Threat) gave me a shot” said Stevens of leaving Triple Threat to start Team Takeover. “But ultimately, you want your own identity”.

Keith Stevens and one of his Triple Threat protegees, Indiana University bound Mo Creek.

The four years spent with Triple Threat, according to Stevens were crucial to his own development, as he shared “What it did was give me ambition. When we came out we were at the bottom and fought our way up. We didn’t have funding like others did, but we grinded to make up for it”.

Leaving for Team Takeover, a non-profit organization presently in sponsorship negotiations with multiple shoe companies, are a number of former Triple Threat coaches, including Kenny Johnson, Stanley ‘Nu-Nu’ Childs, Adrian Autry, Nima Omidvar, Steven Gerald, Kingston Price and David Holmes. Given the organization’s team offerings in the 11 through 17-under age classifications, many more individuals will be involved.

Over the past four years, Stevens et al have been involved with 28 student athletes receiving scholarships. Team Takeover expects that trend to continue unabated along with ongoing success in competition. Additionally, Stevens shared “I’m still going to hold tournaments and events” as well.

Stevens has experience coaching not only travel team ball, but high level high school hoops as well. He also is a talented organizer and promoter who thinks outside the box, hence his forays into ancillary efforts.

Given their close friendship, could Jones, Triple Threat’s chief founder someday join Team Takeover, and consequently complete the circle?

“I’d be open to it” said Stevens, when posed the question. “The hardest thing was breaking away, because of our (he and Jones) outside of basketball”.

Travel team world beware, the black, orange, and grey of Team Takeover will be coming at you.

Addendum: Nike will sponsor the organization, and Adrian Autry is not longer with the program, chosing instead to coach at Virginia Tech. Morello Vest has signed on to coach with Team Takeover also.