Coolidge Newcomer Webb Impacting Program

Ron Bailey, Publisher

January 18, 2008 – Having transferred to Coolidge High School (Washington, DC) from Freedom-Woodbridge (VA) this year, senior guard Zach Webb has made an undeniable impact for the Colts. Just ask his coach at the Northwest, Washington school, Vaughan Jones, who said of Webb’s presence “I’m very happy he’s here. Happy for us, and happy for him”

Coolidge, 13-7 overall and 4-0 in DCIAA competition has received 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and seven steals per game from Webb, who is shooting 55% from the field and 82% from the free throw line. Playing the third guard or defacto swingman role (he is a 6’2”, 185 pound backcourt man), this young guy who actually grew up in Hampton, VA not only competes on the perimeter, but around the cup as well.

All of that was on display in Coolidge’s 65-53 win over arch-rival Theodore Roosevelt last week, a game that cemented the school’s place atop the DCIAA’s West division, leading many to label them the best team in inner-high basketball: During the contest, Webb not only scored, rebounded, and defended, but made key plays at moments his team most needed them, in effect providing a primetime impact. The same can be said for Zach’s performance in his school’s 55-47 dispatch of New York City’s All-Hallows, in Gonzaga DC Classic action.

Webb believes the move north has been good for his game, as he opined “DC basketball is more scrappy. In Virginia ball, they call more petty fouls. I like it up here better, and the guards are better”.

Webb, in Coolidge silks.

Jones pointed to Webb’s play in his team’s early season, narrow defeat to DeMatha Catholic, citing “I think the DeMatha game illustrated” not only Zach’s effectiveness but importance to his team, as the Colts were up by a handful of points but “when he went out with leg cramps, DeMatha came back”.

Presently, Jones, a former backcourt All-American at DeMatha before starring at George Washington University and playing professionally that is uniquely able to help Webb strengthen his game, and is doing just that. “I’m trying to get him some minutes at the one (point guard) shared the coach, “so he can distribute the ball and run the offense, in an efficient manner”.

Doing so will allow Zach to further his attractiveness to colleges, given Jones’ belief the young man will play either combo or guard in college. To date, Webb shared West Virginia’s “Davis and Elkins” has supplied recruiting attention, while Jones added other “D-two (Division II) schools” have also scouted Zach, and junior college and prep school opportunities will be explored as well.

Webb revealed “I want to major in physical education in college. I want to work with kids” of his future course of study. In an effort of broaden his scholarship options, which would make that dream easier to reach, Zach is taking an SAT preparation course.

Away from school and hoops, Webb enjoys reading, with True to the Game being his most recently digested book.

If colleges want a physical, athletic, backcourt player capable of shooting, slashing, defending and passing, they’ll read the book on Webb, and make him a scholarship offer.

Addendum: Recently Webb dropped 40 points against DCIAA member Wilson High. That prodigious output is a career high for him, and season high for Coolidge.