Fundamentals still at core of seasoned basketball program

By Jesse F. McClure | Published  06/19/2008 | Sports | Rating:

Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie.W. Herenton, a former college basketball player, told the young hoopsters what his grandmother told him: “If you get a good education, you can be somebody.”  (Photo by Wiley Henry) For hundreds of boys and girls at Northside High School last week, it must have been basketball heaven. The 475 youngsters, ages 10-19, participated in the first of four, weeklong basketball clinics as part of the Shelby Metro Sports and Awareness Program. The program is the brainchild of Donald Holmes, the athletic director and girls’ basketball coach at Northside High. The City of Memphis Summer Youth Initiative funds the program, which over the years has involved thousands of area youngsters in the skill building sessions.  The other three clinics are being held at Carver High School, Ridgeway High School and Kirby High School. Area coaches and college basketball players staff the program. Holmes says the goal is “to provide each boy and girl instruction in the fundamentals of basketball.” From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day, the players worked with coaches in groups and one on one. During the final day on Friday, there were free-throw shooting contests as well as 3-on-3 games. ­­Xavier Henry, the number one high school recruit in the nation, made a brief appearance. Dozens of colleges are recruiting the 6’6” shooting guard from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma. In town for a basketball camp at the University of Memphis, he did not participate in drills, but showed off his shooting skills on a side basket in the Northside gym. Over the years, the Shelby Metro Sports and Awareness program has involved thousands of area youngsters in skill building sessions. (Photo by Wiley Henry) Several college coaches came to observe, no doubt on the lookout for future talent. A new assistant coach at the University of Memphis, Orlando Antigua was among those who stopped by. Antigua, who moved to Memphis a week or two ago, appeared to enjoy watching the youngsters go through their drills. He was the first Latino player on the Harlem Globetrotters. Also watching the action was David “Smokey” Gaines, the current LeMoyne-Owen coach and former coach for University of Detroit and San Diego State. Gaines also played for the Harlem Globetrotters. The highlight of the closing session was a rousing talk by Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie.W. Herenton. A former college basketball player, Herenton stressed the need to get a good education and stay away from gangs and drugs. “If you get a good education, you can be somebody,”  said Herenton quoting his grandmother. The mayor said education changed his life and urged the boys and girls to follow his example. Participants enjoyed a brief exhibition game between staff coaches and the Memphis Blues of the World Basketball Association (WBA), an exposure league that gives former college players an opportunity to show their talents to scouts from professional leagues, such as the NBA, NBDL, CBA, and international leagues. The session ended with an awards ceremony in which boys and girls received trophies for outstanding performances during the week. copyright tri-state defender 2008

I Am Building A Program Not Just a Team

Donald Holmes, like most African-American men in Memphis has always loved basketball. Holmes is the coach of the Northside High School Lady Cougars basketball team and has been the Memphis Coach of the Year nine times. Last year the Lady Cougars were runner-ups in the Tennessee state basketball championship.

But Holmes’ first love has always been golf – the sport his father got him started in when few African-Americans played the game. He attended Mississippi Valley State University and played on the golf team there.

A two-time All-American golfer, Holmes once shook up the Mississippi golf world, forcing the state’s intercollegiate golf championship to be moved from a private to a public course to allow an African-American to play. Holmes went on to win the tournament.

After several years of trying to make a living as a golf professional, Holmes in 1987 accepted the position as the girls basketball coach at Northside High School. The program Holmes took over was not good. In his first year, Holmes’ team finished with 15 wins and 15 losses. Since then Holmes’ teams have won 20 or more games for 19 straight years.

Holmes is more proud of the success his players have had in the classroom than the games they have won. Almost all of his current team are honor roll students. The starting five players on the team have an average grade point of 4.0. Jasmine Rayner, the number one student in senior class at Northside High, is a star player for the Lady Cougars.

“Northside players know that school comes first with coach Holmes,” said Rayner.

Over the years, Lady Cougars have received scholarships from colleges across the country. Holmes’ office has photographs and posters from colleges such as The University of Memphis, Ole Miss, Jackson State, Xavier, Alabama Birmingham, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Colorado and Mississippi Valley. His players have received scholarships from all of these and more. Many of his former players are now coaches and teachers at schools throughout the region.

Northside Lady Cougars coach Donald Holmes is more proud of the success his players have had in the classroom than the games they have won. (Photos by Jesse F. McClure)

“I am building a program, not just a team,” says Holmes. “(A program) helps team members become strong women, not just basketball players.”

Strong women help create strong families and strong communities is the way Holmes sees it. He loves coaching girls because they are often more receptive to coaching than boys, he says.

Each summer Holmes’ has a basketball camp. Thousands of youngsters have attended over the years. NBA star and Memphis legend Penny Hardaway has been a big supporter of Holmes’ efforts. Last summer WNBA star Ashley Shields took part in the camp.

Holmes credits his mother, who is a minister, and his father for helping him develop his passion for helping others.

Copyright Tri-State Defender 2008