kepdawg
03-09-2006, 12:45 AM
WH transfers propelled Roosevelt to 3A playoffs
11:16 PM CST on Wednesday, March 8, 2006
By TIM MacMAHON / Staff Writer
Trouble ensued after the mass transfer of students from Wilmer-Hutchins to Roosevelt this summer.
A brawl broke out in the cafeteria during the first week of school. There were fights in the hallways and outside the school. But never in the gym.
"All the athletes stick together," sophomore Vincent "P.J." McNeil Jr. said.
McNeil and four other transfers from the defunct school have helped Roosevelt advance to the state basketball tournament for the first time since it won the Class 4A championship in 1972. Roosevelt (26-8) will play Stafford (28-9) in a 3A semifinal at 3:30 p.m. today in UT's Erwin Center.
Coach Stanford Hill Jr. stressed from the first workout that chemistry would be the critical element in making the merge of former District 10-3A rivals successful. The players said it was never a problem. Several of the returning Roosevelt players had friendships with the transfers dating to middle school or before.
"We're all a family," senior guard LaMarcus West said. "We don't see them as being Hutch kids. They're Mustangs now. We all put on the same jerseys."
Four of the transfers – McNeil and juniors Cedric "Cici" Robinson, Jeffrey Warfield and Kenneth Brantley – played for Wilmer-Hutchins' regional semifinalist last season. Roosevelt had the core returning from a team that lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Roosevelt's veterans said they were excited about the news of the Wilmer-Hutchins transfers because it bettered their odds of making a significant playoff run. Roosevelt, a small 4A school until last year, hadn't made it past the second round during Hill's nine-year tenure.
"Their regionals plus our one game equals a trip to the state tournament," senior guard DeMarcus Johnson said.
Seems logical, but that kind of math doesn't always add up. Just ask the South Oak Cliff football program.
History lesson
SOC was considered a 4A state championship contender after the arrival of the Wilmer-Hutchins' senior class, which included three players who signed Division I-A scholarships. Wilmer-Hutchins had gone three rounds deep in the 3A playoffs the previous season, while SOC advanced to the second round in 4A.
SOC's season ended up a high-profile failed chemistry experiment. It started with a loss to Madison and ended with a first-round playoff exit. In between was a lot of finger-pointing.
Roosevelt's basketball team learned a lesson from SOC's struggles: Talent will go to waste if egos get in the way.
"We said we can't be selfish like them," Robinson said. "We've got to play together. It's not Roosevelt and Hutch. We all play as one."
Added junior forward Danny Hogan: "We saw we had something special here and didn't want to screw it up."
Sharing the load
Roosevelt has dominated 3A competition – all of its losses came against teams from higher classifications – with its depth.
Roosevelt constantly presses and pushes the tempo, sending in a fresh five every few minutes. Roosevelt's goal is to run its opponent into the ground.
"They're still out there huffing and puffing," junior forward Kadeem Craddock said, "and we've got a new group coming in."
Roosevelt has run off a 14-game winning streak because the players have bought into Hill's request for maximum effort in limited minutes. Hill typically plays 11 or 12 players per game. The three senior captains – West, Johnson and Gabriel Harrison – set an example of unselfishness by coming off the bench.
Robinson, a 6-3 wing with superb shooting range, is Roosevelt's leading scorer with 19.0 points per game.
But foes can't simply focus on stopping him. Craddock, Hogan, McNeil and West have led Roosevelt in scoring at least once during the winning streak.
"There's not just one superstar on this team," said McNeil, a point guard Hill considers a Division-I prospect. "Everybody on this team has a big role."
Untapped potential
Roosevelt's depth could be the foundation for a 3A dynasty. Four of five starters will be back next season along with several key reserves.
And Roosevelt's junior varsity, which features a handful of Wilmer-Hutchins transfers, finished undefeated.
"I don't want this season to be over with yet," Hill said, "but I can't wait until next year."
Hill said he knew this team had a chance to be a 3A title contender when it was competitive against defending 4A champion South Oak Cliff in the season's third game.
He told his team in the locker room after its last loss – 67-65 to Spruce on Dec. 30 – that it wouldn't lose again all season.
If Roosevelt proves Hill right, a new team picture will hang next to the one of the guys sporting afros and short shorts. Ira Terrell's 1972 squad will have some company.
"We're trying to make Roosevelt history," Johnson said.
With an assist from Wilmer-Hutchins.
E-mail tmacmahon@dallasnews.com
HELP FROM HUTCH
A look at the Wilmer-Hutchins transfers who have helped Roosevelt advance to the Class 3A state tournament:
Player Cl. Ht. Pos. Comment
Kenneth Brantley Jr. 5-7 G Brings energy off the bench
DeWanzell Day So. 6-4 F Athleticism makes him potential star
Vincent McNeil Jr. So. 6-2 PG D-I football and basketball prospect
Cedric Robinson Jr. 6-3 G/F Coaches always give shooter green light
Jeffrey Warfield Jr. 6-5 F Great fundamentals with back to basket
Roosevelt (26-8) vs. Stafford (28-9), Class 3A semifinal, 3:30 p.m. today, Erwin Center
11:16 PM CST on Wednesday, March 8, 2006
By TIM MacMAHON / Staff Writer
Trouble ensued after the mass transfer of students from Wilmer-Hutchins to Roosevelt this summer.
A brawl broke out in the cafeteria during the first week of school. There were fights in the hallways and outside the school. But never in the gym.
"All the athletes stick together," sophomore Vincent "P.J." McNeil Jr. said.
McNeil and four other transfers from the defunct school have helped Roosevelt advance to the state basketball tournament for the first time since it won the Class 4A championship in 1972. Roosevelt (26-8) will play Stafford (28-9) in a 3A semifinal at 3:30 p.m. today in UT's Erwin Center.
Coach Stanford Hill Jr. stressed from the first workout that chemistry would be the critical element in making the merge of former District 10-3A rivals successful. The players said it was never a problem. Several of the returning Roosevelt players had friendships with the transfers dating to middle school or before.
"We're all a family," senior guard LaMarcus West said. "We don't see them as being Hutch kids. They're Mustangs now. We all put on the same jerseys."
Four of the transfers – McNeil and juniors Cedric "Cici" Robinson, Jeffrey Warfield and Kenneth Brantley – played for Wilmer-Hutchins' regional semifinalist last season. Roosevelt had the core returning from a team that lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Roosevelt's veterans said they were excited about the news of the Wilmer-Hutchins transfers because it bettered their odds of making a significant playoff run. Roosevelt, a small 4A school until last year, hadn't made it past the second round during Hill's nine-year tenure.
"Their regionals plus our one game equals a trip to the state tournament," senior guard DeMarcus Johnson said.
Seems logical, but that kind of math doesn't always add up. Just ask the South Oak Cliff football program.
History lesson
SOC was considered a 4A state championship contender after the arrival of the Wilmer-Hutchins' senior class, which included three players who signed Division I-A scholarships. Wilmer-Hutchins had gone three rounds deep in the 3A playoffs the previous season, while SOC advanced to the second round in 4A.
SOC's season ended up a high-profile failed chemistry experiment. It started with a loss to Madison and ended with a first-round playoff exit. In between was a lot of finger-pointing.
Roosevelt's basketball team learned a lesson from SOC's struggles: Talent will go to waste if egos get in the way.
"We said we can't be selfish like them," Robinson said. "We've got to play together. It's not Roosevelt and Hutch. We all play as one."
Added junior forward Danny Hogan: "We saw we had something special here and didn't want to screw it up."
Sharing the load
Roosevelt has dominated 3A competition – all of its losses came against teams from higher classifications – with its depth.
Roosevelt constantly presses and pushes the tempo, sending in a fresh five every few minutes. Roosevelt's goal is to run its opponent into the ground.
"They're still out there huffing and puffing," junior forward Kadeem Craddock said, "and we've got a new group coming in."
Roosevelt has run off a 14-game winning streak because the players have bought into Hill's request for maximum effort in limited minutes. Hill typically plays 11 or 12 players per game. The three senior captains – West, Johnson and Gabriel Harrison – set an example of unselfishness by coming off the bench.
Robinson, a 6-3 wing with superb shooting range, is Roosevelt's leading scorer with 19.0 points per game.
But foes can't simply focus on stopping him. Craddock, Hogan, McNeil and West have led Roosevelt in scoring at least once during the winning streak.
"There's not just one superstar on this team," said McNeil, a point guard Hill considers a Division-I prospect. "Everybody on this team has a big role."
Untapped potential
Roosevelt's depth could be the foundation for a 3A dynasty. Four of five starters will be back next season along with several key reserves.
And Roosevelt's junior varsity, which features a handful of Wilmer-Hutchins transfers, finished undefeated.
"I don't want this season to be over with yet," Hill said, "but I can't wait until next year."
Hill said he knew this team had a chance to be a 3A title contender when it was competitive against defending 4A champion South Oak Cliff in the season's third game.
He told his team in the locker room after its last loss – 67-65 to Spruce on Dec. 30 – that it wouldn't lose again all season.
If Roosevelt proves Hill right, a new team picture will hang next to the one of the guys sporting afros and short shorts. Ira Terrell's 1972 squad will have some company.
"We're trying to make Roosevelt history," Johnson said.
With an assist from Wilmer-Hutchins.
E-mail tmacmahon@dallasnews.com
HELP FROM HUTCH
A look at the Wilmer-Hutchins transfers who have helped Roosevelt advance to the Class 3A state tournament:
Player Cl. Ht. Pos. Comment
Kenneth Brantley Jr. 5-7 G Brings energy off the bench
DeWanzell Day So. 6-4 F Athleticism makes him potential star
Vincent McNeil Jr. So. 6-2 PG D-I football and basketball prospect
Cedric Robinson Jr. 6-3 G/F Coaches always give shooter green light
Jeffrey Warfield Jr. 6-5 F Great fundamentals with back to basket
Roosevelt (26-8) vs. Stafford (28-9), Class 3A semifinal, 3:30 p.m. today, Erwin Center