Stink-Stink is 15 years old… All his life, he has done just enough to get by… He NEVER does homework… He NEVER truly studies…

As a result, he has a 1.5 Grade Point Average at the end of his sophomore year at SouthWest Philly High. SW Philly HS is a traditional neighborhood school. Most of the kids live in the community immediately surrounding the school. The 4-year graduation rate at SW Philly HS is 47%… The 4-year graduation rate for Black males is 26%…

Stink-Stink is a Black male…

While he never really took basketball seriously, he was always gifted. He could flat out score. Whether it was playing late night money games with the Ol’ Heads from the projects or unlimited summer league games ’round the way… Stink-Stink got buckets!

As a 9th grader, he averaged 17 ppg and he didn’t even really understand the plays. His relationship with his coach was strained because Stink-Stink was frequently absent from or late getting to school. It was a constant struggle to get him to submit class assignments on time. Never disrespectful to teachers or administrators, Stink-Stink just didn’t take school seriously…

That summer, a scout from Philly Funk, the Converse sponsored AAU program, approached Stink-Stink and got him to play with their 16U team. Flying for the first time in his life, Stink-Stink played in Chicago, Memphis, Houston and Las Vegas over the summer… He was truly grateful… Stink-Stink had never stayed in a hotel before those trips…

Highly motivated… He showed his ass!

Going against the top rated guards in the country, he repeatedly scored 25 or more in big games… More than the point totals, it was the way he did it… NASTY!! No screens… No back doors… Off the dribble, crossovers, in and outs, floaters, step-backs, to the left, to the right…

Stink-Stink BUSSED dey ass!!

His self-esteem and confidence was through the roof…

When he returned to SW Philly HS, he was unstoppable… He took basketball very seriously now… He got to school early and put up 200 jumpers… He lifted weights… He watched film… He was learning his craft…

He tore the Pub up… As a sophomore he averaged 24 ppg… He had three games of 40 or more…

One of his Philly Funk coaches, Big Earl, got an assistant coaching job at Uptown Charter School…

Uptown Charter has won 6 State Championships over the past 8 years… They have sent 24 kids to D1 programs over that span…

Big Earl explained to Stink-Stink’s Grandmom that SW Philly HS hasn’t had any kids go D1 in basketball in 15 years… Big Earl explained that the avg. SAT score at SW Philly HS is 680… He told Grandmom that Stink-Stink would have to score at least 900 IF he was able to raise his GPA from 1.5 to 2.3 in order to accept a scholarship… The average score at Uptown Charter is 860…

Big Earl showed his Grandmom that St. Joseph’s is $55,000 per year and $220,000 over 4-years… Drexel is $70,000 per year and $280,000 over 4-years…

Big Earl suggested that Grandmom transfer Stink-Stink from SW Philly to Uptown…

Grandmom told Big Earl to go to Graterford and talk to Stink-Stink’s Dad about it… Big Earl made the trip… Done deal…

When Grandmom submitted the transfer papers, the SW Philly coach refused to sign off… Fuck is wrong this dude?

The Guidance Counselor grilled Grandmom… “Are you doing this for athletic reasons?”

Grandmom said, “I’m doing what’s best for my grandson…”

“But is it for athletic reasons? I’m worried about SW Philly’s program… I’m tired of the big Charters taking their best players.”

Grandmom replied, “With all due respect sweetheart, I don’t give a FUCK about the SW Philly program… I’m worried about my grandson… His Mom is strung out doing who knows what, who knows where and his Dad is locked up… I’m trying to put him in position to get a scholarship… His GPA is 1.5 here… He needs a fresh start at Uptown Charter!”

The Guidance Counselor signed the papers…

As she should!

Stink-Stink gonna go D1…