Suspend logic for a moment… Imagine… somehow, someway… In the heart of Camden, where basketball is akin to religion, a peculiar and remarkable event unfolded, intertwining the spirits and DNA of the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship Game held annually at the Palestra with the soulful HBCU clashes between Lincoln University and Cheyney University. After a few drinks at Victor’s Pub on the Camden waterfront, they are feeling one another and decide to take the short stroll over to the Hilton Garden Inn. A serendipitous encounter, fueled by the convivial atmosphere and seemingly endless libations culminated, 9 months later, in the birth of what would become the Camden City Middle School Basketball Championship.
I had no idea… Seriously… I had not a fuckin’ clue…
For local hoopheads, this is a bucket list event.
While recent discussions lamented the tepid support for the Philadelphia Public League High School basketball playoffs, the Camden Middle School Championship garnered fervent community backing, evoking echoes of tradition and festivity reminiscent of the hallowed Catholic League tournament games of grounds of the fabled Palestra. Although on a much smaller scale, the same sense of tradition and pageantry that surrounds the Catholic League Finals at the Palestra permeated the Camden Eastside Gymnasium.
Shit was intense. As it should be…
Antoine Miller, KIPP Cooper Norcross Head Coach
The City of Camden, the actual “day to day” home of the Philadelphia 76ers, has three very strong scholastic boys basketball programs. KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, led by Head Coach Antoine Miller, reached the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 1 championship game. National power, Camden High, led by Maalik Wayns, will play in the Group 2 State Championship game after “kinda, sorta, sumthin-like” defeating (but to really beating) Manasquan in a highly controversial semifinal contest. Camden Eastside, under the direction of Head Coach Kenny Avent, fell to Ocean City in a NJSIAA Group 3 semifinal matchup.
These esteemed high school coaches, stationed in along the baselines in separate corners of the gym, bore witness to a spectacle brimming with intensity and promise.
While the tradition and pageantry of the Camden Middle School Championship game is similar to that of the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship, the culture is decidedly Black. Amidst the echoes of cheers and the scent of sweat, there lingered a distinct cultural resonance. I kept waiting for the Kappas and Ques to emerge and start stepping on the sideline. The essence of the game reverberated with shades of epic HBCU Lincoln/Cheyney and Morgan/Coppin showdowns.
Mayor Vic Castarphen, a highly regarded former Camden High and Temple University PG sat midcourt with Arthur Barclay a former Camden High and Memphis University PF. Aaron Walton-Moss, a Panther legend and 3-time small college All-American at Cabrini came to witness the youngbuls battling for the chip.
These luminaries came to watch a new generation of Camden hoop talent emerge, eager to etch their names into the annals of Camden basketball lore. Guiding the proceedings with a deft hand was Woodrow Wilson standout Nelly Perry, who played for Dawn Staley at South Carolina after three years at Clemson.
Nelly Perry, Camden Public Schools and Delgreco Wilson, Black Cager Sports
I take great pride in seeing Perry provide such a platform for young middle school students. As a high school junior, Perry and I spent somewhere between 30-40 hours in my office along with Temple great Alliya Butts preparing for their transition from high school to college. Today she coaches and helps middle school student-athletes make the difficult jump too high school.
A full circle moment… #bigGIRLbasketball.
And in a testament to generational continuity, Camden Eastside senior point guard, Jalen Long, the great grandson of legendary Temple Hall of Fame coach John Chaney informed me that he will be playing collegiately at Cheyney University. Long will be playing at the university where his great grandfather amassed a dominating record of 225 wins and 59 losses and led the Wolves to the 1978 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship. The commitment of Long to Cheyney underscores the timeless allure of the sport in Camden.
Eastside Sr. PG and Cheyney commit Jalen Long
Another full circle moment… #bigBOYbasketball
The championship game itself was highly competitive albeit sloppily played. There were some very quick small guards with crafty handles. There were plenty of killer crossovers, followed by badly missed layups. There were some aggressive wings with decent athleticism that lacked an understanding of basic basketball principles and concepts. Overall, the actual quality of basketball was far from polished.
None of that mattered… Not even a little bit… I loved it…
These kids played extremely HARD for their respective schools, families and for themselves. As the game unfolded with a mix of tenacity and raw talent, it became evident that the true essence of basketball transcended mere skill. These young athletes, driven by pride and determination, epitomized the spirit of competition in its purest form. Their fervor for victory rendered the nuances of polished play inconsequential, as they battled fiercely for the honor of their schools and communities.
They wanted to win. This game mattered for that reason.
If you enjoy the Catholic League at the Palestra, you will definitely find the Camden Middle School Championship entertaining. Just know you will not find many Northeast Philly Irish or South Philly Italian faces in the gym.
This is Camden, New Jersey…
The gym will be full of those that prefer fried chicken, ribs, collard greens and candied yams. Of course, there will be more than a few Puerto Ricans players and their families munching on plantains, pork, and sofrito.
Over the next few years, we will see many of the kids in this game don Eastside, KIPP Cooper Norcross and Mastery High School of Camden jerseys. The purple and gold uniforms have proven elusive for Camden’s native sons in recent years. They seem to be reserved for highly ranked passengers traveling to Camden via the transfer portal on the underground railroad from locales near and far.
As the final buzzer sounded, and the victors from Kipp Lanning Square Middle School celebrated their win over Morgan Village amidst a chorus of cheers, it became clear that the legacy of this championship would endure far beyond the confines of the gymnasium. For in the hearts and minds of these young athletes, the spirit of competition burns brightly, igniting dreams and aspirations that transcend the boundaries of the court.
Camden basketball is some good shit, it’s not just a game that’s celebrated, but a community united in its passion for the sport.
Temple University’s Hysier Miller leads a community-driven approach to tackle rising gun violence among American youth
PHILADELPHIA, PA – September 7, 2023 – In the face of escalating youth gun violence and a surge in neglect and abuse affecting the nation’s young population, communities across America stand at a critical juncture. Philadelphia, PA, in particular, grapples with the pressing need for comprehensive solutions to this growing crisis. In response, Temple University’s point guard, Hysier Miller, has penned a powerful book, “No Place Like Home: We Have Unfinished Business,” advocating for a collective effort that involves at-risk youth, particularly from Black and Brown communities, in the fight against escalating gun violence.
Miller contends that the path to safer, healthier communities hinges on collaborative, all-encompassing planning. He emphasizes a dual commitment to prevention, early intervention, and a robust focus on law enforcement, coupled with a graduated system of sanctions as key components in this battle.
Hysier Miller, Author and Fran Dunphy, La Salle Head Coach
The impact of Miller’s vision has not gone unnoticed. Several prominent college basketball coaches have rallied behind his book project, making bulk purchases in a show of support. Fran Dunphy of La Salle, Phil Martelli from Michigan, Frank Martin at Kansas, Adam Fisher of Temple, Donnie Carr from La Salle, and Chris Clark from Temple have all made significant contributions towards Miller’s cause.
Frank Martin, UMass Head Coach
In a remarkable display of generosity, Hysier Miller has pledged to match each of these purchases with donations of his book to middle schools selected by these coaches. The designated schools include:
Fran Dunphy’s selection: Jay Cooke School, 1300 W Loudon St, Philadelphia, PA 19141
Phil Martelli’s choice: GESU School, 1700 W Thompson St, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Frank Martin’s allocation: One school in Amherst, MA, and one school in Miami, FL
Adam Fisher’s pick: Paul L. Dunbar School, 1750 North 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Donnie Carr’s selection: Vare-Washington Elementary School, 1198 S. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Chris Clark’s chosen school: St. Malachy, 1012 W. Thompson St., Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phil Martelli, Michigan Associate Head Coach
Speaking on this tremendous outpouring of support, Miller expressed his excitement and gratitude, saying, “I am really excited about the way these coaches have encouraged and supported my book project. I have a tremendous amount of respect for these men. They continue to give young men like me an opportunity to access higher education and broaden our horizons. With their support, I am able to get my book in the hands of hundreds of middle school kids. The basketball community is embracing my message and that makes me want to go much harder.”
Adam Fisher, Temple Head Coach
The collective action of these esteemed coaches, combined with Miller’s dedicated efforts, presents a united front against the pressing issue of youth gun violence. Their support serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the powerful impact that collaboration and community-driven initiatives can have on building safer, more secure futures for America’s youth. As Miller’s message resonates throughout the basketball community, it is hoped that more high school and college coaches will follow suit, further amplifying the positive change that can be achieved through concerted action.
Please use the link below to purchase individual and bulk copies of No Place Like Home: We Have Unfinished Business. Miller will match all bulk purchases with donations of copies to middle school of purchaser’s choice.
Title: No Place Like Home: We Have Unfinished Business Author: Hysier Miller Publisher: Black Cager Press
“No Place Like Home” is an inspiring and thought-provoking book written by, Temple University point guard, Hysier Miller. The book is aimed at middle and high school students and chronicles his personal journey and activism in promoting gun violence reduction in Philadelphia. Through his unique perspective as a high profile college athlete, Hysier shares his experiences, challenges, and efforts to effect positive change, aiming to inspire readers to join the fight against gun violence.
In “No Place Like Home,” Hysier Miller takes readers on a captivating journey through his life as a high school and college basketball player and his deep-rooted commitment to making a difference in his community. Growing up in South Philadelphia’s Wilson Park neighborhood, a community plagued by gun violence, Hysier witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of this social issue, inspiring him to use his platform and influence to bring about change.
The book delves into Hysier’s childhood, highlighting the impact various educational placements and basketball have had on his development. It was through the sport that he developed resilience, discipline, and teamwork, qualities that would later shape his advocacy work. Drawing on his experiences as a student-athlete, Hysier explores the parallels between basketball and reducing gun violence—both requiring strategy, collaboration, and a collective effort to achieve success.
Over the course of his first two years at Temple, he watched as the gun violence crept closer to and eventually landed on campus. Hysier became increasingly aware of the alarming gun violence statistics in his city. Fueled by a desire to create safer communities, he has committed himself to engaging young people (ages 12-25) in the struggle to reduce the mayhem and destruction wrought by gun violence in Philadelphia communities. Through engaging anecdotes and heartwarming stories, Hysier recognizes many caring and concerned adults that helped him overcome serious challenges he faced as a student matriculating through Philadelphia elementary, middle and high schools.
Hysier shares his vision of working closely with community leaders, law enforcement officials, and survivors of gun violence, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of the problem. By seeking to engage and involve young Philadelphians with individuals and organizations already working towards reducing gun violence, Hysier highlights the potential for collective action and the power of grassroots movements. Throughout “No Place Like Home,” Hysier emphasizes the importance of education, mental health support, and conflict resolution strategies in curbing gun violence. He uses first hand observations, expert insights, and testimonials to offer a comprehensive understanding of the issue while proposing tangible interventions that could be implemented at both the community and policy levels.
“No Place Like Home” is an inspiring memoir that combines the passion of a college basketball player with the urgency of a social activist. Hysier Miller’s personal story, coupled with his dedication to reducing gun violence, serves as a call to action for young readers to actively participate in creating safer communities. Through his book, Hysier explains why he remains committed to Temple University, seeks to ignite a citywide conversation about gun violence and inspire a generation of young people complete some important unfinished business.
It’s about 8:10 pm on Saturday, February 18th… I’m in my car headed to the Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University. My Big Bro Perry Clark is in town. He does color commentary for ESPN broadcasts of American Athletic Conference (AAC) basketball games. Tulsa is in town and they are scheduled to face Temple the following day at 2:00 pm in one of few remaining AAC matchups. Tulsa has a shoot around scheduled for 8:30 pm – 9:00 pm.
Temple Police Officer Chris Fitzgerald
Clark likes to attend the shoot arounds to talk to the coaches and key players to get a feel for the team’s emotional state. He leans heavily upon his 4 decades as a college coach to deftly probe the coaches and gain some keen insights he will share with ESPN viewers during the broadcast. I usually meet him when he comes to town and we talk a LOT of Temple basketball and end up at one Philadelphia’s finest dining establishments. Expense accounts come in handy from time to time…
Perry Clark and Tulsa Head Coach Eric Konkol
I am eager to get to Temple for this particular shoot around because one of my favorite college coaching buddies, Yaphett King, is on the Tulsa staff. This will give me an opportunity to pop up on King and welcome him to the City of Brotherly Love.
Delgreco Wilson and Yaphett King, Tulsa Asst. Coach
Then my cell phone rings…
It’s Kamal Yard, Founder and Director of the Philly Pride Basketball Club. I talk to Yard several times and week and frequently multiple times in one day. So, I think nothing of it and answer the call…
“What up Mal?”
“Mannnn… How you think Blue and ‘em gonna deal with this?”
Those that have known Temple Head Coach Aaron McKie since his schoolboy days at Gratz know that his nickname is “Blue.”
My mind starts to race… What da fuck is Mal talking bout now?
“I’m on my way to Temple as we speak, I’ll be there in a few minutes… What happened?”
“Youngbuls shot a Temple cop in the head at 18th and Montgomery… They said it was high caliber weapon… Really bad Bro.”
“Whooooooaaaa…”
Now I understood exactly what Yard was asking me… For the past ten years or so, he has been one of the few people that I have engaged in ongoing conversations about the dramatic rise in rampant indiscriminate violent crime, degenerating cultural values, declining academic performances and how they impact and ultimately circumscribe the ability of area college sports programs to recruit elite athletes.
Sometimes, it seems that Temple’s diehard football and basketball fans don’t get it…
Earlier this season, there were loud rumblings on Temple’s message boards about moving on from McKie. There’s been a constant drumbeat of complaints focused on his “recruiting” and his supposed inability to land the top area prospects.
When Yard asked, “How you think Blue and ‘em gonna deal with this” he was posing a very specific set of highly relevant questions all at once.
Allow me to deconstruct his query… Yard was asking, “With a Temple cop bleeding out on a street adjacent to campus, how is Coach McKie supposed to get kids to choose Temple over Rutgers, Maryland and Penn State?”
He was questioning, “With a seemingly endless string of savagely barbaric murders on or proximate to the Temple campus, how is Coach McKie supposed to get kids to choose Temple over Seton Hall, Villanova, St. John’s and Georgetown?”
As a father, a Temple supporter and basketball lifer, Yard was searching for a perspective that provided a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
I had no answers for him…
I’ll be the first to acknowledge that Temple has worked tirelessly to quell fears among current and prospective students and student-athletes since the brutal murder of Samuel Collington, a 21-year-old senior at the university, over a year ago. Yard, Austin, Lowry and I know through first hand interactions and conversations that students and student-athletes are afraid and parents are afraid for their children’s safety.
Temple sophomore Zack Hicks
Through it all, we have encouraged top local players to seriously consider the Owls when selecting a college destination. Indeed, Yard, Austin and Philly Pride have sent Scootie Randall, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, Ramone Moore, Ryan Brooks and current sophomore star Zack Hicks to play on North Broad Street. Lowry’s best player, West Catholic’s Zion Stanford, is already in the fold for next year. I worked hard in conjunction with Carl Arrigale, Pat Sorrentino and the rest of the Neumann-Goretti staff to help Hysier Miller understand the benefits of playing for the sixth winningest program in the history of college basketball.
Temple sophomore Hysier Miller
We all love and respect Temple basketball… We all want to see the Owls return to the heights they experienced under Harry Litwack and John Chaney.
Nonetheless, with his pointed query, Yard was asking if and how it can be done under the existential conditions prevailing on and around North Broad Street.
He was asking an important, damn good and very fair question.
It’s safe to assume that this question has been consistently and carefully pondered by Temple Trustees, Senior Administrators and Department Heads over the past few years.
One can see that Temple clearly understands that they have a serious problem with the way campus safety is perceived. In an attempt to assuage the prevailing perception, Temple President Jason Wingard and his family will relocate to a Temple-owned property on North Carlisle Street between Norris and Diamond streets in spring 2023. The Wingard family will relocate from Chestnut Hill, one of the toniest Philadelphia neighborhoods, to a row home is located in the middle of a North Philadelphia street just a block from campus.
It’s a very strong symbolic move. “As a leader, it is crucial to take action that supports strategic priorities,” Wingard said. “For my family and me, this is a move that we have thought about carefully. It is aligned with institutional and personal values, and we are excited!”
But… It’s not enough… It’s no close to sufficient…
Since talking with Yard, his question has consumed my thoughts. I still have no answers. A least none that make any sense…
Five, ten, fifteen or twenty years ago, I would have delved into crime, employment, education and income data in search of a plausible hypothesis. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that we are dealing with profound immorality and wickedness, in many instances like the murder of the Temple police officer one can only conclude that the killer was a manifestation of pure evil.
This young man, raised in an affluent suburb, is truly evil. He woke up yesterday and explicitly sought to do harm by planning to commit some morally wrong action with no prompting from others. This evil young man tried to carry out this plan with the hope of causing considerable harm to others. This type of evil reigns far too often in far too many circumstances in Philadelphia and many other American urban centers.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to counter the argument that we are witnessing a clear division between good and evil. More and more it seems that evil is winning.
While it may not provide an immediate solution to the conundrums faced by Temple’s leadership, I want to pose a strategy that may stem the tide a bit and certainly will not make matters worse.
Faith-based institutions must become much more involved.
Congregating for an hour or two one a week to worship God is a positive thing that urban communities should not forgo. Even if you are cynical about church, one has to acknowledge that gathering every week to consider higher purposes in life is better than not doing it at all.
We are well past time to admit a simple fact… By any reasonable measure we have lost the ethical cores or centers that held our communities together. The consequences of that include almost daily assaults with high caliber assault weapons resulting in 50, 60 even 80 shell casings strewn across Philadelphia streets and sidewalks. The consequences include an honorable and peaceful senior citizen beaten to death with with traffic cones by seven teenagers. The consequences include five teenagers, one just 13 years old, carjacking a congresswoman in Philadelphia.
The consequences include two gunmen firing 64 shots with four different weapons at five Roxborough high school football players walking off the field killing a 14 year old. The consequences include over 500 homicides in each of the past two years in Philadelphia. The consequences include well over 1,000 carjackings in Philadelphia in 2022.
I have no desire to position myself as some sort of sanctimonious fraud. I don’t know how to lay out a convincing case for gathering at the church, mosque, synagogue, etc. I do want you use whatever time I have left to tell young men and women, especially young Black and Brown people how to avoid the road to hell. I don’t want to do it because I view myself as a moral authority. Indeed, for most of the past half-century I have been a sinner of the highest order.
I do it because I don’t want young Black and Brown boys and girls to burn in hell.
Pastor Dan Jackson, New Kingdom Baptist Church
With Yard’s questions still on my mind, I attended an inspirational and uplifting service today New Kingdom Baptist Church in North Philadelphia. Pastor Daniel Jackson led a prayer for slain Temple Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald. I then drove a mile or so to the Liacouras Center, where there was a somber moment of silence for Officer Fitzgerald. During the post-game press conference, two Temple players and Coach McKie were asked to comment on the murder.
Plainly stated, the specter of Officer Fitzgerald’s murder hung over today’s activities like an exceedingly heavy and dark rain cloud.
I came home and discovered that Officer Fitzgerald was my cousin’s cousin. He was my cousin by marriage.
New Kingdom Baptist Church, 2445 N Mascher St, Philadelphia, PA 19133
I don’t know how Blue and President Winguard are going to deal with this… Nor do I know what they they should do…
I will, however, be in church somewhere next Sunday. It couldn’t possibly hurt if more and more young people joined me every week. Seriously… I don’t want them to burn in hell like the young man that took Ofc. Fitzgerald’s life last night.
Almost 6 years ago, I was blessed with a wonderful inquisitive and thoughtful grandson. Kameron has recently embarked on his formal educational journey. He began kindergarten about 9 weeks ago. As he works his way through this thing we call “schooling” it will be important to provide real world context and examples to help him make sense of concepts many consider to be at the core of the American creed.
Already interested in sports, particularly basketball, I will use the world of sports to elucidate ideas that will not be adequately covered under the “approved” curriculum. One such concept is that of the “free press.” The Founding Fathers eloquently put forth the notion that a free and independent press is a prerequisite for a functioning democratic society. From the moment of the nation’s founding, my grandson and his classmates will be taught, Americans have had access to a wide range of competing news sources.
The complex, complicated and brutish truth will not be covered in his classroom. He’s gonna have to get those lessons in car rides and at the kitchen table. There have always been vastly different and distinct rules in place for Blacks and wealthy whites in America.
In school, Kam will learn that “The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
He will also learn that Delaware was the first State to ratify, on December 7, 1787. The teacher will tell him that after New Hampshire became the ninth State to ratify, on June 22, 1788, the Confederation Congress established March 9, 1789 as the date to begin operating under the Constitution.
As a result, Many of Kamron’s non-white peers across the country will mistakenly assume that their ancestors had freedom of, speech, press and assembly beginning in 1789.
Kam won’t…
I will explain that the United States was founded as an explicitly racist/white supremacist nation. As such, the overwhelming majority of Blacks in America had no such rights when the nation was founded. I will share the history of anti-black, anti-literacy laws. Yo Kam… in 1829, 40 years after the Founding Fathers recognized the inalienable rights of white males to freedom of speech and press, Georgia formally prohibited teaching blacks to read. Those caught teaching Blacks to read were subjected to fines and imprisoned.
Real shit Kam…
The following year in 1830, Louisiana and North Carolina passed law punishing anyone teaching blacks to read with fines, imprisonment or brutal whippings. Two years later in 1832, Alabama and Virginia also prohibited whites from teaching blacks to read or write, punishing those daring to impart literacy to Blacks with stiff fines and whippings.
The next year, in 1833, Georgia implemented a law against Blacks from working in reading or writing jobs (via an employment law), and prohibited teaching blacks, punished by fines and whippings (via an anti-literacy law). In 1847, Missouri said fuck it, we don’t want our Blacks assembling, reading or writing. In Mississippi, if a white person was caught teaching Blacks to read they had to serve up to a year in prison.
Virginia law from this era stated: “[E]very assemblage of negroes for the purpose of instruction in reading or writing, or in the night time for any purpose, shall be an unlawful assembly. Any justice may issue his warrant to any office or other person, requiring him to enter any place where such assemblage may be, and seize any negro therein; and he, or any other justice, may order such negro to be punished with stripes.” Kam if they caught me and you reading, any white person could legally whoop our asses. Same thing in North Carolina where Black people who disobeyed the law were sentenced to whipping while whites received a fine and/or jail time.
Kam… a persuasive political or social analyses must grapple with the fact that there are at least two Americas. Your school and most public schools across the country treat these differing and distinct Americas in relative isolation. Anyone daring to teach the actual Black experience could be summarily fired in many states. In doing so… these schools confuse and mis-educate Black and Brown children. Any lesson on “free speech” and “free press” must deal with these autonomous and clashing developmental dynamics simultaneously.
A free speech lesson absent the formal and systematic state efforts to keep Blacks illiterate is a fairy tale. Kam, don’t get me wrong, fairly tales have their place.
It’s just not in a history class.
Kam… there have always been and continue to be multiple orders in the United States. Let me demonstrate how these multiple order come into play with regard to the so-called “free press.” Today, October 3, 2022, NBA superstar Kyrie Irving was suspended five (5) games by the NBA and the Brooklyn Nets franchise.
The Nets issued a statement that read in part that “we are of the view that [Kyrie Irving] is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that “Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material.”
Kam… for now, let’s assume the film is antisemitic… That’s a discussion for a different day and time…
For present purposes, it’s important to note that the mass media (newspapers, magazines, radio, films and television) are controlled by just a few powerful wealthy individuals. How we perceive the political, social and economic world is largely determined by these few individuals.
The issues they cover, like Kyrie posting a link to the video are the one’s that win the public’s attention. Those that are ignored, like Jeff Bezos renting and selling (profiting from) the same video, are deprived of visibility and credibility.
Kam… look at dis shit…
A Jeff Bezos owned newspaper, the Washington Post, reported that Irving was suspended for tweeting a link to a Bezos owned website where the video is rented and sold. At the same time Irving was being publicly dragged for tweeting the link to Bezos’ website. Bezos was also broadcasting an NFL game on his steaming network. Earlier in the day, his name was bandied about as a potential buyer along with Sean “Jay Z” Carter of the Washington football franchise. Moreover, a month ago Bezos was named as potential buyer for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns franchise. He also widely expected to bid for NBA broadcast rights.
Seriously Kam… look at dis shit…
Our “free and independent press” offers very little variety in their approach to this story. Kyrie is a bad man and must be punished financially for posting a link to this antisemitic film. The mainstream media, Nets team ownership and the NBA brass are demanding that he explicitly apologize for tweeting a link to the film.
Meanwhile, Bezos who is charging $12.00 to rent and $50.00 to purchase the film has not been subjected to any significant scrutiny. If we accept the media’s premise, Bezos is actually distributing and profiting from an antisemitic film. Kam, a reasonable person may hold that selling and profiting is indicative of “supporting” the film.
Bezos is getting a pass here… An issue of such magnitude that Irving was suspended has generated absolutely no heat for the man putting it out there for all to consume… for a fee…
On one hand, Kyrie Irving is “unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets”… On the other hand, Bezos – the actual purveyor of the antisemitic film – may soon become the owner of an NBA franchise or a broadcast partner.
Kam… I can’t allow them to inculcate you… A free press has existed for a select few since they founded this nation… As you can see, that’s still the case.
A free and independent press is a necessary condition for the intellectual freedom and democracy that supposedly exists in the United States. In America, we supposedly have access to a wide range of competing news sources. In reality, we have a press that is far from free and unbiased. Control of mass media outlets is concentrated in a few privileged hands with clear agendas. How we perceive the world is largely determined by those who control the means of mass communication and their agendas can often be easily revealed with just a few scratches on the surface of their spurious arguments.
Take for example the recent intentional, premeditated effort to undermine the reputation, credibility, and character of the coaches, parents and players in the Camden High School basketball program. New Jersey Advance Media conducted a six-month investigation of the Panther high school basketball program. The finished product, a so-called “Special Report” was published on June 21 at 10:00 am with the following headline: “Camden celebrates a hoops rebirth. But critics wonder: Did they cheat their way to a championship?”Kevin Armstrong is the investigative reporter responsible for the malicious piece.
Camden HS, Group B State Champions, Photo Credit: April Saul
According NJ.com, Armstrong joined the NJ Advance Media staff in January. His arrival coincided with the onset of the six-month investigation. Seems like, maybe, he was hired specifically to perform the task of taking down Camden High basketball.
The special report reads like a smear campaign targeting Dajuan Wagner, the Wagner family, Camden school district administrators, basketball coaches, players and parents. Supposedly the free press matters because it uncovers the truth. Investigative journalists are trained to analyze and explain complicated issues. They play an important role. Without mass media outlets such as newspapers, radio shows, blogs, etc, the average American would have little to no knowledge of what’s going on around them. Most people lack the time and resources to investigate issues and stories that affect them and impact their communities. In theory, that’s where journalists come in.
So exactly what was the issue affecting New Jersey residents and impacting New Jersey communities that Armstrong spent six-months investigating?
After reading his piece several times, I have concluded that the core issue is as follows:
How has a HS basketball team hailing from what Armstrong describes as “a city of violent crimes and vacant lots after decades of factory abandonment, economic stagnation, corruption, white flight and arson” beat the shit the down the legs of NJ opponents for 3 straight years?
Aaron Bradshaw ’23, ranked 11th in the nation by Rivals.com
For some, the excellence and dominance Camden High has displayed on the hardwood the past three years is a problem that must be resolved.
Armstrong’s detailed descriptions of Camden City paint what can only be described as a decidedly dreary and gloomy picture. In his special report, he highlights “boarded-up houses” and “derelict brick edifices scheduled for demolition.” He seems to be preparing his readers for the question at the core of his report: Why would elite HS basketball players from six towns spread across five counties venture to Camden to play high school basketball for the Panthers?
For Armstrong, these decisions are not rational. Indeed, he goes so far as to openly question if these transfers were legal. It’s a two-fold assault… On one level, he’s arguing the parents are neglectful. By emphasizing the deteriorated state of some of Camden’s infrastructure, Armstrong implies parents are sacrificing their child’s educational development and, perhaps, placing their physical safety at risk. Moreover, and more importantly, he is unfairly labeling everyone associated with the meteoric rise of the Camden basketball program over the past three years a cheater.
So, exactly, how does he formulate his assertion that Camden cheated? Armstrong argues that “school officials seemingly made sports-driven enrollment decisions en route to the championship.” The “evidence” he provided included the fact that “five of Camden’s top six scorers do not reside in the city of 73,000 people… and are the only out-of-district students in the school.” Now, at first glance, these may appear to be unconventional and unique circumstances. But, the plain and simple fact is they are neither unconventional nor unique.
DJ Wagner ’23, member of USA National 17U team
Indeed, the NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) sponsors an “Interdistrict Public School Choice Program.” According to the NJDOE website, “New Jersey’s Interdistrict Public School Choice Program enables approved choice districts to enroll K-12th grade students who do not reside within their districts without cost to their parents. The program increases educational opportunities for students and their families by providing students with school options outside of their district of residence and giving parents the power to select a school program that best serves their child’s individual needs.”
So… Every year, the state of New Jersey provides students with out of district school options and gives parents the power to select a school that best serves their child’s individual needs. That’s good stuff… Really good stuff… No one objects out of district placements unless the students happen to be elite Black basketball athletes and their parents happen to determine that Camden public schools best serve their child’s needs. If that happens… It’s a BIG fuckin’ deal… So much so that a huge media outlet, like NJ.com which had an average of 12.1 million unique monthly visitors consuming a total of 70 million page views per month in 2018, must identify and retain the services of a journalistic “hitman” like Kevin Armstrong and provide him with the resources necessary to conduct and exhaustive six-month investigation.
Fuck outta here…
According to the NJDOE, “The Public School Choice Program benefits students and parents, as well as the choice districts. Choice programs might have smaller class sizes, increased instructional time, and a school culture more conducive to a student’s success in school. Many choice districts have established specialized and innovative programs and courses that focus on areas such as the arts, math and technology, and are open to students who meet the eligibility requirements of the special programs. Opening enrollment to students outside the district can bring in more students interested in taking advantage of these special programs and courses, allowing both the programs and students to grow and flourish.”
I agree with the NJDOE. I am a staunch supporter of school choice… While the Camden School District is not part of the DOE program, I assume the logic underlying the decisions of the parents of young men on the Camden basketball program is the same as that underlying the decision of parents taking advantage of the school choice program.
Cornelius “Boog” Robinson, holds 9 Division 1 scholarship offers
However, Armstrong, NJ Advance Media and NJ.com made very different assumptions when assessing the decision-making of Camden basketball parents. Instead of assuming the out of district transfers “benefit [Camden basketball] students and parents, as well as choice districts” like the thousands of other students exercising similar options, Armstrong presented this information to Colleen Maguire, Executive Director of the NJ State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Upon receiving Armstrong’s report, Maguire “said she will begin a review to determine whether rules have been broken.”
Here comes the bullshit…
From my perspective, Armstrong appears to be a “hitman” hired to use the byzantine set of NJSIAA rules to have the Camden High State Championship vacated and prevent the Panthers from an almost inevitable repeat next year. Camden has lost exactly one (1) game to a New Jersey opponent over the past three years. As noted by Armstrong, they beat NJ public school opponents by an average of nearly 40 points per game.
They can’t take it anymore. They are tired of getting the shit beat down their legs.
They can’t do anything about it on the court. So, they have resorted to smear campaigns disguised as special reports and NJSIAA investigations.
Powerful voices have chimed in and publicly sullied the name and reputation of Camden’s administrators, players, coaches and parents. Armstrong cites a quote from former NJ governor and youth sports advocate Richard Codey where he emphatically states, “All the adults are cheating, everybody knows it and nobody seems to care.”
After getting the shit beat down his legs by 41 points (93-52) in the Group 2 state final, Central High coach Shawn McCray exclaimed, “Are there really rules? You find the loopholes and get it done. That’s too much work for me.”
Rasheer Fleming ’22, now a freshman at St. Joseph’s University in the A10 Conference
Armed with a rather weak case in their effort to eliminate Camden from NJSIAA competition, the hitman mades a concerted effort to besmirch the reputation of Dajuan Wagner and the Wagner family. There can be no other logical reason for including a recap of fight Dajuan was involved in 21 years ago. It seems Armstrong wants his readers to internalize and adopt a perception of Dajuan as violent and menacing. This depiction is a far cry from the quiet, unassuming and gentle man known to everyone in Camden.
The hitman also chose to refer to a night 22 years ago when William Wesley took Wagner to a strip club after he scored 100 points in a game. Again, this incident took place 21 years ago. What is the relevance to the 2022 state champions? There is none… But, the goal is create a distorted perception about Dajuan and his family… Sucka shit… That’s what it’s called ’round my way.
Cognizant of the fact that many will remain ambivalent and some will view teenage fights and a visit to a strip club as a something akin to a right of passage, Armstrong decided to include references to the trial and conviction of Dajuan Wagner’s stepfather Leonard Paulk. The hitman noted that “Paulk was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.” What he failed to do, however, was to explain how the legal troubles of Wagner’s stepfather from 18 years ago are related to the 2022 Camden High School basketball team.
Paulk’s arrest and conviction are included as part of the hitman’s sustained effort to shape and reinforce a decidedly negative perception of Dajuan and the Wagner family… Period.
After attempting to painstakingly disparage Wagner and his family, the hitman set his sites on Rick Brunson, coach of the Panthers for the past three seasons. The hitman wrote that, “In 2014, [Brunson] was accused of sexual abuse but was acquitted.” Why… What purpose does the inclusion of this allegation serve? Judge James Booras ruled the state was “unable to meet the burden of proof required” to convict Brunson for the April 2014 incident. Furthermore, during the trial Brunson’s defense team questioned why the woman waited 10 days before contacting police and claimed the woman was seen on video laughing with Brunson after leaving the massage room.
He beat the case… In America, you are innocent til proven guilty. Right? Brunson is innocent… Period. This incident is a non-incident and is included as a salacious sidebar.
Nonetheless, the hitman understood that inclusion of this allegation could further his effort to characterize the Panthers as a lawless program.
Rick Brunson, former Camden HS coach
Next up on the hitman’s list was Pervis Ellison. His “crime”? Pervis “fundraised aggressively” according to the hitman. The hitman also took quick shots at William Wesley and John Mirenda, CEO of Greentree Mortgage. Mirenda is called into question because he’s “listed as treasurer and financial director for Scholars Elite.” Why is that problematic for the hitman? Because right after Dajaun was drafted and signed a $7.4 million dollar rookie contract Greentree provided him with a $258,000 mortgage for a West Deptford house for his mother.
What da fuck does a 20 year old mortgage deal for an NBA lottery pick have to do with the 2021-2022 Camden HS basketball team?
Nothing… Absolutely nothing…
The hitman was just throwing a whole lotta shit on the wall and hoping some of it sticks.
Hitmen are noted for their persistence and Armstrong is no different. He carefully stalked his prey. He described what he witnessed while on a stakeout, “on a Tuesday in May. Two schoolchildren dribbled until their yellow bus picked them up around 8 am. Soon after, Bradshaw walked out of Juanny’s house and Perkins followed him. They got in a red Chrysler, which Perkins drove to school.”
Da’ fuck? The hitman’s staking out the homes of HS basketball players…
His six-month detail completed, the hitman submitted his special report, NJ.com published it.
The investigation has commenced…
Unable to beat ‘em on the court. Governor Codey and a few competing coaches have retained the services of NJ Advance Media and NJ.com to knock the mighty Camden Panther program out of contention. Armstrong’s defamatory piece was just the first public salvo in what will surely be a relentless campaign to prevent the Black kids from the poor, but exceedingly, proud city of Camden from beating the shit down the legs of their New Jersey opponents.
I can’t wait to see next season’s versions of the mighty Panthers…
U want Da High?
“Hell no” is apparently the response from some influential folk in NJ scholastic athletics.
Over the past 25 years, I’ve had the same conversation with young Black men and women from urban areas like Philadelphia, PA, Camden, NJ, Baltimore, MD, Paterson, NJ Newark, NJ Wilmington, DE, Bronx, NY and Washington, DC. It goes like this… “Do something wrong, they are gonna plaster your picture all over the front page of the newspaper and you’ll be the lead story on the local news.”
Ask Na’im Crenshaw, Jamal Nichols, Malik Hines, Trayvon Reed, Jeremiah King, Delonte West and at least 50 others? I’m sure they got tired of hearing the same shit… The mainstream media will CRUSH you and your reputation!
But it must be repeatedly emphasized and reinforced. It takes just a few seconds to destroy a good name and reputation you spent a lifetime building.
The widely reported situation faced by a group of Lincoln University basketball student-athletes serves as a clear example of this dynamic.
The local media has plastered pictures of these young men across millions of television screens.
“Arrested”, “Charged”, “Theft”, “Assault”…
These are the words attached to the images. UGLY… Real UGLY shit… Their mothers, grandmothers, girlfriends, teachers, Principals, counselors, etc. all see these images and can’t help but wonder… “What did they do?”
But… then one realizes these same student-athletes played, very well I might add, in a basketball game last night.
Lincoln University ended the Claflin University men’s basketball team three-game winning streak on Wednesday (Dec. 19), defeating the Panthers, 82-74, in a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) contest.
Lincoln was led by Deaquan Williams with a double-double, 20 points-19 rebounds. Cameron Campbell added 17 points.
After Claflin cut a 13-point (58-45) lead to 60-54 at the 9:28 mark of the second half, Lincoln used a 10-3 run to extend the lead back to 13, 70-57, with 6:14 left in the game.
The six-point deficit would be the closest for the Panthers.
Every single player named in media reports suited up and played for Lincoln in this contest.
Moreover and more importantly, Lincoln University posted bond for the players enabling them to be released.
Wait… What?
Yes… Lincoln University bailed the kids out of the county jail, transported them back to campus, allowed them to suit up and play in an important CIAA contest.
What school does that for students that have been arrested and charged with theft and assault? What gives? There must be much more to the story than the local “mainstream” media is reporting.
Well… Here it is…
Sources close to the families of several students tell very similar stories. According to these sources, there has been a rash of dormitory burglaries on the scenic Lincoln campus.
Last week the rooms of several players on the women’s and men’s basketball team were broken into and ransacked. Items such as Playstations and wallets were stolen. The players contacted Lincoln University’s Department of Public Safety.
According to sources, Lincoln Public Safety took over three hours to respond to the reported burglaries. When they did respond, they confronted the student-athletes and interrogated them as if they were suspects and not victims. This interaction left the student-athletes wary of Public Safety’s commitment to protect them and their belongings.
The thief used a debit card stolen from one of the student-athletes to order food. The student-athlete was able to ascertain information about the transaction from his/her bank. With this information, the student-athletes were able to determine who was in possession of the debit card and very likely the perpetrator of the burglaries.
Sources report that one of the student-athletes saw the “thief” on campus. He/she contacted other victims and they decided to confront the thief to retrieve their belongings. The thief balked and became aggressive toward the student-athletes. A physical confrontation ensued.
The thief was injured during the melee. Apparently, he suffered a broken arm. Hence, assault charges.
The student-athletes retrieved their belongings from the thief’s dormitory room. Supposedly surveillance cameras captured images of the student-athletes taking their belongings from the thief’s room. Hence, theft charges.
Sources have confirmed that the thief was immediately suspended from school and barred from campus.
The student-athletes were bailed out by the University and won their 5th straight basketball game last night.
Should they have beaten the thief? Probably not… Should they be charged with theft? Absolutely not!
Black Cager Sports applauds Lincoln University for it’s handling of the matter after the Department of Public Safety FUCKED UP the initial complaint.
Hopefully, these facts will emerge and be considered when the student-athletes appear before a Chester County judge in January.
Let this be a lesson… “Do something wrong, they are gonna plaster your picture all over the front page of the newspaper and you’ll be the lead story on the local news.”
They were wrong to beat the thief… Maybe, they should have just held him until the Department of Public Safety arrived three (3) hours later… But, their behavior was not criminal.
At least I hope that’s how the judge and the District Attorney sees things.
The Wissahickon High School boys basketball team is greater than the sum of its parts. “We don’t have any stars,” says boys head coach Kyle Wilson (below, left). They haven’t needed any to be considered a good team as they have for the most of the 15 years Wilson has been at the helm. “We play together for each other.”
Head Coach Kyle Wilson and his son Chase Wilson
Observing a recent practice, one clearly see the patient way Wilson and his staff work to instill concepts and principles central to the Trojans’ selfless brand of basketball. Wilson and the Trojans posted a 20-7 mark last season. Wissahickon basketball is consistently competitive in the ever changing landscape that is high school basketball.
The student athletes are attentive and attempt to take in every word of instruction, giving only nods in response. The focused and respectful manner they receive coaching caught first year assistant, Andrew Trella, off guard.
Wissahickon Trojans
“We have great kids,” Trella explained. “I didn’t expect them to just listen to me right away.” He went on to say how much he appreciates working with the kids and how their attitudes and respectfulness has made coaching them easy. While Trella is new to the staff, Michael Scheier, long time assistant and head of the JV team is well versed in coaching and brings a wealth of knowledge to the program.
“(Scheier) always brings a different perspective,” Wilson said while explaining how the decade and half together allowed them to build a symbiotic relationship based on trust and mutual respect. The two often ask each other hard questions and are comfortable being very candid in how they answer those questions.
Michael Scheier, Assistant Coach
Some of those hard questions involve how to deal with parents and players who may have an issue with the staff over the decade and a half the pair have coached together. Both are sensitive to the parental perspective as both have experienced the ups and downs of watching their own sons come through the Wissahickon program as players, albeit from the coach’s seat. According to Scheier, “would I expect that from my kid?” was a question they would ask and answer with compassion as they continue to help other kids develop and grow under their stewardship.
Coach Wilson is enjoying an additional bit of assistance this fall as his son, Chase Wilson, has come back to the area and is helping him get the team ready for the season. The younger Wilson, is a former Wissahickon standout, was continuing his basketball career at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida before an injury prematurely ended his season. This unfortunate happenstance has become a boon for the Trojans as Chase Wilson has been able to provide additional guidance to a team that will have to help a number of players learn new and bigger roles this upcoming season. “We will ask them to trust in what we are doing and the framework we have in place,” Trella responded when asked how the staff would help the players adjust to new responsibilities and expectations.
One such player is Carmen Ostroski, a talented 6-5 wing forward who was a role player last year. The athletic, National Honor Society student-athlete will be called on to be much more this season. In preparation for the transition he took advantage of Coach Wilson’s generosity with time in the gym this summer. He added that he “worked a lot on my shot creation and shooting.” Ostroski, a junior co-captain, also has bought into the coaching staff idea regarding the team concept adding that ““Execution is going to be huge for us. We have to get our execution down.”
Another key player for the Trojans this season will be senior c-captain Eddie Fortescue, the four year varsity member who was named second team All American Conference last year. Wissahickon had three all league performers in 2017-18, including Max Rapoport (1st team) and Zach Reiner (2nd-team), however the hardworking scoring guard is the only one of the trio who returned. He will lead his younger teammates and remind them to “be in the game and stay focused.”
Coach Wilson will is hoping he can also find a couple of “D.O.R.K(s)” to contribute. They are players who “Defend, are Offensively apathetic, Rebound and Know their role.” This isn’t surprising at all coming from the head coach of a team well-known for their cerebral style of basketball.
Coach Miguel Boc and his staff are engineering a cultural and organizational “reset” at West Catholic Prep that they believe will eventually bring the program the respect and accolades that come with winning. But for now its “One day at a time,” the first year head coach explains.
Coach Miguel Boc leads a practice at West Catholic Prep
Watching them go about their work at a recent practice, you get the feeling that the fresh air the program has so desperately needed is finally flowing into the Burrs gym at 46th and Chestnut. Coach Boc can be seen going back and forth from one end of the court to the other as assistants, Kyle Finklea, Jonathan Michaels and Jermaine Washington oversee drills. As he steps in to add a detail or point you can see the energy and passion he brings as he exudes a seriousness that belies his years. At 28, he’s the youngest on the staff. Still, there is no mistaking who is in charge.
“It’s his program,” says Michaels, who at 51 is the sage of the group, as he speaks whimsically of how the other staff members are young enough to be his sons. “I was done, then Boc called me and asked me to give him whatever I could. Now I’m here all the time.” Michaels, like Boc, has a love of the game and the students. He says the youth of the the staff has “energized” him.
Assistant Coach Jon Michels and Miguel Boc
For Coach Boc being the 3rd coach in four years at West Catholic Prep has it’s challenges, but far more rewards. He is grateful for his young charges who he believes were looking to embrace a new direction after the uncertainty of the past few years. He comes in as a disciple of one the best coaches in our area, Andre Noble of Imhotep Charter School. The most influential thing he takes away from his time with the perennial area powerhouse isn’t directly related to basketball.
“I want my kids to know I care. I want them to know I have their backs”, says Coach Boc. The biggest thing he saw in Noble was “his heart”. He wants to show his staff and players the same thing. He wants them to know that he genuinely cares for them as people and players. He wants to focus on their lives beyond high school and find a college situation for all his players. These are lofty aspirations, however Coach Boc believes he can reach them if he can master the next most important thing he took from Noble: “his attention to detail”.
The recently refurbished floor in the West Catholic Prep Gymnasium
It’s no surprise, assistant Coach Michaels, a 30 year coaching veteran, shares this respect for the details. “The importance of the little things”, as he puts it, could be seen in how diligently Michaels explained the nuances of post defense and offense to junior Naadhir Wood, a talented 6-7 forward. Wood and his teammates were receptive to the repeated tutelage. Michaels explains that he can be stern with them and hold them accountable because they know “what I’m all about.” They know he cares for them. He regards them like one of his own children. “They’re mine.”
D1 prospect Samier Kinsler ’19
Coach Boc will rely on Wood’s deft post touch and the leadership and perimeter scoring of Samier Kinsler (6-0) and Imere Harris (5-11), an experienced backcourt tandem, to keep the team afloat as they learn to navigate the deep, rough waters of the Philadelphia Catholic League. Although half of the 12-man roster are seniors, the group still has to learn and grow together as the season goes along. Four juniors and just two freshman round out the varsity squad that wants to “get to the Palestra and go to States” according to Boc’s coach on the floor (COF), Kinsler.
But first they will “Take a breath. Relax. Reset.”
Family is supposed to protect you. The safest place in the world is with your family…
Isn’t it?
That is what I was always taught… In fact, I internalized and deeply believed that message.
Then real life intervened!
What happens when your family becomes a threat to your safety and well-being? I was truly unprepared for the moment I had to really face that situation head on.
Never had I felt that my safety and well-being were at risk… Never, ever… My older siblings, however, have not always agreed.
Khalil Turner and his extended family
About three years ago, I was just starting my freshman year at Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School. Finally, I was a “big boy.” I was a High School student filled with anticipation and eager to begin my academic and athletic journey, when a report was filed with the Sankofa counselor. This report stated that my sister and I were being “mistreated” at home.
More specifically, my siblings felt so strongly that our health and general well-being were at-risk that they decided to formally intervene. It was that bad. Looking back, I realize I lacked a frame of reference, I thought it was normal. I thought everyone struggled like we did… But my older siblings knew better and they came to the conclusion that my family was unable to adequately provide for and protect us.
A call was made…
Khalil Turner and his older siblings during his LOI signing ceremony
Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is the county child welfare and juvenile justice agency. Their mission is to provide and promote safety, permanency, and well-being for children and youth at risk of abuse, neglect, and delinquency. Unbeknownst to me, our living situation definitely fell under their purview.
So… One day they just appeared… DHS was at my front door…
I had no comprehension of the concept, so I never imagined that I was “at-risk.”
I remember the DHS case workers making detailed observations of our living conditions… They literally looked in every crack and crevice of our family home. Everything was closely examined. Then, they conducted exhaustive interviews of my family members and came to a conclusion that would alter the trajectory of my life.
DHS concluded that our needs were not being adequately met. We had to be removed from the only home we ever knew.
What?!?! Foster care… Huh?
Now I knew my mother was struggling with some dependence and related mental health issues, but I never for a moment felt abused or neglected. I was just living day to day… But DHS determined otherwise. Citing a lack of structure and a paucity of resources in the household, they decided we had to leave our family home, for our own good.
Real life crept up on me real quick… My friends are worried about homework and playing Madden or NBA 2K on PlayStation… I’m just beginning my freshman year in high school and suddenly dealing with change and adversity of a magnitude I never imagine.
Honestly, at times, it was too much for me to bear…
Angry and frustrated, I had an immensely strained relationship with the family that DHS wanted me to move in with. It just wasn’t going to work. This I knew almost immediately.
I wanted to be with family… I wanted to be with people I love… I wanted to be with people I trust… DHS wanted me to live with total strangers.
I was scared… Then God intervened.
Kobe Devine (foreground), Dayna Devine and Khalil Turner
He made it possible for me to live with my friend Kobe Devine and his parents Dayna and Barry Devine. Actually, there was no real plan. It kind of just happened. I would stay with the Devines when he had AAU basketball tournaments. Kobe’s Dad was my AAU coach and, logistically, it was just easier to be there than to have them worrying about picking me up and dropping me off. Eventually, I just decided to stay and not return to the “foster home” where the relations were strained.
Again… I thank God!
The Devine family members were angels sent from above in my time of need. This I am sure of. Nonetheless, it was initially awkward, while I loved the Devines they were not my “real” family. I was a young, insecure and scared boy. But this family was beyond patient and understanding with me. After a few months, the love and support overwhelmed me, Kobe became my “blood” brother and his parents became my parents as well. They made sure I felt welcomed. They were always asking me if I needed anything.
Before I knew it, I felt safe… Again. Now… It should be noted that this process wasn’t easy!
After moving into the Devine home, my life changed in so many ways. For the first time, I experienced unwavering family structure. There were limits, there were boundaries, there were rules… And, they were rigidly enforced. For the first time, I had to consistently deal with consequences of my actions and decisions.
Khalil Turner and Dayna Devine
The first few months were rough because I had never really been subjected to discipline and structure. Immature and ignorant, I tried to balk and disagree when Kobe’s mom, Dayna, imposed the family structure on me. I didn’t want to hear it… I didn’t like being held accountable. I didn’t want to suffer the logical consequences of my actions. I would attempt to argue with her.
I was immature and unable to fully comprehend the blessing I was receiving.
Now, I fully understand how wrong and misguided I was.
Over time, I became increasingly respectful and considerate toward others because Kobe’s Mom and Dad were respectful and considerate toward me. I realized that they were preparing me to enter the world on my own.
Dayna Devine was my mentor, my teacher and my surrogate mother. The lessons and encouragement were non-stop. Several times a day, she would talk to me about the importance of respect, obedience and discipline. Within a few months, I began to internalize these values. She really led me through the process of becoming a more mature, responsible and accountable young man.
Every night, I would think to myself: how can I become a better man? How can I avoid the negative paths that so many of my neighbors, friends and family members have embarked upon? Every night, I would think about making my Mom and Kobe’s mom proud… I wanted to make sure they didn’t have to stress about paying for me to go to college.
After everything my family has endured, I still wanted to look out for my mother because I believe that family is still first. With the Devines in my life I am blessed to have an extended family added to the equation.
Since I began living with Kobe and the Devines, I had no choice other than to go hard in pursuit of my dreams and everything I love. I was determined to make my mother happy. I wanted to bring a smile to Dayna Devine’s face. I wanted an opportunity to continue my education and play college basketball at the Division 1 level.
Basketball is my love and I recognized that I could leverage my athletic ability to access college. As I progressed through high school, with the guidance of the Devines, I was able to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
I have tried to include Kobe every step of the way because he did not have to invite me into his family and his home. He is my brother and I love him. I thank him for helping me pursue my dreams and I will always stand with him as he pursues his dreams.
God had been incredibly good to me… Although I didn’t have a stable father in my life, I kept meeting men that were a positive and strong influence on me. Many men in the Philadelphia basketball community embraced me and helped cultivate my talent.
Then it happened…
I picked up my first Division 1 basketball scholarship offer from Hartford University. With this offer, it became tangible… It became real…
I could use basketball to attend college for free. There would be another offer… and another offer… and another offer…
No Sankofa student had ever received a Division 1 scholarship. This was huge for my school, my family, my friends and for me. More than anything else, it inspired me to work even harder. Receiving that first scholarship offer made me think that’s anything is possible. It also made me think about the support and protection I would need once I graduate from Sankofa. I chose Rider University because I know the Kevin Baggett (Head Coach), Dino Presley (Assistant Coach) and the other coaches will be there for me for the rest of my life.
As months and years went by, the drama of the DHS ordeal began to recede from the forefront of my thoughts. I began to truly believe that I was going to be something special in life. I was experiencing a great deal of success in the classroom and on the basketball court.
But, beneath the surface, the pain still lingers…
Between his two mothers, Turner signs a Letter of Intent to attend Rider University
I recently signed a Letter of Intent to attend and play at Rider. After graduation from Sankofa, I will spend four years living, learning and playing on campus in Lawrenceville, NJ. But today I am still not living with my mother. Regrettably, she has not addressed or resolved her mental health and dependence issues to the satisfaction of DHS.
I love my mother, but I can’t focus on that right now I just have to keep working hard. I know she loves me and I pray she gets better soon. However, I am intensely focused on making both my biological and my extended families proud. These past few years have changed me. It was very hard at the beginning and has become a little easier everyday. I am happy that I have my good friend and brother, Kobe, in my life. I truly do not know where I would be at this moment if Kobe and the Devines did not accept me into their family. I know I wouldn’t have the protection and love that a family is supposed to provide.
The Black Cager 