Tag Archives: Penn State Basketball

The “Code” Has Been Abandoned: The Case of Sam Sessoms, Jr.

September 18, 2021 By in Uncategorized Tags: , 1 Comment

The past 10 years or so have witnessed nothing less than the collapse of the social contract between the “street dudes” and ball players. This collapse is characterized by proliferation of gun violence involving college bound student-athletes, by the normalization of death among 16-22 year old student-athletes, by the high levels of drug use among student-athletes, by the emergence of a parasitic cadre of “handlers” and by an increasingly frequent failure to meet NCAA eligibility requirements. Elite student-athletes in cities like Philadelphia, Chester, Coatesville and Camden are especially vulnerable.

Elite basketball and football players were once considered off limits. Those of us of a certain age can certainly recall numerous occasions where the “ol’ heads” would emphatically declare “this ain’t for you youngbul… take yo ass home.” Later on, you would learn there was a fight, a robbery or some other illicit activity that the ol’ head protected you from.

It was an unwritten, but rigidly adhered to “code.”

Ball players and good students were off limits. The drug dealers and the gun toters were always prevalent in urban communities. They were there… you encountered them on a daily basis. They may have given the ball players some new sneakers… They may have had the ball players on their summer league teams… They may have shared some of their winnings from wagers on the games with the ball players… They may have even helped the ball players enter into “entanglements” with some of the fly young females in the community.

But when it was time to “strap up” or “put in work,” real ol’ heads ALWAYS declared “this ain’t for you youngbul… take yo ass home.”

Those days are gone. No case illustrates this point more than that of Sam Sessoms, Jr.

A magnificent basketball player, Sessoms hails from the hard-scrabble Mantua section of Philadelphia. The “Black Bottom” as it colloquially known in Philly is one of the most violent neighborhoods in America. Violence and mayhem have long characterized the Bottom. As far back as 1987, during the throes of the crack epidemic, the Mantua community saw twelve murders.

An excellent student, Sessom, Jr. leveraged his considerable basketball talents to gain entry in the highly competitive Shipley School. Sessoms would go on to have a legendary school boy career. He was a four-year standout for coach Philip D’Ambrosio, leading the Gators to 68 wins during his career and berth in league championship game in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018. Sessoms was named all-league and All-Mainline accolades all four years and all-state twice with first-team honors as a senior. He poured in 28.8 points per game as senior and 23.0 ppg for his junior season, finishing his scholastic career with a school-record 2,091 career points.

Sessoms in action against Seton Hall

Sessoms accepted a scholarship to Binghamton University where he continued to excel. He was named to the CollegeInsider.com Freshman All-America Team and named the America East Rookie of the Year after earning America East Rookie of the Week honors seven times. His sophomore campaign was even better. Sessoms started in all 29 games and finished season with a conference leading 19.8 points per game.

Sessoms decided he wanted the challenge of playing at the high major level and transferred to Penn State after his sophomore season. In his first Big 10 season, he played in 24 games in with the Nittany Lions as a key sixth-man player. He had nine double-digit scoring efforts and was the only Nittany Lion to score in double figures in first seven games, all off the bench.

Fully acclimated to the Big 10, Sessoms was looking forward to summer of hard work in preparation for a new era in Penn State basketball under first year Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry.

Those that know Sessoms fully anticipated a break out season in the Big 10.

Sam Sessoms, Jr. at a workout on August 13, 2020

But… Real life down the Bottom is getting in the way. The absence of the code has never been more obvious.

On May 17, 2021 at approximately 3:30 pm, Sessoms’ 6 year sister was shot in the leg while playing with friends outside the family home on the 3800 block of Wyalusing Avenue. This was a high profile shooting of an innocent child in broad daylight. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw noted that the girl’s parents were inside a vehicle when the shots rang out. Some of those bullets did hit the windshield but no other victims were struck. According to Outlaw, a group of men were running toward the children around the time of the shooting. “We do know that there was information that there was a vehicle, a dark-colored sedan, that was following the group of males that was running prior to the shooting,” said Outlaw.

What “code”? They are shooting 6 year-old girls jumping rope on the sidewalk in front of their home.

Sessoms’ father, Samuel Sessoms, Sr. is friend of mine and at the time, he told me was trying to move his family away from his beloved Bottom. His daughter fully recovered and, shortly thereafter, Sessoms, Sr. moved his family across town to the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia away from daily violence permeating the Mantua streets.

At least, that’s what he thought.

On September 16, 2021, exactly 4 months after his little sister was shot in front of the family home, two shooters walked up onto the porch of the new family home and fired at least eight shots into the home, striking Sessoms’ 19-year-old brother, Sidney and his father Sam, Sr.

His brother, Sidney, later died at the hospital. His father is listed in critical but stable condition.

As reported by 6ABC.com, “Minutes after the gunfire rang out, police responded and a witness was able to alert police to an area where the shooters fled. Soon after, officers found a male suspect running. That’s when the suspect started to shoot at officers, according to investigators.”

“We believe that our suspect fired at least six shots at two or three uniform police officers. They are very, very lucky, they didn’t get hit. They didn’t return fire because there was a lot of people out on the streets, but they did chase this individual who was firing shots at them,” said Chief Inspector Scott Small with the Philadelphia Police Department.

Police were able to apprehend the assailant and he is now behind bars.

In a 4 month span, Sessoms’ sister, brother and father have been shot. His sister and father were seriously injured but expected to fully recover, his brother did not make it.

So now, when he should be focused on his studies and preparing to lead the Nittany Lions through the Big 10 gauntlet, Sessoms has to muster up the intestinal fortitude to lead his family through these very trying times. Facing yet another move just a few months after the last move and unexpected funeral expenses, Sessoms has launched a GoFundMe campaign:

“Hey, my name is Sam Sessoms and I am launching this fundraiser to help cover my little brother’s funeral expenses and also help move my family to a different location. My little brother and father was recently shot multiple times inside of our home. My father has been in surgery all morning but he is making progress. Unfortunately, my little brother did not make it. We have to cover the expenses to that and also find a new home. Our house is completely damaged and we are being forced to move. Life is hard right now, and I truly need all of you guys support for me and the family. Please donate so we can lay my baby brother to rest and also have a roof over our heads. We do not care if it is 1$, please help us.”

Please Donate:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-cover-my-family-funeral-expenses-and-move

This brief video from an interview I conducted in March 2020, gives you a look inside the dynamics of the relationship between Sam, Jr. and Sam, Jr. Both are my friends. Both are real men. Both live their lives by a code that no longer exists.

These are real men. Sam is a Nittany Lion and, I am sure, Happy Valley will wrap their arms around him and lift his family in their time of need.

#WeAre!

North Philly’s Devonte “D Jay” Newbill: Nittany Lion for Life

June 24, 2014 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , 8 Comments

North Philly’s Devonte “D Jay” Newbill is one of the most talented college basketball players in the country.  His trek to the top of the college basketball world has been filled with potholes and detours.  Through it all, D Jay remained composed and focused on his long term objectives.

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On on March 15, 2010 Newbill led Strawberry Mansion High School to a 68-46 win over the Trinity Shamrocks coached by Larry Kostelac Jr. Following the loss, Coach Kostelac described Newbill as a “Terrific player.”

In the Mansion win, Newbill scored 18 points (8-12 fgs) and grabbed eight rebounds. Kostelac said, “Some of the shots he made with Jack Osborne and Mike Diminick [on him] were big time, and that’s what big-time players do.”

Make no mistake, D Jay was “big time.”  The 6-4 senior guard was committed to the Big East Conference’s Marquette Golden Eagles. “We’ve seen kids at the highest level before…. This kid’s going to be a hell of a player,” Kostelac continued. “The way he plays fits into that Marquette system.

Newbill nailed a 3-ball from deep on the right wing with 0.1 showing on the first-half clock.  That shot also gave Mansion a 32-20 lead at the break. “Tough shot, what are you going to do?” Kostelac wondered. “That’s the level he’s at.”

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Looking back, we have to give Coach Kostelac his due. He was dead on in his assessment. D Jay Newbill is a “hell of a player.” He plays at the the high major level. But, he never made it to Marquette University and the Big East Conference. After committing to his “dream school,” he signed a National Letter of Intent in April 2010. He was supposed to begin at Marquette on July 7th. D Jay never set foot on campus.

Marquette Head Coach Buzz Williams fucked the kid over.

Publicly, Williams said, “Through a culmination of several things, we have decided to give DJ Newbill his release. DJ’s a great kid. He comes from a great family whom we have established relationships with, and we’re going to do everything we can to help him in his future, in whatever capacity that would be.” Within days of dropping Newbill, Marquette announced they signed Jamil Wilson, a local Wisconsin player who transferred home from Oregon. Plainly stated, Buzz cut D Jay to make room for a former Top 100 Wisconsin player coming home.

Even though he never made it to Marquette, signing D Jay was a smart move by Buzz Williams. Once D Jay signed, he could never land at another Big East school. Strategically, Buzz cut off the possibility of D Jay attending West Virginia, Georgetown, St. John’s or any school in his league. Interestingly, then Georgetown Assistant, and current American Head, Coach Mike Brennan and West Virginia Head Coach Bobby Huggins had just watched Newbill in person before he committed to Marquette. By accepting the National Letter of Intent from Newbill, Buzz effectively eliminated the possibility of facing D Jay in the Big East Conference. After the shrewd, but heartless, move by Buzz Williams, Newbill was permanently banned from playing for another Big East team.

Indeed, Newbill was left scrambling. His dream of wearing the Marquette uniform and playing in the Big East tournament was shattered in an instant. Through no fault of his own, he was once again looking for a scholarship.  The only difference was the Big East Conference was no longer an option.  Referring to the decision to release him, Newbill said. “I was mad and hurt when this first happened. Now I’ll just go forth with my career somewhere else. Back to the drawing board. I’ll have to be careful about what school I pick.” In what would become a recurring theme, Newbill learned from facing difficult and adverse circumstances.

There was still considerable demand for Newbill as college prospect, but it was very late in the recruiting season.  As a senior he led Strawberry Mansion, coached by Stan Laws, to the 2010 PIAA state championship game at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center.  D Jay was named the Pennsylvania Class AA Player-of-the-Year after posting 24.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game as a senior.  He was a first-team all-state selection by the Philadelphia Daily News. He was also named the Public League Player-of-the-Year and first-team all-city and All-Public League. Mansion posted a 28-2 record during his senior year which was highlighted by a school-record 64-point performance in a victory over Saul, the sixth-highest point total in Philadelphia Public League history. As a junior D Jay averaged 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals as a junior and was named second-team all-state and second-team All-Public League. There was no doubt that Newbill could play, the question was: Where would he play?

Newbill considered hometown programs such as Drexel, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s and Temple but he eventually settled at Southern Mississippi. After being without a scholarship as late as July, Newbill had a wonderful freshman season, He averaged nearly 10 ppg and 6.2 rpg for the Golden Eagles as a 6’4″, 205 lb guard. Despite joining the program very late in the recruiting season, D Jay started all 32 games and played over 30 mpg.

Near the end of his rookie season, Newbill looked back on his college recruitment and the way Buzz Williams treated him, “All this made me a stronger person and a better player… Adversity builds character. It made me want to work harder to prove that I could have been there and played at that level.” After an unexpected detour, the young man from 33rd and Cumberland in North Philly had arrived on the college basketball season. Once there, he assumed center stage.  He was named to the Conference USA all-rookie team selection. Southern Miss Head Coach Larry Eustachy declared, “I don’t know if I’ve ever had a freshman that has all the qualities he has. Not just as a player – and he’s the best freshman I’ve ever had – but more so as a person and a leader.”

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Despite his early success, attending college in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was not exactly appealing to D Jay. Newbill truly never felt at home in Mississippi. After being deceived and mistreated by Buzz Williams and spending a year in the deep South, Newbill was longing for a place he could truly call “home.” His longing for Pennsylvania became especially intense after his first college basketball season ended.

Fortunately, he was given an opportunity to come North and to return to his home state of Pennsylvania. Pat Chambers offered D Jay an opportunity to attend Penn State University and play in the super competitive Big Ten Conference. Newbill would be Chambers’ first major recruit in Happy Valley.

As a high school student, Newbill chose Marquette because that was his dream school and he chose Southern Mississippi because they had spot for him in late July. As a young man, he chose Penn State because it was the best possible academic and athletic situation for him. After committing, he said, “I chose Penn State because of family atmosphere, academics and the Big Ten Conference… [I’ll get] a lot of exposure… Penn State is not too far. I can come home and then get away when I want to focus on me.” It was a great decision, a true win-win situation.

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D Jay Newbill is, in many ways, a throwback. His demeanor and his game reflect the influence of Philadelphia’s great basketball tradition. He is part of a distinct Philadelphia lineage. D Jay is a “Hardnett” kid. In Philadelphia, that immediately identifies a basketball player as patient, smart, skilled and well schooled in the fundamental aspects of basketball. Hardnett kids also exhibit positive social skills.  Hardnett kids went to class and put forth an honest effort with the books.  But it was the way they played the game of basketball that drew most to Hardnett kids.  The late John Hardnett, one of Coach Chaney’s disciples ran basketball workouts and fielded teams in the historic Sonny Hill Summer League program. John Hardnett kids play a distinctly cerebral brand of basketball.  Hardnett died suddenly in May 2010. Newbill was one of the last of many great high school and college players developed by Hardnett. Doug Overton, Aaron McKie, Alvin Williams, Marc Jackson, Jamal Nichols, Mark Tyndale, Mardy Collins, Scott Rodgers, Dionte Christmas, Samme Givens, Ellis Gindraw and many other Philly ballers were schooled by Hardnett.

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Penn State hired a Philly guy to coach the Men’s Basketball team and the first thing he did was sign a Hardnett kid. That was a sound decision, by all accounts a very good move.  Since Chambers and Newbill have joined forces, the Penn State basketball program has improved and PSU has a bona fide star in the best basketball conference in the nation. But, most importantly, D Jay Newbill has finally found a “home.”  He has embraced Penn State and feels a special connection with the student body and the Penn State community.

Newbill would lean heavily on his Penn State family before he ever played a game in the Nittany Lion uniform. On September 15, 2012, his mother, Tawanda Roach, died suddenly. She had been diagnosed with cancer just three weeks earlier. For the second time in two years, Newbill experienced the excruciating pain of losing a loved one. He was particularly distraught after his mother’s death. He explained, “I just snapped out after that. I was throwing stuff around my room and I just broke down…I don’t think it can get any worse than that.” At 20, D Jay had endured a tremendous amount of adversity. The coach of his dream school “dropped him,” his mentor died suddenly and then he lost his mother.  These were very tough times.  D Jay credits Penn State for supporting him through this time in his life.

With the full support of Penn State and the athletic department, D Jay was able to summon the inner strength and fortitude to continue pursuit of his academic and athletic goals. He said at the time, “I think these obstacles help shape me into the man that I going to become.” On the court, his play was inspired from the start. After sitting out the 2011-12 season in compliance with the transfer rule, Newbill exploded onto the Big 10 scene. This despite being forced to play point-guard after an early season injury to Tim Frazier.  D Jay led Penn State in scoring (16.3) and assists (4.0) and was second in rebounding (5.0) and steals (1.2). He ranked ranked fourth in the Big Ten in scoring (16.4) and assists (4.1) in conference games. D Jay became the 17th Lion to score 500 points (504) in a season. He finished second in the Big Ten in minutes played (36.5) and third in free throw attempts (196) and 20-point games (10) in the regular season, including six 20-point games in Big Ten games.

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All he did the following season was get better in every category. D Jay finished second in the Big Ten scoring race to Nebraska’s Terran Petteway (18.0) at 17.8 points per game. He scored 20 or more in 10 of Penn State’s 31 contests. He led PSU in scoring on 15 occasions. Newbill led the team in field goal percentage at .466, averaged 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest. Last season, Newbill led the Big Ten in total points (552) and field goals made (192). How much better was he? From year one in the Blue and White to year two, Newbill’s shooting percentage increased by five percentage points (41 to 46 percent). His three-point shooting percentage increased by eight percentage points (27 to 35 percent). Newbill also made a seven-percentage point increase at the foul line from last season to this year (68 to 75 percent).

Academically, D Jay has been a strong student at PSU. He was only 6 credits shy of a Bachelor’s degree after the Spring semester ended. Coming off a strong season, he could have graduated and turned professional. How would he have fared? He would have been considered a potential second round NBA draft selection. Perhaps, he could have made a team as an undrafted free agent. He could also secured a fairly decent position in one of the more highly regarded European Leagues. Or, he could have ended up in the NBDL for a year. Who knows? The important point is that because of his focus on academic as well as athletic goals, D Jay Newbill,  after four years of college could have graduated from Penn State and began a professional basketball career.

But turning pro wasn’t his only option.  D Jay had several others avenues . The 5th year transfer rule would have allowed D Jay to graduate and ‘transfer’ to another program and retain immediate eligibility to play at the new school. This is an increasingly widespread strategy. As an All Big Ten performer D Jay would have been an attractive 5th year addition to many of the Top 20 programs in the nation. This fact wasn’t lost on D Jay’s friends and supporters. There were many suggestions offered.  D Jay, however, took a different view.  He found that he viewed the situation from the perspective of a Nittany Lion.

“When I arrived at Penn State there was a lot going on with the sex scandal. Outsiders talked about that stuff, that wasn’t the Penn State I knew,” said Newbill. “I experienced the biggest personal loss of my life and Penn State became like my family. What matters more than going pro early or making money is my legacy as a Nittany Lion. As a team, we have been getting better every year. Two years ago we won only 10 games and 2 Big 10 games. Last year we won 16 games and 6 Big 10 games. This year we will make another jump and make the NCAA tournament.”

D Jay is cognizant of his ongoing journey from North Philly to Penn State graduate and NBA prospect. His high school was featured on ABC’s flagship news program, “World News with Diane Sawyer,” in a special report on the state of education inside one of Philadelphia’s toughest schools to learn. At Strawberry Mansion, the average SAT Critical Reading score is 348 the average SAT Math score is 326. The average M/V combined score is 674. D Jay went through an adjustment period upon arriving at Penn State University where the average SAT scores fall between: Verbal: 530 and 630 and Math: 560 and 670. The average combined score is between 1090 and 1300. D Jay realized that he had to dedicate himself to his studies and work closely with the academic support staff for student-athletes.

Newbill has experienced first hand the leap from one of the poorest performing schools in Pennsylvania to success at Penn State University.  He never loses sight of the fact that he is from 33rd and Cumberland and will soon be a Penn State Alum.  “I really appreciate everything made available to me at Penn State. Everyday I work out, train and learn at one of the greatest universities in the country. I constantly wonder how I can help bring Penn State to 33rd and Cumberland and the rest of North Philly. Penn State has changed my life. I want to expose other young Black kids to college at Penn State. I don’t know how I’m going to set it up, but I’m going to get it done. When I play professionally, I will definitely work to help North Philly kids go the Penn State.”

What can we expect this season?

Looking at his career trend, Newbill increases his point total significantly every year. He scored 293 year 1, 504 in year 2 and 604 in year 3. Let’s conservatively assume he scores another 604. Newbill will have over 2,000 points and be likely be named All Big Ten for the second year in a row. But, more than any personal goal, Newbill wants to lead Penn State to the NCAA tournament.

“The whole thing is about getting to the NCAA tournament. That’s my immediate goal. I have been focused on my academics and I am in a position where I will easily graduate. As a young boy, I didn’t always think I would be a college graduate. I was fortunate enough to meet John Hardnett and he helped me understand how to leverage basketball.”

“The decision to attend Penn State was the best decision I have ever made. I’m a Nittany Lion for life! More than anything else I want help other people from around my way gain access to Penn State.” Newbill understands that the best way he can achieve that goal is by excelling as a professional basketball player.

Toward that end, D Jay will be heading to NBA MVP Kevin Durant’s skills camp. If he performs well there he’ll get invited the LeBron James camp. One thing for sure Strawberry Mansion and Penn State will be well represented. “This is my last year at Penn State. As a kid in North Philadelphia, I never thought a place like Bryce Jordan Arena would be my home court for four seasons. My time here has been very special.”