Two days later, DeMatha hired Strickland, an alumnus with connections to the basketball team stretching five decades, for at least the next season. He is a DeMatha alumnus who played for Wootten before starring at the University of Pittsburgh. Mike Jones 91 successfully followed up a legend by making his own legendary path by amassing over 500 wins in 19 seasons, eight WCAC Championships, and he himself played under Morgan and was a key member of the 1991 squad that went undefeated at 30-0. One of the iconic moments in Woottens career was in 1965 when Wootten made national headlines as his DeMatha team beat Lew Alcindors Power Memorial Academy and ended its 71-game winning streak! Todd Beckerman, Wrestling, 1996 A legendary prep career with a record of 208-1 the only loss coming during his freshman year. In October 2012, Jones was named a Distinguished Alumnus at ODU and in 2017 was inducted into the DeMatha Hall of Fame. Cook won the 2015 NCAA national championship with Duke, and won two NBA championships, one with the Golden State Warriors in 2018 and one with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He can be reached in the Basketball office at (240) 764-2225 or by email at mgjones@dematha.org. In junior high, he went to school in Greenbelt, where his basketball coach arranged for Morgan Wootten to come see him play. I didnt say, Get over it, Strickland said. Chase Young, star defensive end for the Washington Football Team, is among many DeMatha graduates to reach the NFL. Jones said he has not given any thought to who will replace him as coach of the Stags or whether he will play any part in that hiring process. He was 29 and had no head coaching experience. Famous DeMatha Catholic High School Alumni. Owns a small stake in the Washington Nationals. He most recently worked as athletic director at St. Johns Catholic Prep in Frederick County. 30 for 30: Survive and Advance, Jonathon Hock, ESPN 2013, television. Laney High School in North Carolina can attest to that its only NBA player is Michael Jordan. It has, quite simply a sharp shooting, smooth-handling, defense . Is Morgan Wootten the greatest basketball coach ever? But the move signals something larger, several parents and alumni said: that even amid a nationwide push for more diversity in leadership in sports but also in politics, media, entertainment and other industries DeMatha officials couldnt see the value of giving one of its current Black assistants a chance. They needed someone that they could connect with right away.. (Jones did not respond to a request for comment). According to people with knowledge of Joness thinking, Reggie Veney was his preferred choice to step in. Most of the teams play in the WCAC and play other private schools in the Archdiocese of Washington and Virginia area, such as Gonzaga, Good Counsel, O'Connell, McNamara, and Ireton. Instead, Joe Wootten left to become the coach at Bishop OConnell, and Jones became the choice. He had two perfect seasons, the first coming in 1977-78 (28-0) and the other in 1990-91 (30-0). This is a national program. The Cadets put the offensive pedal to the metal throughout the entire third quarter and led 50-44 after 24 minutes were in the books. "Virginia Tech is first and foremost getting a great person who not only fits our program, but embodies what our University is about," Young . DeMatha has one of the top basketball programs in the nation. DeMatha has long been recognized as one of the elite academic institutions in suburban Washington. Wootten is one of the individuals memorialized in the ending of the film. 212", "If you could see him now: World-traveling author swoops into Hyattsville", "DeMatha alumnus named president of University of Dallas, to be inducted into high school's hall of fame", "The Reliable Source: GQ Goes Into War Mode With Photos From Iraq", "DeMatha grad to pitch for Toronto: Blue Jays call up former Stags' left-hander Brett Cecil; First start set for Tuesday", "Former basketball star, cop suing Montgomery County over heart problems", "University of Louisville announces full men's basketball coaching staff", "For hoops-playing Grant family, 'it was always good, always pushing each other', "Victor Oladipo still surprising his high school coach", "Three DeMatha teammates are in NBA playoffs, a point of pride for a dominant team", "Markelle Fultz potentially the next to continue the DeMatha to Philly pipeline", "Paige is One of Best at Job Nobody Wants", "Houston Rises in Present By Not Forgetting Past", "Pirates Punter Sneaks to Top of the College Ranks", "Experience at Maryland high school propelled Rodney McLeod to Super Bowl", "Cyrus Kouandjio, three years removed from DeMatha High, is potential early NFL draft pick", "Ja'Whaun Bentley is playing like a veteran so he's getting treated like one", "The making of Chase Young: How an athletic freak at Ohio State became the best player in the NFL Draft", "Humphries gets second chance Redskins notebook", "D.C. United makes play to lock up young star", "After beating cancer, D.C. United's Chris Odoi-Atsem is back on the field and inspiring", National Catholic Educational Association, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland, Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association, List of parochial and private schools in the Washington metropolitan area, Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Solomons, Our Lady, Queen of Poland and St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Template:Washington Metro Area Catholic High Schools, The James Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Statue, List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, Fredericksburg, Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=DeMatha_Catholic_High_School&oldid=1137141311, Schools in Prince George's County, Maryland, Educational institutions established in 1946, Articles with dead external links from November 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Pages using infobox school with a linked country, Articles with MusicBrainz place identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Red & Blue Review" and "DeMatha Express", This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 00:48. He later returned to serve as an assistant under Wootten and has experience coaching high school, college and international basketball. Last month, a week after the hire was announced, the school organized a meeting between Strickland and parents. Now with the San Antonio Spurs. In 1984 Branch led the Terrapins to the ACC Championship. San Antonio Spurs, Joseph Forte 99 Currently head coach at N.C. State after twice coaching NBA teams. Like other parents, he spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retribution against his son. Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Bryson Hill Assistant Coach West Virginia, Evan Kee 08 DeMatha hasnt been down this road often. Both teams will be playing further post-season basketball in the days ahead and both squads should be very strong next season as well. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz, and a slew of successful coaches at every level. Volunteer Help the coach manage this team. Bob Whitmore, Basketball, 1965 Keyed upset of Power Memorial and star center Lew Alcindor -- later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- at Cole Field House. Named 2009 Major League Lacrosse MVP. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He was surrounded by his wife Kathy and family. I love them so much, and I love DeMatha so much. The Panthers girls basketball team dropped to 20-10 on the season. At hoops power DeMatha, a coaching change stirs a painful debate about race. Minnesota Timberwolves, Jarius Lyles 13 It was a great atmosphere in school today getting ready for this game, said Thomas, a senior. In addition to his coaching duties at DeMatha, Jones taught at the Hyattsville school and has been involved with USA Basketball since 2004. Associate AD NC State, Joe Wootten 91 Jones announced May 17 that he was leaving after 19 years to become associate head coach at Virginia Tech. From Ernie Cage '58 and Adrian Dantley '73 to Victor Oladipo '10, Markelle Fultz '16 and Justin Moore '19, there have been many All-Americans who have played at DeMatha. In Spring of 2020, Jones accepted a job as the assistant head coach for Virginia Tech Hokies. DeMatha Basketball History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 19 players) Head Coach: Mike G Jones Winston, Jaden ( Sr.) Arnold, Isaiah ( Sr.) Tate, Kristian ( Sr.) Thomas, Malcolm ( Jr.) Wallace, Jacob ( So.) Smiths love for DeMatha still runs so deep that before marrying his wife, Shena, Smith told her that any future sons could go anywhere from kindergarten through eighth grade but that DeMatha was the only choice for high school. Jones was 29 and had no previous head coaching experience. He learned more from the losses than the wins. DeMatha Basketball, DeMatha Basketball, Coaches, Alumni, Athletes, Mike Jones, Morgan Wootten, Victor Oladipo, Quinn Cook, Jerami Grant, Markelle Fultz, Hunter Dickinson, Justin Moore, Jemari Young, Earl Timberlake, SportsMarkit, Stags, WCAC, WCAC Basketball, Maryland Basketball, Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, DeMatha Catholic High School Hyattsville, Maryland, Mike Jones, Coach Mike Jones, Coach Wooten, Nike Basketball, Nike Elite Basketball, David Aldridge, James Brown, Carsten Kogelnik, Jeff Peterson, Justin Moore, Steve Settles, Thaire Vance, Joshua Wallace, Jahmir Young, Earl Timberlake, Paul Smith, Elijah Hawkins, Jordan Hawkins, Will Reynolds, Tyrell Ward, Rodney Rice Jr, Bryson Hill, Aaron Roberson, Jerrell Roberson, bp-nouveau,page-template-default,page,page-id-1683,theme-bridge,qode-quick-links-1.0,woocommerce-no-js,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,no_animation_on_touch,qode_grid_1300,footer_responsive_adv,hide_top_bar_on_mobile_header,columns-4,qode-theme-ver-11.1,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.7,vc_responsive,no-js. Times have changed. But Smiths plan for them has been shaken, he said, after his alma maters recent decision to replace Woottens Black successor, Mike Jones, with a White interim coach, Pete Strickland bypassing, without even interviewing, several Black assistants in the process. On Jan 30, 1965, DeMatha did what many considered impossible - it knocked off New York City's Power Memorial and its star seven-foot center Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer. This list of distinguished DeMatha Catholic High School alumni is loosely ordered by relevance, so the most recognizable celebrities who attended DeMatha Catholic High School are at the top of the list. One Black former DeMatha player suggested that hiring Strickland, on the heels of McGregor, signals the desire of the administration to reset the culture and return to the days when Wootten would leave victories and head over to Ledo in College Park and draw up Xs and Os over some pizza and Miller Lite. Century and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. Steve Settles Strickland, in an interview, admitted that the first hour was heated as parents peppered him with questions. Ive reached out to every last one of those guys to express how proud I was of them and their commitment and their success. Jeff Allen is a professional basketball player. Once, when Mustaf missed an assignment, Strickland assigned him James Baldwins The Fire Next Time as a makeup lesson. As a sophomore, he helped his team capture its first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship since 2011. Kings, Bernard Williams 65 San Diego Rockets. At least they hired a coach. But they brought him in, and he was an interim. He loves us and wants us all to do our best.. A forward and six-time NBA All-Star, he was. Player Pos HT WT Birth City Birth Date HS Grad Draft Year College Current Team; Desmond Adedeji: FC: 6-10: 305: Landover Hills, MD: Jan 13, 1987: 2005: 2010: Stony Brook-Derek Ahern: C: 6-11: 260 . I said: Guys, were going to figure out how to come together before maybe were ready to come together. He anticipated that there would be backlash. And Im like, Nah, yall have got to address this. Im willing to do this for the greater good because I know a lot of my guys want to say something but cant.. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. This didnt feel brotherly., Its nobody on this earth, the parent went on, that can tell me that if there were five White [assistant] coaches there that they would go find a 70-year-old Black coach to coach them without even talking to the white boys that were there. Morgan Wootten began his career in 1956 at DeMatha Catholic High School. The basketball culture in this area is second to none, Jones said. He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and attended Gonzaga College High School and Montgomery Blair High School, from which he graduated in 1950. Postseason invitational champion (Photo by Larry French/St. Dantley and legendary coach Morgan Wootten have even been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Then Daquan Davis generated the game winner for the Cadets in the waning seconds. DeMatha Graduates who played in the NBA Players: John Auston '62 Baltimore Bullets Keith Bogans '99 Boston Celtics Adrian Branch '81 Minnesota Timberwolves Kenny Carr '74 Portland Trailblazers Sid Catlett '67 Cincinnati Royals Adrian Dantley '73 Milwaukee Bucks Danny Ferry '85 San Antonio Spurs Joseph Forte '99 Seattle Supersonics Office Hours: 7:45am-3:30pm, Copyright 2021 DeMatha Catholic High School. Even some critics of the hire say they have no doubt he can do the job. That success has attracted plenty of outside interest. The Cadets football team trailed DeMatha 3-0 at halftime, but a 10-yard fourth quarter touchdown pass from Myles Slade to Asa Gregg proved to be the game winner, as the Cadets prevailed 7-3. Jahmir Young, Brown University As second edition of the book was published in 2003, and a third edition in 2012, co-authored with Joe Wootten. According to a person in attendance, Strickland responded that he couldnt change the color of my skin and said his job was to meet them where they are.. This article was published more than1 year ago. The lady Cadets improved to 25-6 on the season - one year after defeating Bishop McNamara High School of Forestville, Maryland, for the 2021-22 title. Theyre just waiting for it blow over. Everybody who is hired here has to be connected with the mission because were hiring an educator who happens to be a coach. Kings, Bernard Williams 65 The Stags team is predominantly African American. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Jones will be an associate head coach for the Hokies under Mike Young. Were happy with that.. 2. It lasted nearly two hours. Each coach emphasizes preparation, respect, fair play and teamwork on the playing field and the importance of academic success and growth in the classroom. Imagine how that would be received in the news firing the physics teacher because we need a coach, said Day, adding that DeMatha doesnt allow parents of current students to be on its board. It was the 500th win of Joness head coaching career. Minnesota Timberwolves, Kenny Carr 74 Early on, with plenty of media and plenty of college scouts on hand, Paul VI, coached by Glenn Farello, led 10-2. In 2000, he was the third high school coach to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the first high school only coach to be inducted. Frazier is now an assistant at Illinois, his alma mater. "[4], Sports Illustrated recognized DeMatha as the #2 high school athletic program in the United States in 2005,[5] and again in 2007.[6]. Before he decides to spend his savings on two DeMatha educations, Smith said he needs to hear an apology or a satisfactory explanation. 5 in final MaxPreps Top 25 Breakdown: The Stags have established themselves as a mainstay in the MaxPreps Top 25, finishing. Three of the lady Panthers 10 losses this season came via St. Johns. He played college football at the, The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings. Site by Glass Canvas. Rarely do people yawn when they talk about DeMatha, Day said. And really its about being there when they need you. Miami Heat, Charles Whitney 76 I owe everything Ive done thus far to this program and anything I do in the future to this program., Potomac softball, outscoring opponents 47-0, takes its lead from senior Maria Urban, Wild finish gives Stone Bridge football its second state title in 10 tries, The arrival of spring high school sports brings new obstacles and plenty of gratitude, Goldendoodle shows stunning breakaway speed, hounds high school runner at finish line. Five of his former players are in the NBA, including 2017 No. Given the talent on its roster Tyrell Ward and Rodney Rice are two of the top-rated college prospects in the class of 2022, and Jacoi Hutchinson is a highly touted rising junior DeMatha also had to worry about other schools trying to lure players away amid uncertainty. Adrian Francis Branch (born November 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. The United States Department of Education recognized DeMatha as a Blue Ribbon School in 1984 and 1991. We dont have an opening in math. DeMatha alum Jerami Grant was in town Monday for the Detroit Pistons' loss to the Washington Wizards. In the nightcap, St. Johns boys basketball team held off nationally ranked Paul VI, 65-63, to claim the 2022-23 WCAC basketball title. Another Thomas basket, as well as a bucket by Carolae Barton, gave the Cadets a 6-0 lead on the way to a 12-8 advantage as the first quarter concluded. Paul VI, the 2021-22 WCAC boys basketball champions, then inbounded from 94 feet away and immediately called timeout. On top of being one of the best basketball teams in the Washington, DC area, the school has won six national championships and 41 WCAC Championships. Derek Mills, Track, 1990 One of three DeMatha grads to earn an Olympic gold medal. Wootten and his son both led one of the largest camps in the United States , Coach Wootten's Basketball Camp, held in Frostburg, Maryland at Frostburg State University and at Bishop O'Connell High School. Dickinson (right) with DeMatha Catholic in 2020 Dickinson attended DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. School Hours: 7am-3:30pm The 1964-65 Stags varsity basketball team, led by a young coach named Morgan Wootten, upset the seemingly unbeatable Power Memorial (NY) and their senior center Lew Alcindor (later, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Both St. Johns and Paul VIs boys basketball teams will be playing more postseason basketball in the days ahead and both should be very strong next season in the WCAC. DeMatha basketball coach Mike Jones, after 511 wins, takes top assistant job at Virginia Tech, Bradley Beal hits season high as Wizards fight to the finish in Atlanta, In his spring training debut, Patrick Corbin finds reasons to believe. The Howard University That love caught me off guard, Jones said. Assistant Coach UNC Greensboro, Mike Pegues 96 He was named Coach of the year by the Washington Post in 2005 and served as a head coach at the prestigious Nike Hoop Summit in 2018. I dont see how anyone would think that was fair.. Angry social media posts and emotional responses have gone viral within the DeMatha basketball community. Last week, after rumors surfaced that Virginia Tech was targeting Jones, the coach was bombarded with messages from Hokies fans urging him to join the program. The move upset not just Smith but many of the programs parents, other alumni and other stakeholders, according to interviews with a dozen people in and around the storied basketball team. He transitioned to a basketball career off the court when he was presented with an opportunity with the Atlanta Hawks to be an intern, a seasonal assistant. He has also played for the Dallas Mavericks, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nor should I. I dont even want to try, even during this most absorbing stretch of the sports calendar. John's College High School) In the nightcap, St. John's boys' basketball team held off nationally ranked Paul VI, 65-63, to claim the 2022-23 WCAC basketball title. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) This directory is not just composed of graduates of this school, as some of the famous people on this list didn't necessarily earn a degree from DeMatha Catholic High School. Black football agents face another hurdle: Convincing White players to sign with them, Everything for us is One DeMatha, and all of a sudden it felt like two, said one alumnus and parent of a current basketball player. And since DeMatha requires coaches to be educators, Strickland can easily fill the position in the English department vacated by Jones. Day said inclusion will factor in the decision, pointing to the recent hiring of Shaka Dickerson, who is Black, as dean of students. Orlando Magic, John Jones 62 Dickinson was named to the First Team All-WCAC alongside teammate Justin Moore. Back to basketball: In the WCAC girls quarter-finals, St. Johns defeated Elizabeth Seton, 65-44; Paul VI defeated Bishop Ireton, 47-44; top-ranked Bishop McNamara defeated Archbishop Carroll, 67-33; and Our Lady of Good Counsel defeated St. Marys Ryken, 72-49. Jones formally shared the move with varsity coaches shortly before the formal announcement, confirming what some had assumed when Strickland showed up to the gym earlier that day. [14], Joe became a basketball coach at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. Office Hours: 7:45am-3:30pm, Copyright 2021 DeMatha Catholic High School, LT ( SEAL ) Brendan Looney ' 99 Convocation Center. DeMatha players surround Mike Jones after the Stags won the 2020 WCAC championship game, the coach's 500th victory. Probably, to some degree, both sides. Athletic Director McNeese State, Duane Simpkins 92 Has gone on to a distinguished broadcasting career with FOX and CBS. Whos lying here? The basketball power he built produced dozens of NBA players, including Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley and 2017 No. The film explores Wootten's coaching journey from a baseball coach at a small orphanage to the first high school basketball coach in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as well as his personal and family life. Assistant Coach Washington Wizards, Travis Lyons 94 WCAC boys basketball Coach of the Year: St. Johns Patrick Behan. Danny Ferry, Basketball, 1985 Played in three Final Fours at Duke, where he was named All-America and won the Naismith Award as a senior. Head Girls Coach Bishop McNamara HS, Chris Parsons 91Al Adrian Dantley, Basketball, 1973 A two-time All-America at Notre Dame, a gold-medal winner at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and a Basketball Hall-of-Famer after a 15-year NBA career. Mike Jones and his DeMatha Squads won an impressive 500 games (and only 121 loses). At hoops power DeMatha, a coaching change stirs a painful debate about race, Tom Wilson gives Capitals a boost on an otherwise painful night in Anaheim, Bradley Beal hits season high as Wizards fight to the finish in Atlanta, Dylan McIlrath, a fighter in an evolving NHL, looks to stick around with Caps, leaving after 19 years to become associate head coach at Virginia Tech, Kevin B. Blackistone on the war in Ukraine, Sally Jenkins on the USWNT settlement with U.S. Soccer, John Feinstein on Daniel Snyder and the NFL. DeMatha Graduates who play in college: 2022 Graduates Tyrell Ward Louisiana State University (LSU), Rodney Rice, Jr. Virginia Tech, Bryson Hill Marymount University, Aaron Roberson The Howard University, Jerrell Roberson James Mason University (JMU). The DeMatha athletic department has garnered over 200 league championships in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) since the school won its first championshipin 1957.DeMatha is home to 13 varsity sports, as well as junior varsity andfreshman teams. Paul VI knocked down four treys, eight buckets and eight free throws for their 36 points. Jones has also become a national fixture with his role as coach of the USA Basketball program. I was having an identity crisis. Basketball player, Coach Age: 68 Birthplace: Washington, D.C. Adrian Delano Dantley (born February 28, 1956) is an American retired basketball player who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). [11] Wootten was one of the founders of the McDonald's All-American Game, whose annual player of the year award is named in his honor. The Debrief: Tim Carney on Chicago mayoral race being about rising crime, The Debrief: Conn Carroll on HHS encouraging illegal child labor. Markelle Fultz (2016) is a professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic, who was the first pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. They know people are mad, but theyre not touching it, said Smith, who has friends on the coaching staff. Bowser, Cole ( So.) Howard University Coach Kenny Blakeney, a DeMatha alum, said he supports placing Strickland in the position on a short-term basis and trusts the school will properly vet the next full-time coach. Mississippi State University More than a dozen of Wootten's players went on to play in the NBA, including Adrian Dantley and Danny Ferry. Head Coach Bishop OConnell HS, Tyrell Ward School Hours: 7am-3:30pm We were hoping that the administration wasnt that tone-deaf. WCAC girls Player of the Year: McNamaras Madisen McDaniel. Morgan Bayard Wootten (April 21, 1931 January 21, 2020) was an American high school basketball coach for 46 seasons at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. The same can be said for Springs Valley High School in Indiana, which was one and done with Larry Bird. We took it possession by possession. I cant sleep, he said, because it bothers my conscience. Harris-Smith scored again to make it 60-60, but the senior missed the ensuing free throw. I knew every time I walked into those DeMatha doors, it was always a place of love and unity. Right now, I cant look at DeMatha that way. It was produced and directed by Bill Hayes, and features top coaches, players, and sports journalists, including Coach K, Roy Williams, Mike Brey, James Brown, John Feinstein and more. Private, college-prep school in Hyattsville, Maryland, United States, Single-gender schools in the Washington, DC area, Washington Metropolitan Area Catholic High Schools, Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 1976 gold medal winning United States Olympics team, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002, "DeMatha is much more than an 'athletic powerhouse' Streetcar Suburbs News", "DeMatha High Continues its Long Tradition", "Winningest prep basketball coach Wootten retires", "How outsider Justin Fairfax broke through the Democratic Party in bid for lieutenant governor", "Senate Tribute to David Schiappa, S.Res.
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