Making the Team
“Everything Coach Johnson told the participants was done. She told them to stand on the black base line and it happened. She said to be quiet and it happened. If she told them to run up and down the stairs they probably would have. It just proves the seriousness that the participants had for this tryout.”
As the upcoming Varsity Basketball season is upon us, it’s going to be looking quite different from last year, as the team will have a whole new roster compared from last year. So fans who knew everything about the team from last year are on fairly the same playing field as students who know nothing of the team. This adds a level of mystery to who is going to be on the team and who will emerge as a top star of our varsity basketball team.
Just the other week, right after the school bells rang for the last time of the day, a rush of male students ran to the gym. 12th graders. 11th graders. 10th graders. Even some 9th graders showed up.
They got instructions to sign in on a clipboard and get ready in the changing room and had to be back at 4:25. Coach Johnson said this with the most calm and precise words, but with the sternest and no-play type of demeanor that made the participants follow every word with no mistakes.
There were about 40 participants in the Gym. Everything Coach Johnson told the participants was done. She told them to stand on the black base line and it happened. She said to be quiet and it happened. If she told them to run up and down the stairs they probably would have. It just proves the seriousness that the participants had for this tryout.
But it wasn’t 40 participants for long.
She gave some of the worst news that they could've heard, and she said: “If you are failing any classes you might as well leave.” The silent gym turned into groaning and panic. You could feel the heart beat for those who knew it was going to be over before it even began. And those who thought they were slick had another thing coming, she had printed out report cards and called out to multiple names and gave them the report card and told them to leave. They didn’t even have anything to say back because the facts didn't lie and they walked out. But participants were still entering the gym. These people either had check-ins and were let in or had come in late because of dawdling and those who had no significant reason for being late wouldn’t be let in. Coach Johnson meant business.
After all of the attendance, Johnson gave each participant a name badge, put numbers on them, and started the gruesome conditioning. She told them to do 17’s which is when you run from baseline and back 17 times. This exercise focused on stamina and pacing, and if you can’t pace yourself then you can burn out.
The next exercises were fire feet. In this exercise, the participants were told to run in place as fast as they could, then on the whistle they were told to do an exercise like a burpee. After the conditioning, Coach Jonson made 6 teams of 5 with the fairest matchups she could give, to be honest, a lot of players exceeded my expectations like Uzman and Alex Villanueva, and some players did not meet my expectations, like Kendryand Tristan. What I saw wasn’t the best; they missed layups, had no positional awareness, struggled with communication, and had no composure, leading to bad decisions and mistakes like bad passes, turnovers, and messed up plays.
Coach Johnson echoed my concerns: “My biggest concern on the court is communication. It seems that this generation of players often struggles with this essential skill, which is a crucial element in turning good teams into great ones. Effective communication allows players to anticipate each other's moves, coordinate strategies, and maintain a unified defense. Without it, even the most talented teams may fall short of their potential.”
What to be seen on a team is not absolute talent, but the ability to maneuver the ball on the court. We don’t need a team full of leaders but need people good enough for the other to follow. A strong chemistry can build a team to new levels, having the ability for a team to work together, moving as one body on the court.
What Coach Johnson wants on the team is team chemistry and hard work on the court and off the court: “Maintaining a healthy balance between academic and athletic commitments is critical. Juggling school work, practice schedules, and games can be challenging, and players need support to manage these demands effectively.”
Coach Johnson seems to pick the players based on whether they can stay on the court. Athletic talent is something of a god-given ability but if this cannot be utilized based on the Comp Sci High system, these players are of little to no use for our school’s team. This encourages “players to build strong, supportive relationships outside of practice not only strengthens their bond but also improves communication and trust on the court. When players feel connected and valued as part of a team, it enhances both their personal growth and overall team cohesion.”
We asked a long-time fan of the basketball team, someone who is now a manager for the basketball team, Justice Theophilus. We asked who are some people that made the varsity basketball team that people should keep a close eye on. Someone he mentioned who is currently a senior at Comp Sci High is Fabakary Drammeh. He mentioned how when he was on varsity last year, he was new to the school and still warming up to the team. Now Justice says during practice the hustle Fabakary brings to the team shows that he has true potential to be a leader on this year's basketball varsity team.
Another name that was brought up was Alex Villanueva, as his point guard skills allows him to space the floor forcing defenders to have to make that split second decision whatever to help their teammates or be worried for a pass. The last name that was mentioned was Cory Browne, he brings a dominant mentally to the court and is not afraid to go up for the shot. Having the type of player on the team with that much confidence is something you don’t see every day and we believe will be a great addition to the team.