Hello Basketball World!
It's your boy Jordan. This is my final diary and I just wanted to say that it has been a great experience and that I enjoyed every minute of it.
I wanted to begin by thanking some important folks in my life this past year. My first thanks go to God for giving me the ability play basketball and to my parents for working with me both educationally and athletically. My mom will always make sure that I get the best academically. She always quotes "The key to academic success is parental involvement. My dad for working with me in basketball for all of these years and always letting me know that books come before basketball. His phrase is "Basketball will get you to the door but it's an education that will open it."
A special thank you goes out to Mike Melton for creating Basketball Spotlight and giving us all and opportunity to be exposed and recognized in the basketball world. Many of us would not have known each other or about each other if it was not for Basketball Spotlight. If there is anything that I could ever do for Basketball Spotlight, please let me know. Thanks again Mike for choosing me to do the spotlight. It was truly an honor! Keep up the great work!
I would also like to thank all of my teachers and school coaches, with a special thanks to Mrs. Christina Roach. Don't know what I would have done without you! I also want to thank Tina Gregory who helped my family gather a lot of information on the high schools that I was considering.
I would also like to thank two of my biggest fans, my grand parents, Cyril and Barbara DeRosa.
I would also like to thank all of those connected with HoopGroup: Adam Turner, Mike Farrelly, Rob Kennedy, Tiny Green, Dan Rose, Chris Zupko, Joe Stein, Yonah Greenstein and Matt Horwitz
People who have worked with me one on one in basketball and conditioning:
Ted Black, Valentine Barnaby, Frank Burno, Skip Fuller, William (Pop's) Beckford and Herb Magee. And a special thanks to Dave, who helps get me back on my feet!
My AAU coaches 2008-2009:
Sports University: Frank Burno, Brian Coleman, Ed Bright
NJ Shoreshots: Adam Turner, Yonah Greenstein, Matt Horwitz
Greenburgh Kings: Michael Forehand, Chris Forehand and Terry Williams
Hoop Heaven Fall League: Coach Sina
Playaz: (Eight is Enough League): Coach Slappy
There so many other people that I would like to thank, but I am keeping it to the people who I have worked with over the past year.
And now what many people have been asking me all summer. My high school choice will be Saint Anthony's. A former coach and someone who I respect greatly said to me early in the year "No matter what school you choose, make sure that it is a place that you will be happy". Since March, I have been involved with many people who are a part of Saint Anthony's and who also made me feel like I was a part of Saint Anthony's. I like the fact that the school is small and I love the classes that they offer. It will be a great experience and I look forward to being a part of the school and its basketball legacy. I AM A FRIAR!!!!!
I would also like to thank all of the other schools who showed interest in me.
Though this will be my last diary, you can still check me out on http://www.jordanforehand.com/
Once again, I have enjoyed talking to you each week. To the younger guy's as well as my peers, remember that the books are just as important as the basketball. Without the grades, you cannot get into college. With the grades and the basketball, you can write your own ticket! And even with the grades and the basketball, remember to be the best person you can be.
J4-Out
11-17-94
Peace!
Sunday will be the final Diary Of A Baller entry featuring Jordan Forehand. We would like to thank Jordan and his family for taking the time to give us some insight into his life. It was truly a pleasure. Now Basketball Spotlight will search for (4) new Diary Of A Baller participants. We will choose one player from each of the following states; New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The qualifications are listed below. If you feel you have what it takes then send us an email at basketballspotlight@hotmail.com.
Diary Of A Baller Qualifications:
Class Of 2014 (Must Be Entering 8th Grade)
Very Responsible and Committed To The Project (It’s a long year)
Must Be Interesting (On and Off The Court)
Must Be Able To Send Diary Weekly (That’s Only 4 A Month)
In your email please write a paragraph introducing yourself and explain why you think you should be our Diary Of A Baller participant.
Diary Of A Baller Participants Will Be Announced By The End Of September.
Jaren Sina Took Home MVP Honors
The Five Star Sixers Camp Recently took place and they sent us over the report. It seems that two Class of 2013 players came in and crashed the party.
For the first time ever two players from the class of 2013 played in this years All-Star game. 5"10 Freshman Kavon Stewart-Paterson Catholic and 6"0 Freshman Jaren Sina -Gill St.Bernards.
Freshman Jaren Sina broke an All Star game record with 14 Assists and scored 22 points! Out of all these players Jaren Sina was named MVP of the game and was the youngest player to ever win Most Valuable Player.Jaren Sina is considered to be one of the best players in the class of 2013 and will play varsity action, so will other Freshman Kavon Stewart.Five Star Basketball
Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant At Gym Rat Midnight Madness. Are You Next?
The Gym Rat Midnight Madness will be returning again this fall. The Ultimate Showcase has featured some of the top players in the world. The alumni include Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and most recently Tyreke Evans to name a few. Over 50 NBA players have participated in this event when they were younger.
This year Basketball Spotlight will once again kick off its coverage season with a trip to this event. Don’t miss your chance to register and get discovered. The young divisions include 5th Grade Thru 8th Grade.
Date: Saturday (September 26, 2009)
Place: Eastern High School (Voorhees, NJ)
Time: 12:00 PM To Midnight
Cost: $75 (Includes Full Uniform)
To Register Contact
Vince Jackson at vjackson@gymratmidnightmadness.org or (856)-383-2798
For Information visit Gymratmidnightmadness.org
In a week Basketball Spotlight will be posting our Goodbye Top 100 rankings for the Class Of 2013. Through all my years of doing rankings this was one of the most difficult. It was difficult because the talent levels among many of the players are very similar. Please understand we stress the fact of being unbiased are just expressing our opinion.
The Gym Rat Midnight Madness will be returning again this fall. The Ultimate Showcase has featured some of the top players in the world. The alumni include Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and most recently Tyreke Evans to name a few. Over 50 NBA players have participated in this event when they were younger.
This year Basketball Spotlight will once again kick off its coverage season with a trip to this event. Don’t miss your chance to register and get discovered. The young divisions include 5th Grade Thru 8th Grade.
Date: Saturday (September 26, 2009)
Place: Eastern High School (Voorhees, NJ)
Time: 12:00 PM To Midnight
Cost: $75 (Includes Full Uniform)
To Register Contact
Vince Jackson at vjackson@gymratmidnightmadness.org or (856)-383-2798
For Information visit Gymratmidnightmadness.org
My Bad Shamorie!Sometimes as a write or evaluator of talent you can forget some important information. When I completed the 11U award winners I simply forgot to add Shamorie Ponds to the list as one of the top scorers. Ponds play was one of the major reasons the Gauchos had a great start to the season. The southpaw is one of the purest scorers in the region and loves to have the rock in his hands when the game is on the line.
I want to give a personal shout out to this kid because he earned his props and should have received them. I also appreciate the fact that no one from the Gauchos or Ponds immediate family complained to me concerning this matter. They gave us the chance to figure it out on our own. We will add Ponds name alongside Rakym Felders as one of the top scorers.