Uptempo Hoops vs. The Thunder scrimmage

Uptempo Hoops hosts The Thunder in a scrimmage

What an exciting game to watch.  Every player on the court did well and we were proud to host The Thunder in a scrimmage.  Scrimmages are set up to help improve players without the pressure of a tournament.  Players still play hard and it's a good time to fine tune some skills.  The Thunder arrived, many players obviously built bigger and taller.  Players on The Thunder were older and have more AAU experience than our young team.  The scrimmage was held on a cool Friday evening during one of Uptempo Hoops practices in Alvarado Middle School gym.

The Thunder and Uptempo Hoops match up

The game begun and the action was quick.  You can see the nervousness and a little apprehension in our players.  It was very fast paced.  The score leaders changed many times, even the ball became dizzy with changing hands.  There were too many amazing shots to name.  Our boys were learning quickly and what seemed like apprehension melted into confidence.  This was the type of AAU game our 7th grade boys were hoping to face.  This is probably the first true challenge our boys have faced this season. 

4th Grade Team watches scrimmage

Most of the ooh's and ah's came from the young 4th grade team which watched in admiration.  The young players were watching and learning.  The older players did not disappoint.  The 4th grade team may have been cheering their own, but were learning from both teams.  The simple things they were taught, which sometimes they forget, they were able to see in action and see why they are taught those things.  The Thunder did very well at "vocalizing" and "calling out".  There was very good on court communication.  Being more experienced as a team, older, and AAU veterans, they brought a lot of value to both our 7th grade team and our 4th grade team.  Later that evening, my son, a player on the 4th grade team couldn't stop talking and re-enacting the moves of his older UH brothers.  By now, he's learned all the 7th graders' names and after last night, has learned their key moves.  In the car, all I heard was "mommy did you see so and so?"  and "so and so did this move....". 

The first basket was by UHs' N. Conner. From there, it was hard to keep track of who scored what.  It went so fast with great

moments like 2 steals by A. Carter and high flying rebounding by L. Murphy.  B. Gisler quickly learned how to aggressively block out and score from within the paint.  Other players who are usually unchallenged down the court, were strongly defended and they adapted well.  There was great ball handling by M. McKinney and R. Parilla, soaring outside shots by T. Ambulkar, and strong assists by K. Ayson.  Second chance points came from rebounding by D. Lee and J. Ignacio had fantastic drives to the key before dishing out the ball.  Even our latest addition, E. Chan had admirable moves and was productive in his first game with UH. 

It was a very exciting game from start to finish. The players did not disappoint.  UH was proud to host a team who plays this well.  As there are more games and more scrimmages, our young 7th grade team will get better and better.  Match ups between this Thunder team and UH 7th grade will continue to be just as exciting as the first.  Though there were many lead changes and the score always stayed close, often within 1 point, the final score was 38-41 with The Thunder winning this match up.  Thank you to The Thunder for the opportunity and as always, a great game played by our 7th grade boys team.  This team is full of true talent and they are exciting to watch.  It was a pleasure to be courtside for this game and to be able to capture how well the UH players did. 

Is the 7th grade "elite" worthy?

First Division I Tournament....

and there is "No Way Out" once arriving in Pacifica at 9:00 am on the chilly morning.  Our 7th grade team showed up to play their first DI tournament.  This is to determine if they are truly "elite".  The past games could be considered blow out wins, but maybe it was pure luck.  Maybe our boys were a case of the right time.  Would they be as good in the No Way Out tournament?  Well let's find out. 

Warming up before game #1

The boys walked out onto the court to face the NBBA (Boles).  This is their very first game against an elite squad.  Players' hearts were racing, you can hear the pounding from the stands.  Wait, that was probably the pounding of the fans and families as well.  Coach Joe Fitzgerald and Coach Rene Noriega stared at the players with intent.  They're off.  The ball races up and down the court, changing hands, changing leads, changing possessions.  At this level they are so fast, sometimes it's hard to keep track.  One thing for sure....UH pulled ahead and quickly leading by almost 30 points at the half.  The game ends.  Where does UH rate?  A 57-7 win tells the tale.  These boys can keep up with the elite and even pull out a win.  This is game one of a 3 game series.  There are still 2 more games to play, but right now....it's onto some fun in the sun.

Friends hanging out on the rocks

This April Saturday was warm, unusually warm.  In Pacifica, this is a rare treat.  Pacifica is not known for its bright and sunny weather, more for it's overcast and rolling fog.  Looks like the good natured weather accompanied our boys.  Off to the beach.  The boys spent time playing and hanging out with each other.  They jumped in the cool water, dug in sand like elementary school children, played football and of course, ate and ate and ate.  A few hours of recharging and relaxing and bonding with teammates is all they need to move onto game #2.  They were ready to return for more.  The long duration could make some worry.  The next game was 3:30pm, hours after game one.

Again, the boys were ready, stepping onto the court.  The first game gave them knowledge and know how. They knew what to expect and how to play.  One would expect the beach trip would have worn these boys out.  On the contrary, they pulled out another win.  The 7th grade Uptempo Hoops boys won over the Gametime Basketball:  52-29.  Another "oh my goodness" score.  Is there no mercy rule??  What a great day for basketball and fun.  The boys went home tired but proud.  They got much needed rest because game three is the next day:  game 3 to decide the tournament winners.

Chillin' on the beach in Pacifica

Game three on the following day, another beautiful and sunny day.  They are one player down from the previous day.  However because they are such an overall team, they may be able to pull out another win.  Game #3 was against Above and Beyond.  A recognized organization which produces talented players.  This will be a great experience for our team.  Once again, off they go like race horses up and down the court.  The ball seems to move itself as the player applies speed and agility.  There's no need to have to follow the action, before you know it, game is over.  What's the verdict of game #3?  Did the 7th grade team earn that elite title or did they walk away with some great experience?  Both.  They decisively won 52-27.  Another amazing win.  But not just any win, the tournament win.  Our boys ARE elite.  They've proven that time and time again, not to just the fans and families and coaches, who already believed in them, but to themselves.  What makes this status even more special is to see the smiles on their faces and the fun they have together both on and off the court. 

The winning team!!

Congratulations players:  Conner, Lee, Ambulkar, McKinney, Murphy, Ignacio, Gisler, Carter, Ayson, Hooper, and those who missed the tournament, but there in spirit:  Parilla and Balugo.  These names earned being mentioned.  Onto the next tournament.....

Bay Area Road Dawgs 4th Grade Tourney



Boys acting silly

UH vs All Star

Fourth Grade Second Tournament

Second tournament for our Uptempo Hoops 4th grade team.  Due to other commitments and sickness, we were a tight 6 player team for the first game.  The weather was extremely warm and the boys all showed up in time to play their 2pm game against the Gilroy All Stars.  The All Stars were tall and skilled.  Our boys played very hard and tirelessly.  They were all excited to hit the court for the 3rd time this 2012 season.  Just like the first tournament, there was a certain amount of nervousness, yet they were more confident.  They were in good spirits and looked forward to playing a good game.  The All Stars proved to be a challenge as UH lost 27 to 21.

The boys played a good game.  As we left, one parent from the All Stars said to us "wow, that was an intense game".  We agreed.  It was a very well played and exciting game.  Onto break time.  Again, the weather was quite warm.  We found a nice alcove which provided shade and a nice breeze to kill an hour.  Time to relax and have some snacks.  Our next game was at 4pm and against the UC Raptors, a great organization who is seasoned with AAU experience.  We were not schedulled to go against them, but as everyone knows:  AAU schedules are subject to change.

This was another intense game as you can tell both sides wanted to win.  One player arrived to play this game giving us a 7 man (boy) roster, Noriega.  It was much needed help to an already exhausted roster with one injury.  It was an exciting match up and the Raptors were not going away.

The one injured player, Carlton, was once again injured in this second game.  An accidental trip sent him landing on his knee in what appeared to put him out for the rest of the game.  At this point, I'd like to thank a young boy on the Raptors team who is well known by many players on the UH team.  His name is Ethan, a talented player who has heart and passion.  He came over to help the injured player, a competitor on the court, a friend off the court.  Ethan exemplified a true athlete.  The UH Family was touched by his action. 

The gap between the scores started to close.  Raptors were catching up and very quickly.  The fans were on their feet, both sides cheering for every shot and holding their breaths during every loose ball.  It was as exciting as a Final Four matchup, maybe even more exciting.  30 seconds before the end of the game and only 2 points separated the two teams.  The injured player returned with determination, bringing the ball down on a fast break, but missed the layup.  A foul call stopped the game and many hearts with only 0.01 left in the game, barely enough for a catch and shoot. UH ball but on the other side of the court.  Just enough time to hear the buzzer and the roar of the crowd.  There was no disappointment on the court.  There didn't have to be.  The Raptors have nothing to be ashamed of as they played hard and UH respects that.  The team welcomed the challenge and this game brought out the best in all the players.  The 4th grade walks away with their first 2012 AAU win:  17-15. 

Just trying to stay cool in this heat between games.

There were so many to highlight in this tournament, it's hard to start.  First, the energy and confidence Noriega brought in the second game and inspired the team.  He can be compared to how Nate Robinson charges up the Warriors and just makes them better.  Carlton and being able to compromise his body and take 2 charges causing huge turnovers.  Inciong, posting under the basket at just the right time and receiving the bounce passes which led to easy 2 points each time.  Yabut with his ball handling, he made 2 defenders turn around on themselves as he dribbled around them.  Ravara shooting from his "sweet spot" and making basket after basket after basket.  Too many to keep track of.  Griffin and his passion for wanting the ball and driving between defenders to the basket.  If winners always want the ball, Griffin definitely showed this.  Otico out there always ready to receive those baseball passes and successfully blocking out larger defenders.  All 7 were 110% more confident, more skillful and tactiful and overall better than the first tournament.  What does that mean?  It means they will be 110% better in the next tournament and once joined by the rest of the team, who knows how much better.  Good job to Coaches Greg Otico and Randy Inciong. 

Chevy's Fundraiser Experience

Tria family

Another night of fundraising and this time, it is at Chevy's in Union City.  This restaurant is famous for its Tex-Mex menu and charming atmosphere.  There is ample parking and the prices are extremely reasonable.  The families were looking forward to another night of socializing and eating.  The event started at 4pm on April 19 and ended at midnight.  It was a slow start as it was still early for dinner, however once the dinner time rolled around, the place was packed with Uptempo Hoops family, friends and fans. 

It was a very warm Thursday evening and attendees started filing in slowly in hungry groups.  It looks like everyone saved their appetite for a night eating out.  Families joined together in the bar area enjoying the lively atmosphere while others dined in the main dining area.  Many families invited guests who came and supported the UH Family. 

You can see the variety of food orderd ranged from the specials on the menu to the "usual".  I highly recommend the chipotle enchilada.  Granted, anything with cheese is good (unless you are allergic to dairy).... but in chipotle sauce?  Let's just say "muy delicioso". 

Carter Family

We were glad to see members who arrived early ranged from our seasoned families like the 6th grade player, Tria as well as new families like from our 7th grade, Carter.  As the night went on, the warm weather, smell of fresh cooked tortillas and noise of talking and laughter drew in a large crowd.  Not to mention, some of our guests are possible future basketball players and possible future UH players. 

The service may have been a bit slower than I would have liked, but it didn't matter.  Everyone was having such a good time, after a while it wasn't noticed.  Kids were outside running around and playing on the balcony and families patiently waited in the lobby for their table.  By the time my party was ready to leave, more than half the restaurant was Uptempo Hoops.  The waiting area including the outside waiting area was 100% Uptempo Hoops.  There were families from all of our teams.  It was so nice to see everyone in goood spirits.  The wait didn't even matter because everyone was together.  Unfortunately the wait was quite long because many of our members brought huge parties with them.  What does a small wait for a table matter when you're with family?

6th Grade Team having some pre-dinner fun.

2nd Annual Fundamentals Camp

Wow, Uptempo Hoops has been busy.  April 14 was our 2nd Annual Fundamentals Camp.  I could just say it was a success...but would that be enough?  Our 1st Fundamentals Camp was a success, so we had a positive outlook on this one as well.  We decided to keep this camp to just grades 2-4 and a hard cap at 30 registrants.  At first, it was a little scary we would not be able to fill that 30 as expected.  We faced baseball and flag football.  Even with that, we were able to make our goal.

Welcome!!  Come on in

The camp started promptly at 9am Saturday morning with eager and excited campers lining up for check in.  Some of our 7th grade team members, as well as Logan High Schoolers helped volunteer coach.  Of course, we had the expert knowledge of our UH coaches and family.  The t-shirts were a highlight and everyone charged the table to receive their shirt which were powered by our sponsors.  Shortly, introductions followed and the group warmed up as one until 2 groups were formed.  In between morning drills, there were games played with prizes which included a dollar bill and Jamba Juice gift cards.  The kids loved playing the games and were just as excited to cheer each other on as they were to play the games.  The junior coaches were encouraging too.  There was a lot of fun with everyone filling Conley Caraballo Gym with cheers. 

Laughter and excitement bounced off the gym's carpeted walls.  With a small coach to player ratio, these players were able to receive a lot of attention and learn the fundamentals.  Groups were created so players can learn at their pace.  There were enough coaches to work closely with campers and make sure no one was lost in the shuffle.  The weather warmed up and it was on to lunchtime outdoors.  Perfect weather.  The kids were able to socialize with new friends and reacquaint with old ones.  The weather, after a week of rain, was warm enough for an ice cream treat.  Here come the strawberry mango Popsicles (courtesy of the Santos family).  The kids loved them...and so did some of us adults.  Some kids even came back for seconds.  The break was long enough to mingle, eat and just relax before group picture time.  Some kids left early, unfortunately, we didn't capture them in the group picture. 

Now the kids were charged up again for more basketball.  The groups were divided further so they can scrimmage 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 half court.  It was fun to watch them run drills and play each other.  The girls group was especially fun to watch as they cheered and screamed with excitement on every play.  Win or lose, they just enjoyed playing the game.  Older, more experienced boy group was a little more aggressive, but the fun was not lost.  There was laughter and encouragement.  The other side kept some of the younger and less experienced players.  They mixed it up with games and skill development. 

In the end, the kids were able to get more than the fundamentals out of this camp.  They made friends and learned the importance of respect for every player.  Parents are already asking when is the next camp.  Maybe UH will host another one.  This is an important fundraiser for UH, not because of the money made, but the impact we have on the children.  One child in particular I will remember was a boy with little confidence and soft spoken.  My son played baseball with him and one UH coach was a baseball assistant coach.  We both agreed that this boy, now in basketball and at our camp, was a totally different boy.  After speaking with his father, we all noted how confident this child was, how he always had a smile on his face and how he even took command on the court.  In baseball, you would ask him a question and he would often stare at you because he didn't have the confidence to answer.  You asked him a question in this camp, he answered, direct and confident.  His father loved seeing how our camp brought that out in him.  We did too.  That is our true success.  Another success story is how some of our participants were autistic or developmentally delayed.  To see these children be included without stigma and see the smiles on their faces.  This filled me up with joy. 

Having some fun!!

We make our camps affordable.  For 5 hours of fun learning, we charge one of the lowest rates around, especially for this small coach to player ratio.  It is like having semi private lessons.  The whole staff is proud of that day because we get to see first hand the impact camps like ours has on children.  Before being a part of Uptempo Hoops, when my son attended the 1st Annual Camp, I already knew how special a UH camp is.  Watching all 5 hours just reassured what I knew.  These are memories which carry a long time and that's something money can't buy.

6th Grade Tournament and Scrimmage

This was an exciting weekend filled with all of Uptempo Hoops in tournaments.  All teams played, however, at different times and different locations.  We would have all liked to be together, but we have some great highlights of games, like the one below submitted by Coach Jim Irwin. 

"Being the 6th grade's 1st tournament play of the season they got off to an anxious start and fell behind early against a much bigger team that has played together for a while:  NYC out of Palo Alto.  They started to get into the swing of things and went neck and neck trading runs for most of the game but in the end was not able to make up for the slow start . (I don't have the final score but I believe we lost by 16)

The 6th grade seemed much more in sync the second game and powered by the effectiveness of the full court press and their fast break execution, they finished the day with a decisive 48-18 win over the host BullDawg squad."

Sounds like the 6th grade team had the first tournament jitters, but warmed up quickly.  The decisive win shows how strong this team is and how well they play together.  Each player being a huge asset and contribution to the second game win. 

Just a few days later, the 6th grade was ready for more competition.  Wednesday, 4/11 Uptempo Hoops scrimmaged against the UC Kings.  The Kings were gracious enough to host our 6th grade team during one of their practice times.  Because we are still a young organization, we appreciate gestures like this which allow us to work on areas of improvement.  The UH boys did very well in this scrimmage, resulting in an unofficial win.  Sounds like they are already ready for another AAU tournament. 

Our 6th grade team consists mostly of returning and experienced UH players.  There are a handful of new faces.  The mixture is a combination of experience, enthusiasm and skills.  With the positive and knowledgeable coaching staff, this team is a force in the AAU.  With every tournament, these players are sure to get better and better.  They are an exciting bunch to watch and have great team chemistry. 

Great job 6th grade.  We are looking forward to you bringing home some more wins. 

4th Grade First Tournament

Jitters and nerves is the best way to describe the 4th grade team's first tournament game.  There was excitement in the air as well as anticipation.  As nervous as these boys were, imagine the nerves of the parents.  AAU is a different world from the previous CYO season.  It's faster and more aggressive. There is no mercy rule.  There is no mercy.  At 8:30 early Saturday morning on April 7, these boys walked onto cold hardwood for the first time as a team.  As if in slow motion, they found their positions ready for the jump.  The still air can be cut with a knife.  Unfortunately, some nerves take longer to shake than others.  Our 4th grade team fell to the opponents, who were a more experienced team.  The other team, with much respect, were taller, bigger and, again, obviously, more experienced.  Our boys warmed as the game progressed and game back in the second half stronger.  You can see the boys meshing well as if pieces of reeds weaving a tight basket.  This second half effort was just a little too late. 

Onto game number 2.  Another team who were larger and appeared more formidable.  The Thunderbirds raced up and down the court in streams of orange.  Our boys, however, most of the nerves gone, were side by side with them.  Unlike the first game, this game, UH was more comfortable with their positions and with each other.  The game was filled with fast break points, fadeaway shots and layups.  You can see the improvement from the first game.  Unfortunately, this was another loss. 

Our Uptempo Hoops fourth grade team played hard.  They have a lot to learn, but you can see the potential.  What makes this team exciting is to see how they will be even a month from now.  It's good to get that first tournament out of the way.  They have to leave behind the CYO mentality of everyone plays fair and everyone gets a turn at scoring.  AAU doesn't work that way.  There are teams out there who will continue to run up the score just to humiliate another team.  UH has class.  We know what respect is and what good sportmanship is.  As that may be, it we can't expect to get the same respect.  I think our 4th grade boys got a wake up call today.  We walked away with injuries such as a jammed finger, scraped eye, bruised knee and hit to the funny bone.  By the second half of the second game, there was a more aggressive 4th grade team.  They woke up quick.  They realized,  a foul is not a foul unless it's called.  They learned to play through bad calls and injuries.  Playing hard together, supporting each other made our basket weave a little tighter. 

Practice will be on Monday.  Coach will review the errors and work on them as he enhances the team's strengths.  As a team, they may have a lot to learn.  But they will get there.  Just with these two games, you can see the improvement.  You can see the determination and the emotions.  I'm excited to see the next tournament because I know they will be even better.  It's hard to remember these are just 3rd and 4th graders playing together for the first time as a team.  What's great about that is they are young, there is room for them to learn and they will learn quickly.  There is a lot of talent swarming on that basketball court. Sitting here, blogging as I watch a Warriors game, I see these grown men playing a game they love and doing it well.  It's not that hard to make the same connection to our boys.   It's all for the love of the game.

Is there a secret to our successful practices?

I feel that Uptempo Hoops practices are very productive, successful.  Boys are running the court, the coaches are yelling supportively and our families are having a good time.  But why are the practices successful?  Is it the coaching staff?  Well, a great coaching staff is a given or else we wouldn't be here.  We're blessed with the coaching staff which we have.  Is it the gym?  It is a very nice 3 court gym which is well maintained.  But nope, don't think it's that either.  The true success is the dedication of our players.  If I could just take a moment to give props to the players, the heart of our organization. 

These boys come to play at every practice, they come to work hard.  Maybe it's the fear of looking bad or the fear of failure or the fear of getting yelled at and doing push ups.  Whatever the motivation, these boys are a joy to watch.  On any given night, there are the common noises of squeaking shoes, bouncing balls and the swish of the net.  On any given night at UH, there is laughter, yelling and encouragement.  These are groups of boys who may not ever have met, meet here twice a week and together, work to create a winning team.

Here's a picture of our newly created seventh grade team.  They came from different schools, different backgrounds and different races and religions.  However, here at the gym, they are the same.  They are gifted in their ball handling, quick in their speed and high in spirit.  Most of the team are strangers to eachother, having little to no AAU experience.  These were gems and we are so lucky to have stumbled upon these treasures.  To see them mesh together from day one and be blown away by how well they played together, pure amazement.  What makes this team worth watching?  Besides how well they get along, each player has a high basketball IQ.  Each player understands his role and position.  There is no ball hogging or show boating here, just pure team mentality:  what makes the team work.

The younger teams have players who played together last year or in CYO mixed with some new faces.  Just like the older players, each peg fell into place.  The youngest team, the 4th grade are always laughing with eachother.  The 5th grade shouts supportive commands.  The sixth grade "oohing" and "aahing" in unison.  This goes back to my earlier point.  What makes a successful practice?

Without these players attitudes and determination, there is no success.  If the child comes in with a half hearted attitude, negativity or unwillingness to try, or better known as "uncoachable", there is no recipe for success.  There is just gym time wasted.  After practicing with UH, a parent may ask "what am I paying for?"...take a minute to watch, really watch what's going on.  From what I've seen, my money is buying lifelong skills and quite possible, lifelong friends. 

The true success of an organization, of any team, is the child who we invest in.  When that child can do a move, which they never were able to and in confidence, that's success.  When the coaches come together and speak highly and proudly of a new player, that's success.  When a mother smiles through tears of joy and shouts "that's my baby!!" at an AAU tournament, that's success.  Winning a game is secondary. 

Why are our practices so successful?  Because the hopes and dreams of our players demand success. 

"Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it"  ~Winston Churchill

2 weeks later

Two weeks and three tourneys later, Uptempo Hoops is still going strong.  Another weekend full of tournaments.  Last week, our 7th grade team entered their first AAU tournament.  It was a 2 game one day tourney against skilled, respected and mature organizations.  Our 1 week young team walked away undefeated with 2 games under their belt.  Both games were close, but UH came out the victor.  Our fans were supportive as well as nervous for the boys.  At first the players were stiff with nerves, but by the second half of the first game, they were a well oiled machine.  The defense was fantastic and they played no less than awesome. 

A week later there is tourney number 2 and another 2 wins.  What's different?  Both were 20+ point wins, instead of the close games of last week.  First game was against friends and former teammates.  The other team played hard, but the UH boys walked away winners. Second game, was the same.  Now the 7th grade boys are even more comfortable and confident on the court.  What makes them special is how they work well together and communicate on the court.  From day one, they meshed well together.  They are supportive and each player knows their role on the court.  They throw a ball down the court knowing who should be there and what they should do.  This is a special team to watch.  I'd like to highlight our center's windmill layup.  That was amazing.  If he were just a bit taller, it would have been a windmill dunk. 

This weekend UH 5th grade boys played a two day tournament.  This was the "get your feet wet" tourney for them.  First game, they won by 20 points and second game, they lost by 20 points.  However, after speaking to their coach, overall they did very well as a team.  Opportunities like this, win or lose shows both strengths and weaknesses.  It sounded like the 5th graders played very well and played their hearts out.  I wish I was there to watch, but the 7th grade played in Santa Clara and the 5th grade in Hayward.

What's next on tap for UH?  April 7 is the next tournament.  In this tourney we expect to enter all 4 of our teams.  It's the first tourney for the young 4th grade team and for the 6th grade team.  Both teams have grown this past 2 weeks.  The 4th grade team consists of St. Anne CYO players who went to the Diocesan finals.  The 6th grade team is blessed with 6th graders who played on their aggressive and skilled AMS team.  I'm very proud of all these players. 

We are only a few weeks into the season.  We are all gearing up for the Jam On It tournament in Reno.  This is very exciting for everyone.  For me the pride and excitement also lies locally.  The boys all get along very well.  My young 3rd grader, plays on the 4th grade team, admires the 7th grade team, has played with the 5th graders and became friends with the 6th graders.  It's more than an organization, it is a family, it is a village and it DOES take everyone to make this organization succeed.  I've met some great new families and rekindled friendships with others.  As tournaments come, I envision lifetime bonds.  I see young boys turning into successful men.  Who knows if we are creating NBA players, but it doesn't matter.  What we are creating is the first generation of an ever growing basketball family.  I recently made a joke, because I do not have a 7th grader boy, I said "I'm here to check up on all my kids".  Good job to everyone who is part of Uptempo Hoops, every little bit makes a huge difference.