Native talent
Native American basketball players shoot for place on college teams
By Travis Coleman Journal Staff Writer | Posted: Saturday, July 28, 2007
MACY, Neb. -- On the basketball court, Zac Goodrich is the guy you look to for an assist.
MACY, Neb. -- On the basketball court, Zac Goodrich is the guy you look to for an assist.
But for this high school graduate to take his game to the collegiate level, he needs help to show his talent to school recruiters, which is why he was playing at the American Indian exclusive Native Elite Sports Showcase here Friday.
"I hope it helps me because I'm really looking forward to going. I just need a little help," said Goodrich, from Tahlequah, Okla.
Goodrich is one of 44 players invited to perform for recruiters from colleges such as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. A round-robin tournament will finish up today, followed by a three-point and slam dunk competition. The top players will then be selected to the Boys and Girls All-American Team based on their performances during the tournament. Finally, awards will be given out for Native Elite Sports Coach of the Year and Player of the Year.
"(The NES) has done a great job to get exposure to these Native American kids," said Tony Benford, assistant basketball coach at UNL.
The popularity of basketball among American Indians is tremendous, said Ted Juneau, acting athletic director at Haskell. But players often don't make it past the high school level because they're viewed as being irresponsible or having academic problems. According to the NCAA's 2005 race and ethnicity report, there were less than 60 American Indians playing on Division I basketball squads.
"The passion for basketball among Natives and the level of talent is better than a lot of people imagine," Juneau said. "There's a good base of Native talent that right now I don't think is being tapped."
At 5 feet 6 inches tall, Goodrich has been told he's undersized for a point guard. Division I scouts have told him he wasn't big or quick enough and that he should play for a junior college. Across the country, former Pine Ridge High School basketball coach Yvonne Decora has seen American Indian players like Goodrich at high school showcases that never make it to the next level.
"A lot of our Native players are overlooked," said DeCora, who is a NES board member.
For the most part, American Indian players are undersized and the players are used to playing a faster-paced game with a premium on shooting, passing and ballhandling, Juneau said. That pace can sometimes lead to mistakes, as Goodrich had about five turnovers in his first round robin game. But his speed on the court was blistering.
"I think it's an exciting brand of basketball," Juneau said. "You think the kids want the other team to score so they can get the ball and go score."
Along with court skills, the players had to meet a certain grade point average to be selected to the showcase, DeCora said. With all this, organizers hope to give the players a boost of confidence and show them how to market themselves to recruiters. They also stress that basketball is a means for them to get a college education, not the primary reason they're in school.
"We want to empower our youth ... so they can be successful," DeCora said.
The message of hitting the books before hitting the hardwood is a message that has resonated with Goodrich. But it's still something he has to work on.
"I'll probably go shoot a jump shot first and then go study but I try to get (to class) a little bit," Goodrich said.
MACY, Neb. -- On the basketball court, Zac Goodrich is the guy you look to for an assist.
But for this high school graduate to take his game to the collegiate level, he needs help to show his talent to school recruiters, which is why he was playing at the American Indian exclusive Native Elite Sports Showcase here Friday.
"I hope it helps me because I'm really looking forward to going. I just need a little help," said Goodrich, from Tahlequah, Okla.
Goodrich is one of 44 players invited to perform for recruiters from colleges such as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. A round-robin tournament will finish up today, followed by a three-point and slam dunk competition. The top players will then be selected to the Boys and Girls All-American Team based on their performances during the tournament. Finally, awards will be given out for Native Elite Sports Coach of the Year and Player of the Year.
"(The NES) has done a great job to get exposure to these Native American kids," said Tony Benford, assistant basketball coach at UNL.
The popularity of basketball among American Indians is tremendous, said Ted Juneau, acting athletic director at Haskell. But players often don't make it past the high school level because they're viewed as being irresponsible or having academic problems. According to the NCAA's 2005 race and ethnicity report, there were less than 60 American Indians playing on Division I basketball squads.
"The passion for basketball among Natives and the level of talent is better than a lot of people imagine," Juneau said. "There's a good base of Native talent that right now I don't think is being tapped."
At 5 feet 6 inches tall, Goodrich has been told he's undersized for a point guard. Division I scouts have told him he wasn't big or quick enough and that he should play for a junior college. Across the country, former Pine Ridge High School basketball coach Yvonne Decora has seen American Indian players like Goodrich at high school showcases that never make it to the next level.
"A lot of our Native players are overlooked," said DeCora, who is a NES board member.
For the most part, American Indian players are undersized and the players are used to playing a faster-paced game with a premium on shooting, passing and ballhandling, Juneau said. That pace can sometimes lead to mistakes, as Goodrich had about five turnovers in his first round robin game. But his speed on the court was blistering.
"I think it's an exciting brand of basketball," Juneau said. "You think the kids want the other team to score so they can get the ball and go score."
Along with court skills, the players had to meet a certain grade point average to be selected to the showcase, DeCora said. With all this, organizers hope to give the players a boost of confidence and show them how to market themselves to recruiters. They also stress that basketball is a means for them to get a college education, not the primary reason they're in school.
"We want to empower our youth ... so they can be successful," DeCora said.
The message of hitting the books before hitting the hardwood is a message that has resonated with Goodrich. But it's still something he has to work on.
"I'll probably go shoot a jump shot first and then go study but I try to get (to class) a little bit," Goodrich said.
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