The New Majority: houston's minority news reader

YATES BASKTBALL: Obtains national ranking, but fails to register on local mainstream media seismometer

By Paul Fitzgerald Bennett

These days, you'll find mention of the Yates Lions Boys basketball team on several national basketball websites.

After defeating both of ESPN's number one and number nine high school ranked teams in America in the Houston versus the Nation tournament over the Christmas Holidays, Yates entered the first week of February as the #5 ranked team in the country by USA Today. So what has Houston City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones so perturbed?

"If this had been a suburban or a private local school you would have seen a lot more local media coverage. Local media should have done a much better job with this story," said Ms. Jones.

Recently, the Third Ward native took it on her own to do what others have failed to do by honoring Yates' holiday achievement at Houston City Hall. The Lions' 66-60 defeat of then ESPN #1 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, New Jersey), and 82-80 defeat of then USA Today 3rd ranked Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia) is an accomplishment which no other Houston area school has accomplished at a single basketball tournament in recent history.

"This is a great David versus Goliath story," said Ms. Jones. "Yates is a public school which receives very little public funding. They beat two teams which are perennially ranked, receive sponsorship from big shoe companies, have kids who are recruited from all over the country and who get to travel all over the country."

Oak Hill Academy in particular has a basketball alumnus which could compete with many professional all star teams. NBA stars like Carmelo Anthony, Jerry Stackhouse, Stephen Jackson, Josh Smith and Marcus Williams are just a few of the players which have made Oak Hill a national powerhouse. NBA players such as Al Harrington and Samuel Dalembert prove that St. Patrick is no slouch when it comes to pro talent. And Yates is proving that it may one day add its own player to the professional ranks in the form of senior center Anthony Jones. The future Baylor Bear was the MVP of the Houston versus the Nation tournament. Mr. Jones said he's not worried about his current team receiving official recognition during the season.

"You don't have to worry about us staying focus. Coach (Greg) Wise will see to that," said Mr. Jones. "We're still in district play. The playoffs haven't even started yet. We're not going to let this get to our heads."

Because of illness, Mr. Wise was not in attendance at the city hall ceremony. Yates Principal Winston Steele credits the first year Yates coach with much of the team's success.

"Nothing fazes him. The work ethic he has instilled in these young men is nothing short of amazing," said Mr. Steele. On the ESPN website St. Patrick Coach Kevin Boyle said, "They (Yates) play with a tremendous amount of energy; seems like they play non-stop." Senior guard Xavier Roberson credits Mr. Wise with keeping the Lions humble.

"He tells us not to care about what's on the internet and the rankings. Our focus is to keep working every day, whether it's in practice or in the game," said Mr. Roberson.

Yates has lost two games this season to Cy Springs and Madison. Both occurred when several of the team's key players were either playing football or were still making the transition to basketball from football. During the Houston versus The Nation tournament, Madison and Yates players were supportive of one another.

"We respect Madison and yes we cheered for them when they were playing," said senior guard Kenneth Jefferson. "A lot of us grew up together in Third Ward. We went to Ryan, Blackshear and Douglass elementary. We played together or competed against one another in middle school. We rooted for Madison because they are a Houston team."

The wish now is that local media will be more supportive of a Houston team.

"This does need to be more publicized," said Mr. Steele. "As to the politics of it, I don't know what's going on. I do know that I and Coach Wise are doing our best to get the information out there. Thankfully Councilwoman Jones is recognizing what Yates has done this season. And we are going to give this to HISD so that they will recognize it also."

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