He had two perfect seasons, the first coming in 1977-78 (28-0) and the other in 1990-91 (30-0). Assistant Coach West Virginia, Evan Kee 08 Morgan State University In October 2012, Jones was named a Distinguished Alumnus at ODU and in 2017 was inducted into the DeMatha Hall of Fame. Strickland, in an interview, admitted that the first hour was heated as parents peppered him with questions. Kings, Bernard Williams 65 San Diego Rockets. More than a dozen of Wootten's players went on to play in the NBA, including Adrian Dantley and Danny Ferry. 2019 Graduates: Carsten Kogelnik Brown University, Justin Moore Villanova University, Steve Settles The Howard University, Thaire Vance Morgan State University, Joshua Wallace Plays football for UMass, Jahmir Young University of Maryland. Conference regular season and conference tournament champion That success has attracted plenty of outside interest. The final game of the year, played just weeks before the pandemic shut down high school athletics across the country, was a 70-56 victory over Paul VI in the WCAC title game. DeMathas administration needed to keep the continuity together moving forward and felt that Coach was the best choice to do that, said Blakeney, who was teammates with Jones, Veney and DeMatha assistant Kevin Cromer. The Stags team is predominantly African American. We kept them under 40 points and that says a lot about our defensive effort tonight, said veteran Cadets head coach Jonathan Scribner. Although Winston missed the free throw,. Strickland already has started leading offseason workouts. DeMatha is home to 13 varsity sports, as well as junior varsity and freshman teams. DeMatha Catholic competes in the highly competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and play other private schools in the Archdiocese of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia; such as Archbishop Carroll, Bishop Ireton, Bishop McNamara, Bishop O'Connell, Good Counsel, Gonzaga, Paul VI, St. John's College, and St. Mary's DeMatha Stag Coaches Club: The following individuals are DeMatha Alumni, former DeMatha Coaches, or both: David Adkins Director of Player Development Portland Trailblazer, Rod Balanis 88 Assistant Coach University of Notre Dame, Kenny Blakeney 90 Assistant Coach Columbia University, Mike Brey 77 Head Coach- Notre Dame, Marshall Cho Head Coach Lake Oswego HS (OR), Perry Clark 70 Assistant Coach South Carolina, Ron Everhart 80 Assistant Coach West Virginia, Evan Kee 08 Head Coach The Apprentice School, Sidney Lowe 79 Assistant Coach Washington Wizards, Travis Lyons 94 Head Coach Riverdale Baptist HS, Joe Mihalich Head Coach Hofstra, Frank Oliver 96 Head Girls Coach Bishop McNamara HS, Chris Parsons 91Al Assistant Coach UNC Greensboro, Mike Pegues 96 Assistant Coach Louisville, James Robinson 12 University of Delaware, Heath Schroyer 90 Athletic Director McNeese State, Kurtis Schultz 90 Assistant Coach USC, Duane Simpkins 92 Assistant Coach George Mason, Pete Strickland 75 Head Coach Irish National Team, Joe Wootten 91 Head Coach Bishop OConnell HS. Records and information is as of 12 p.m. on Friday. Virginia Tech Head Girls Coach Bishop McNamara HS, Chris Parsons 91Al The victory, in front of a sold-out crowd at Marylands Cole Field House, broke Powers 71 game winning streak and is considered one of the most legendary high school basketball games in scholastic history. (Jones did not respond to a request for comment). [2] His overall record at the time was 1,210 wins and 183 losses. Jones formally shared the move with varsity coaches shortly before the formal announcement, confirming what some had assumed when Strickland showed up to the gym earlier that day. Probably, to some degree, both sides. Day said DeMatha opted for a temporary fix in Strickland because he was available and open to guiding the program through the transition. Joshua Wallace By Michael Lee. He transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park in 1953 and became the junior varsity basketball and football coach at St. John's College High School. Jones, the face of the areas most celebrated high school sports program, was offered the top assistant position May 5, he said in a phone interview Monday. Its allowed me to walk around the last 19 years and pound my chest and be a proud DeMatha alum.. Wootten turned down the offers, according to Sports Illustrated, because the Maryland job, which was not forthcoming, was the only college job he wanted. Two decades later, many of Smiths closest friends, his family, are the teammates he bonded with at the prestigious all-boys school in Hyattsville, Md., all having taken in the lessons of a legend. Leonard Smiths fondest memory from his time at DeMatha Catholic High was sitting in the office of the schools legendary coach, Morgan Wootten, and watching him pick up the phone to secure Smith a scholarship, from a school that had never recruited him, strictly on the strength of Woottens word. And she doesnt owe it to anyone to keep trying not her sponsors, not her fans and not the game. Read Candace Buckner on Naomi Osaka. Thaire Vance We dont have an opening in science. Wootten was named Coach of the 20th Century and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. Angry social media posts and emotional responses have gone viral within the DeMatha basketball community. Milwaukee Bucks, Danny Ferry 85 Given that history, Day said, the school should get some benefit of the doubt. He loves us and wants us all to do our best.. The entire St. Johns athletic program has been a juggernaut this academic year. Office Hours: 7:45am-3:30pm, Copyright 2021 DeMatha Catholic High School, LT ( SEAL ) Brendan Looney ' 99 Convocation Center. Paul VI dropped to 28-3 and were paced by Harris-Smith (24 points), Darren Harris (14 points), Ngongba (11 points), Hammond (seven points), Isaiah Abraham (four points) and Jaquan Womack (three points). One fact, in particular, overwhelmed the conversation: that none of Joness assistants were even considered, let alone consulted about the schools plans. Theyre just waiting for it blow over. Justin Moore This didnt feel brotherly., Its nobody on this earth, the parent went on, that can tell me that if there were five White [assistant] coaches there that they would go find a 70-year-old Black coach to coach them without even talking to the white boys that were there. St. Johns then outscored Paul VI 12-10 in the second quarter to take a 30-29 lead into intermission. This list of distinguished DeMatha Catholic High School alumni is loosely ordered by relevance, so the most recognizable celebrities who attended DeMatha Catholic High School are at the top of the list. But for others, the pain of the process lingers. Wootten never had a losing record, with his worst performance coming in the 195758 season, when DeMatha went 1711, the only year his team did not have at least 20 wins. Each coach emphasizes preparation, respect, fair play and teamwork on the playing field and the importance of academic success and growth in the classroom. DeMatha basketball coach Mike Jones is leaving the program after 19 seasons to take a job at Virginia Tech, the schools announced Monday. Manchin and Haley at least talk the right way against federal spending, Donald Trump's five-pronged attack plan against Ron DeSantis looks pretty weak, Reporters Notebook: Bidens student loan forgiveness plan in Supreme Court's crosshairs. Is Morgan Wootten the greatest basketball coach ever? Coming off a challenging, pandemic-condensed season, some found out about Strickland on social media. Student-athletes play and work to their potential. Jones, 47, is a former standout guard for the Stags who starred at Old Dominion and later became a DeMatha assistant under Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten. Williams was a shooting guard much like Maurice, a dive-on-the-ball player known for his defense. Brey is a 1982 graduate of George Washington University. Another Thomas basket, as well as a bucket by Carolae Barton, gave the Cadets a 6-0 lead on the way to a 12-8 advantage as the first quarter concluded. Conference regular season champion According to a person in attendance, Strickland responded that he couldnt change the color of my skin and said his job was to meet them where they are.. From Ernie Cage '58 and Adrian Dantley '73 to Victor Oladipo '10, Markelle Fultz '16 and Justin Moore '19, there have been many All-Americans who have played at DeMatha. 2021 Graduates Elijah Hawkins The Howard University, Jordan Hawkins University of Connecticut (UConn), Will Reynolds Grambling University. He also helped the program uphold its reputation as a Division I talent factory. With Mike departing this past offseason for Virginia Tech, new Head Coach Mike G. Jones III is ready to bring the Stags into the next era in this legendary program's history. In Spring of 2020, Jones accepted a job as the assistant head coach for Virginia Tech Hokies. Boston Celtics, Adrian Branch 81 Jones played professionally in the United States, Europe, and in Asia. No point passing gun control if you don't prosecute gun crimes. DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md., doesn't have your average high school basketball program. Even some critics of the hire say they have no doubt he can do the job. I know they love the school and theyve invested a lot of their time and energy and intellectual property into developing young men. The DeMatha athletic department has garnered over 200 league championships in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) since the school won its first championshipin 1957.DeMatha is home to 13 varsity sports, as well as junior varsity andfreshman teams. Director of Player Development Portland Trailblazer, Assistant Coach University of Notre Dame. Read more about Coach Jones under his bio. He has also played for the Dallas Mavericks, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Laney High School in North Carolina can attest to that its only NBA player is Michael Jordan. But the move signals something larger, several parents and alumni said: that even amid a nationwide push for more diversity in leadership in sports but also in politics, media, entertainment and other industries DeMatha officials couldnt see the value of giving one of its current Black assistants a chance. Steve Settles I knew every time I walked into those DeMatha doors, it was always a place of love and unity. [33] Strickland said the meeting ended with many of the parents shaking his hand. Aaron Roberson Were happy with that.. In the third quarter, St. Johns took their next double digit lead at 34-24 when Tatum Greene, a freshman, converted a bucket off of the glass. His teams have won national titles and several conference titles in that time span as they play in one of the most competitive conferences in the nation, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. . [20], In 2017, the documentary film Morgan Wootten: The Godfather of Basketball was released. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Orlando Magic, Jerami Grant 12 We already had an interim., Aaron Proia, a video coordinator, is one of two assistants to leave the program since Strickland was hired. It was a game of dramatic plays and dramatic action by both teams. [5], Although his football teams had won three league titles, Wootten decided to focus on basketball after the 1968 season. Once, when Mustaf missed an assignment, Strickland assigned him James Baldwins The Fire Next Time as a makeup lesson. They got less pay for better work. Read Sally Jenkins on the USWNT settlement with U.S. Soccer. Starting running back for Philadelphia Eagles since 2004 and two-time Pro Bowler. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Its at the core of who I am as a person. Mike Jones '91 successfully followed up a legend by making his own legendary path by amassing over 500 wins in 19 seasons, and eight WCAC Championships, and he himself played under Morgan and was a key member of the 1991 squad that went undefeated at 30-0. One of the iconic moments in Woottens career was in 1965 when Wootten made national headlines as his DeMatha team beat Lew Alcindors Power Memorial Academy and ended its 71-game winning streak! Drew Hanlen is the CEO of Pure Sweat and an NBA Strategic Skills Coach & Consultant that counts Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves), Dwight Howard (Houston. He transitioned to a basketball career off the court when he was presented with an opportunity with the Atlanta Hawks to be an intern, a seasonal assistant. DeMatha replaced Mike Jones, pictured here, with a White interim coach . St. Johns College High School in Washington, D.C., celebrated twin triumphs on Feb. 27 at American Universitys Bender Arena, as St. Johns Cadets girls and boys basketball teams both netted Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship wins. Two days later, DeMatha hired Strickland, an alumnus with connections to the basketball team stretching five decades, for at least the next season. Mike Brey, head coach of Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball, also played under Wootten. And Im like, Nah, yall have got to address this. Im willing to do this for the greater good because I know a lot of my guys want to say something but cant.. The Howard University It was a great atmosphere in school today getting ready for this game, said Thomas, a senior. The basketball program and DeMatha's proud athletic reputation owe a lot to the late Morgan Wootten, who was the varsity head coach for 46 seasons and won 1,274 games. We scream, One DeMatha, because of the brotherhood of it. Volunteer Help the coach manage this team. Sign up now to get the Washington Examiners breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. DeMatha has one of the top basketball programs in the nation. Derek Mills, Track, 1990 One of three DeMatha grads to earn an Olympic gold medal. University of Maryland, After graduating from DeMatha, Aldridge attended American University and worked as a writer for the Washington Post. Today Maryland High School Basketball | Mrch 1, 2023The Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) varsity basketball team has a home non-conference game vs. DeMatha . The couple now have two young boys. Frazier is now an assistant at Illinois, his alma mater. In the WCAC boys basketball quarterfinal games, St. Johns defeated Good Counsel, 68-63; Paul VI defeated Bishop Ireton, 77-52; DeMatha topped Bishop OConnell, 66-63; and Gonzaga defeated McNamara, 72-47. 72-70 (W) Paul VI vs. DeMatha On 2/26, the Paul VI varsity basketball team won their neutral playoff game against DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD) by a score of 72-70. Orlando Magic, John Jones 62 At DeMatha, Williams became a better player, but Morgan used basketball to teach him about life. WCAC, Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, Stags, DeMatha Stags, Coaches, Alumni Athletes. He was 29 and had no head coaching experience. Brown is currently host of the NFL on Fox pregame show. Before he decides to spend his savings on two DeMatha educations, Smith said he needs to hear an apology or a satisfactory explanation. The DeMatha athletic department has garnered over 200 league championships in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) since the school won its first championshipin 1957. With 16 seconds left in the game and the Stags down 62-70, starting PG Jaden Winston grabbed an offensive rebound and put up a tough layup, was fouled, and got the and-one. He played college football at the, The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings. In addition to his coaching duties at DeMatha, Jones taught at the Hyattsville school and has been involved with USA Basketball since 2004. Brian Westbrook, Football, 1997 Star running back at Villanova, where he won the Walter Payton Award in 2001 as top offensive player in Division I-AA. DeMatha Hoops | DeMatha Basketball Powered by SportsMarkit, DeMatha Basketball Powered by SportsMarkit, DeMatha Basketball, DeMatha Basketball, SportsMarkit, Stags, WCAC, WCAC Basketball, Maryland Basketball, Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, DeMatha Catholic High School Hyattsville, Maryland, Mike Jones, Coach Mike Jones, Coach Wooten, Nike Basketball, Nike Elite Basketball, bp-nouveau,page-template,page-template-full_width,page-template-full_width-php,page,page-id-125,theme-bridge,qode-quick-links-1.0,woocommerce-no-js,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,no_animation_on_touch,qode_grid_1300,footer_responsive_adv,hide_top_bar_on_mobile_header,columns-4,qode-theme-ver-11.1,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.7,vc_responsive,no-js. Sidwell Friends (25-4) - Last week: 3. They didnt like that, I dont think. We have worked so hard for this moment we wanted this so bad for coach B who has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), said St. Johns player Timothy Barton afterwards, acknowledging the teams respect for its coach, Patrick Behan. St. Johns coach Scribner noted, It was a business-like game. When Wootten began considering retirement near the end of the last century, the assumption, even by him, was that his son, Joe, would slide over one seat from his role as top assistant. Stricklands wife, Mary, is also a faculty member. Another alumnus who hopes to make. I was having an identity crisis. Recipient of an honorary monogram from the Notre Dame Monogram Club, Brey is a former chair of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Rules Committee. Miami Heat, Charles Whitney 76 To learn more about our basketball program, please visit our DeMatha Hoops website! Former NBA as a sideline reporter for Turner Sports (TNT). Whos lying here? [4][6], UCLA basketball coach John Wooden (19102010) described his admiration for Wootten when he said, "I know of no finer coach at any level high school, college or pro. In terms of how this whole thing has taken place, I cant, Mustaf said in an interview. Boston Celtics, Joe Kennedy 64 DeMatha 70 Paul VI 72 Final Box Score Feb 26, 2023 @ 11:29pm We were hoping that the administration wasnt that tone-deaf. University of Connecticut (UConn) Mike Jones and his DeMatha Squads won an impressive 500 games (and only 121 loses). Smith and Mustaf said the stability the school claimed it sought in Strickland could have been achieved by hiring someone already on the bench. And since DeMatha requires coaches to be educators, Strickland can easily fill the position in the English department vacated by Jones. Led by star player John Austin, the basketball team won its first conference title in 1961 and the national high school championship in 1962. Adrian Francis Branch (born November 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. The 1964-65 Stags varsity basketball team, led by a young coach named Morgan Wootten, upset the seemingly unbeatable Power Memorial (NY) and their senior center Lew Alcindor (later, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). St. Johns led on all 49 scoring junctures of the contest and was paced by Thomas (13 points), Barton (11 points and 13 rebounds), Walker (10 points and eight rebounds), Greene (nine points and seven rebounds), ONeil (three points) and Morgan Stewart (two). This past winter, pandemic restrictions limited DeMatha to a condensed schedule without a postseason, and the team finished 11-0.