I haven't been this excited over the initials "M & M"...since...well...I guess..."Eminem". After helping lead Prestonwood Christian (Plano, TX) to a championship victory over highly ranked Grace Prep (Arlington, TX) at the City of Palms Classic on Wednesday night, Mickey Mitchell is officially..."The REAL Slim Shady!!!" This is the second time Prestonwood Christian has faced Grace Prep in a week. The first meeting was televised on Espn U and was a decisive fifteen point win for Grace Prep, despite a solid showing from Mickey with 16 pts, 6 rebs, and 4 asts. In the City of Palms championship game however, the tides turned.
Mickey Mitchell helped Prestonwood Christian to a twenty point blow out victory over Grace Prep, 62-42. He led all scorers with 19 points and battled on the glass as well for a solid 8 rebounds.
"I never seen a freshman like Mickey. He can really play." Prestonwood Christian coach Chris Mayberry said. "He's so intelligent, his basketball IQ is outrageous. He just understands the game so well." Mickey's solid performance is even more impressive considering the steep competition he faced. Grace Prep is one of the better teams in the country and are led by 7 foot senior sensation Isaiah Austin and top ten player in the class of 2014 Emanuel Mudiay. Mickey Mitchell is obviously not a one man team. Prestonwood Christian is led by Julius Randle, the junior superstar who just might be the second coming of Chris Webber. Randle actually earned MVP honors of the tournament, despite a quiet night with 7 points and 7 rebounds in the final. Mitchell was selected to the All-Tournament Team.
What sets Mickey apart from other freshman baller's, at least at the moment, is his combination of size, strength, athletic ability and skill level. Perhaps the "Coup de Grace" of Mitchell's game though is his play making and passing abilities. He kinda reminds me of Miami Heat's Mike Miller (another "M & M"), when he was younger because of his ability to play a "point forward" type of roll. Mitchell's terrific play so early in his freshman season should be of little surprise for those that follow youth hoops. He's been a well established name in grass roots basketball since he was twelve and this past July he helped lead his AAU team Texas Titans to a 14U national championship. Back in August, Mickey Mitchell was one of the ten freshman featured in Prospect-Central's "Ten Fresh Faces" and before the season started I selected him as pre-season Freshman of the Year. So far he's living up to the hype, but the season is far from over.
Like any young baller, Mickey Mitchell is far from a finished product. He needs to continue to stay motivated despite his early success and work on his overall game. He's also a solid QB prospect in football and may need to decide if he really wants to be a dual sport athlete. Like I said before, the initials "M & M" have taken on a new meaning for me. There is a new "Eminem" on the block. Let's just hope Mickey Mitchell can cross this 8 mile road now.
The first month of the 2011-12 high school basketball season is coming to an end and there have been a number of prime time player's from the freshman class making an immediate impact for their varsity squads. I previously wrote about five freshmen that were off to a fast start this season and now there are another fab five deserving of the recognition as well. All five of these baller's have been in Prospect-Central's TOP 50 for the class of 2015 well before the season started and by the looks of it, they won't be loosing their rankings anytime soon. These five freshmen are truly.....BALLING HARD!!!
MARCUS LOVETT, JRpg / 5'10'' 155 / Providence High /Burbank, CA
When watching Marcus LoVett, Jr. play basketball, it's easy to see why people "LoVett"!!! This crafty southpaw has an uncanny ability to create for himself or others. LoVett's scoring prowess is second to none in the freshman class as well. Through his first six varsity games, Marcus is leading all freshmen in scoring with over 30 ppg, including a ridiculous outburst of 55 points in an overtime victory against Santa Maria, (CA) St. Joseph's. Marcus has shown some excellent basketball instincts for a freshman and it's easy to see why there's already some Division I college programs interested in this talented young point guard.
SKAL LABISSIEREpf / 6'9'' 190 / Evangelical Christian /Memphis, TN
This past summer I watched a 6-foot 9-inch baller tear it up at the prestigious Fab Frosh All-American basketball camp. I had NO idea who he was, but I knew he would be one of the better freshman from this years class. I even mentioned him in one of my articles in August. The player in question, Skal Labissiere. Skal is a versatile, sharp shooting big-man with a high basketball skill-set. Currently leading his team in points (18.4ppg) rebounds (8.7rpg) and blocks (3.7bpg), Labissiere is clearly a force to be reckoned with. Even though he's only lived in the United States for one year (originally from Haiti), Skal Labissere is quickly becoming a well known name.
MALIK NEWMANpg/sg / 6'2'' 175 / Callaway High /Jackson, MS
Even though I have written about Malik Newman a few times already in his short basketball career, it would be hard not to mention his name once again when talking about some freshmen who are "Balling Hard" in their first month of high school hoops. He's currently in the top ten for freshman scoring in the nation with 22.8 ppg and has more than lived up to the hype that was thrust upon him since an 8th grader. With excellent athleticism and quickness, coupled with a tremendous jumper and nice size, Malik Newman is a future star in the making and at the moment deserving of Prospect-Central's #1 player in the class of 2015.
TYLER DORSEYsg / 6'4'' 180 / Ribet Academy /Los Angeles, CA
If you're from the West Coast and follow high school basketball, then I'm sure your well aware of the freshman sensation know as Tyler Dorsey. If not..."Ya'll Better Recognize!!!" With nice length, excellent poise, solid athleticism and a silky smooth jumpshot, Tyler Dorsey reminds me of a "Jeremy Lamb" in the making. Currently in the top five for freshman scoring in the nation with 23.3 ppg, he's also a tremendous re-bounder (10.5 rpg) and passer (6.5 apg) as well. As of right now, Dorsey is a top five player in the nation for freshmen (imo) and it's clear why he's receiving interest from a number of Divison I college programs...He's "Balling Hard."
KING McCLUREsg / 6'2'' 190 / Triple A Academy / Ovilla, TX
I have no idea who the strongest freshman in high school is pound for pound, but King McClure would definitely be on the ballot. He's a runaway freight train when he gets a full head of steam and there is almost NO stopping him. He's not just a physical pariah either. He can stroke it from deep, has a nice mid-range game and shows a willingness to get after it on the defensive side of the ball as well. McClure is leading his team in scoring with 19.8 ppg, which is good for top 15 in the nation for freshmen.This past summer he was M.V.P.of the Fab Frosh All-American game and he's been rumored to have scholarship offers from Baylor & Houston.Like Run D.M.C says..." I'm Down with the King!!!"
The names on the jerseys look familiar -- Sanders, Lewis, Griffey, Combs, Taylor -- and the moves on the field almost always give it away. They are the sons of famous athletes and entertainers.
It's never easy for these players to make a name for themselves on the field. The expectations can often be overwhelming. Fans expect every run to be a touchdown, every defensive play to be a pick or a sack. When the dads come to watch them, it can be a huge distraction as fans want autographs or pictures. They might be stars in the NFL or MLB or entertainment fields, but at the end of the day, they're still just dad to their son on the field.
While it takes hard work, several have managed to be more than just the son of the famous dad but prospects in their own right, and here's a look at several from the 2012 and '13 classes. On the slideshow you can view information about the father & son by enlarging the screen and then clicking "Show Info" on the upper right hand corner. Click for ESPN Rising Sons.
Iconic football coach Bill Redell employs only a few rules in building his staff at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif.
Chief among them: He won't hire you if your son plays on the team. Unless, of course, you're Joe Montana. Or Clay Matthews.
Montana assisted Redell when Nick Montana, son of the four-time Super Bowl-champion quarterback, played the same position at Oaks Christian in 2008 and 2009. And Matthews, who played 278 NFL games over 19 seasons and fathered two NFL linebackers -- including Oaks Christian graduate Casey Matthews -- serves as defensive coordinator under Redell.
"I'll lift my policy for Joe Montana or Clay Matthews," Redell said, "not if you're some guy who played third-string at Cal State Northridge and wants to coach your son."
What to take from this, other than that the elder Montana and Matthews know a little something about how to teach football? Fair or not, a set of rules exists in today's culture for celebrities and star athletes that applies to no one else.
While Redell, the owner of eight California Interscholastic Federation championships, acted as any sane coach likely would, his acceptance of Montana and Matthews underscored a key component of our celebrity-driven society: Special treatment is everywhere.
Along with the notoriety, children of professional athletes and entertainers face troubling pressures and expectations.
They've handled it well at Oaks Christian, a private and pricey school near the Hollywood Hills that two years ago featured Nick Montana on the same football team with Trevor Gretzky, son of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, and movie star Will Smith's son, Trey Smith.
Word leaked in the summer before Montana's junior year that he had transferred from powerhouse Del La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., to Oaks Christian. Soon, paparazzi showed up at the school, Redell said. Security became a hot topic.
"I noticed a lot more press, and we expected that," the coach said. "But we had to be aware of everyone who was around."
The younger Montana, now a redshirt freshman QB at Washington, handled the situation with grace and humility, Redell said, in large part by following the example of his parents.
"I played in the NFL for three games," Redell said, "and if we had a conversation for five minutes, I'd probably mention it. Joe Montana may be the greatest to ever play, but doesn't talk about his success."
Same goes for Gretzky and Smith.
"I can't say enough about all of them -- the parents and their children," Redell said.
Miller Safrit/ESPN.comWR Cayleb Jones feels more pressure to make an impact at Texas than he does being the son of a Super Bowl champ.
Similarly, ex-NFL linebacker Robert Jones, a three-time Super Bowl champ with the Dallas Cowboys, said his son, Texas-committed receiver Cayleb Jones, has thrived in the spotlight.
The elder Jones talks regularly about the potential pressures with Cayleb, who is No. 83 in the ESPNU 150 as a senior at Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Texas. In part because of the shared insight, Cayleb operates mentally more like a 25-year-old athlete, his father said, than an 18-year-old.
"Communication is most important," Robert Jones said. "We talk about all the negatives and positives. I don't think Cayleb feels any pressure following in my footsteps. The only pressure, I think, he feels is being able to play right away when he comes into Texas."
Sports today are littered with legacies. But for every success story like Peyton and Eli Manning, Brett Hull or Grant Hill, dozens in their situations don't fare as well.
And athletics hardly hold a candle to the family undertones of the entertainment industry, with its storied names like Clooney, Douglas, Fonda, Jackson and Osmond. Sports and show business mirror each other in placing a heavy burden on offspring of the rich and famous who choose to enter the public eye.
Why do some fly so high while others flop? There is no definitive answer, but there are plenty of factors that will shape the future for the Class of 2012 celebrity legacies.
The pressure comes from all directions
Dan Lebowitz, executive director of Northeastern University's Sport in Society, describes the mix of modern culture with the professionalization of sports at even its lowest levels as "the ultimate prescription for failure."
"We live in a world where the extraordinary is considered normal," Lebowitz said, "and if you're not exceptional, we can find somebody else who is."
Robert Przybylo/ESPN.comEvery defense Barry Sanders faces is out to stop him not just because of his talent, but also because of the name on his jersey.
The pressures placed upon famous, young athletes often originate everywhere but from the celebrity parents -- classmates, coaches, media and even inward.
"Part of that is simply the unbearable burden of disappointing their parents," said Mark Anshel, professor of sport and exercise psychology at Middle Tennessee State.
And don't forget, said Steve Ettinger, author and fitness expert, another peer group makes it tough to succeed as the child of a superstar.
"If you're the opponent," Ettinger said, "it's a big deal to tackle Barry Sanders' son."
On just how high a pedestal do we place prominent athletes? Ettinger, who grew up near Los Angeles and attended school with another of the Gretzky children, said he once walked past the Great One on the stairs at school. It was the highlight of Ettinger's eighth-grade year.
Still, Barry J. Sanders Jr., son of the legendary running back, said it's all worthwhile. A senior at Heritage Hall High in Oklahoma City, Sanders ranks 81st in the ESPNU 150 and sixth among running backs. He's considering offers from Alabama, Florida State, Stanford and Oklahoma State, where his dad won the Heisman Trophy in 1988.
"I take a lot of pride in being his son," Sanders said. "I know I can count on him for support, and he has always been there whenever I've had any questions about recruiting or anything, really."
Celebrity pitfalls are difficult to avoid
When celebrity athletes reach the college level of competition, many have yet to experience failure. And if they have failed, according to Anshel, many didn't take responsibility for it.
"There is a sense that because my father or mother was so good that it should never be my fault," Anshel said. "And ultimately that hurts growth and performance."
Miller Safrit/ESPN.comEverybody knows his dad, but Justin Combs is doing his best to make a name for himself.
Additionally, a celebrity athlete might feel pressure to match the athletic achievements of his parents, leading to a fear of failure. All of it can play tricks on a young mind.
"Particularly, if you look at where these people are developmentally, it's difficult," said Michelle Maidenberg, a psychotherapist specializing in fitness-related issues and an adjunct professor at New York University. "This is a time to find their niche. During that stage of development, you're really trying to find your identity.
"But there's an expectation that if your father is an athlete, you've got to be as good."
Parents are rarely the problem
An interviewer once asked Canadian actor Alan Thicke if he was jealous of the success enjoyed by his children, actor Brennan Thicke and award-winning musician Robin Thicke.
"I told him he must not have kids or he'd understand," said Thicke, best known for his starring role on the sitcom "Growing Pains" and a longtime friend of Gretzky's. "It's an even bigger thrill when your kids do well than when you do it yourself."
Still, Thicke never pushed his kids toward a career in acting or music. In fact, he discouraged it.
"I'm glad I made it look appealing, but I tried to tell them show business is fickle," Thicke said.
"You want them to follow their dreams and passions. By the same token, it's important to instill in them the realities that you're a longshot. The reason those guys get paid so much money is because their talents are so rare."
Thicke said he saw the same dynamic at work with Gretzky and his five children.
"I think people who have been through that understand it best as parents," the actor said.
It's maturity as much as it's athleticism and genetics
Robert Epstein, a research psychologist and noted author, recently developed a 140-question test to measure maturity in teens and adults. Thirty percent of 13- to 17-year-olds scored higher than adults.
Across the board, teens fared only percentage points lower than adults. The teens' results, though, varied much more widely than those of older test subjects.
"There are plenty of young people at the top," Epstein said. "We forget this sometimes as a culture."
The point? Young people, athletes included, are unpredictable.
Add the element of celebrity, and success is all that much more difficult to predict.
"Because of technology, if the public eye is on you, you basically have the whole world watching," Epstein said. "For some, that might be a motivator. For others, it's devastating."
None of this psycho-analysis is required
At least, that's the belief of Garret Kramer, author and managing partner of Inner Sports, which specializes in athletic behavioral assessment and mentoring.
According to Kramer, it's all about recognizing and harnessing your mindset. Athletes who face unusual pressure succeed while operating from a high state of mind.
"My guess is that Archie Manning understood this in his own way," Kramer said. "He understood it's one thing to preach the common doctrine to his kids -- live your life, don't follow me -- but he also knew if they didn't make decisions at the right time, they would become a victim of their own circumstances."
All of societal mantras only create more confusion, Kramer said.
"We're getting in these kids' heads when it's not necessary," he said. "A guy like Archie Manning, what he did best -- like a lot of clear-thinking parents -- he got out of his kids' way." Click for Original Article.
