Dantley and legendary coach Morgan Wootten have even been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 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. His Pistons teammate, Saddiq Bey, started out at DeMatha, but transferred to another D.C. private school, Sidwell Friends, after being unable to crack the Stags lineup as an underclassman. Assistant Coach South Carolina, Ron Everhart 80 Head Coach Howard University, Marshall Cho Jahmir Young, Brown University In 1965, Wootten made national headlines when his DeMatha team beat Lew Alcindor's Power Memorial Academy and ended its 71-game winning streak. Although Winston missed the free throw,. 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.. WCAC boys Player of the Year: Paul VIs DeShawn Harris-Smith. DeMatha 70 Paul VI 72 Final Box Score Feb 26, 2023 @ 11:29pm The program began in 2019, when. University of Connecticut (UConn) They got less pay for better work. Read Sally Jenkins on the USWNT settlement with U.S. Soccer. "[4], Sports Illustrated recognized DeMatha as the #2 high school athletic program in the United States in 2005,[5] and again in 2007.[6]. 4313 Madison Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781 We had lot of balance, and we rebounded well. Last month, a week after the hire was announced, the school organized a meeting between Strickland and parents. Its confusing to me, said Keith Stevens, director of an AAU program, Team Takeover, that has long attracted and trained top DeMatha players, including NBA all-star Victor Oladipo and Detroit Piston Jerami Grant. Ive reached out to every last one of those guys to express how proud I was of them and their commitment and their success. I stand in awe of him. Prominent graduates from DeMatha Catholic High School include celebrities, politicians, business people, athletes and more. With :48 remaining, Mack knocked down a trey for the Cadets, and St. Johns led 63-62. Dickinson was named to the First Team All-WCAC alongside teammate Justin Moore. The shot bounced off the back of the rim and the Cadets celebration was on, one year after St. Johns finished with a .500 record. The Race For The Top High School Basketball Job In The - Defector Division regular season champion Paul Rabil, Lacrosse, 2004 Helped DeMatha to four WCAC lacrosse titles. Mike Brey, head coach of Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball, also played under Wootten. That success has attracted plenty of outside interest. 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. The same can be said for Springs Valley High School in Indiana, which was one and done with Larry Bird. Cover StoryA culture of winningRick Snider For Wootten, it's a wonderful viewFalcons challenge Stags, againTop 10 notable DeMatha alumni. We kept them under 40 points and that says a lot about our defensive effort tonight, said veteran Cadets head coach Jonathan Scribner. This directory is not just composed of graduates of this school, as some of the famous people on this list didn't necessarily earn a degree from DeMatha Catholic High School. Carolae Barton, with 13 rebounds, had the best game of her career., Kyndal Walker stated, Paul VI has a great team, but we stayed together tonight. Head coach: Mike Jones | 2019-20: 30-3, No. Basketball player, Coach Age: 68 Birthplace: Washington, D.C. Adrian Delano Dantley (born February 28, 1956) is an American retired basketball player who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nate Darling (2016) is a professional basketball player who plays for the Charlotte Hornets and played collegiately at the University of Delaware. Then a layup by Davis with 1:21 remaining following a Paul VI turnover gave the Cadets a 60-58 lead. Assistant Coach Louisville, James Robinson 12 On Jan 30, 1965, DeMatha did what many considered impossible - it knocked off New York City's Power Memorial and its star seven-foot center Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Player Pos HT WT Birth City Birth Date HS Grad Draft Year College Current Team; Desmond Adedeji: FC: 6-10: 305: Landover Hills, MD: Jan 13, 1987: 2005: 2010: Stony Brook-Derek Ahern: C: 6-11: 260 . It was produced and directed by Bill Hayes, and features top coaches, players, and sports journalists, including Coach K, Roy Williams, Mike Brey, James Brown, John Feinstein and more. He most recently worked as athletic director at St. Johns Catholic Prep in Frederick County. Morgan Wootten, Mike Jones, Victor Oladipo, Quinn Cook, Jerami Grant, Markelle Fultz, Hunter Dickinson, Justin Moore, Jemari Young, Earl Timberlake. I cant sleep, he said, because it bothers my conscience. Imagine how that would be received in the news firing the physics teacher because we need a coach, said Day, adding that DeMatha doesnt allow parents of current students to be on its board. 1. Assistant Coach University of Notre Dame, Kenny Blakeney 90 When people are passionate about a school or a teacher or a coach, then you get passionate responses. 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). Then in the WCAC boys basketball semifinal games, St. Johns edged Gonzaga, 54-53; and Paul VI edged DeMatha, 72-70. Jordan Hawkins He also helped the program uphold its reputation as a Division I talent factory. Strickland said the meeting ended with many of the parents shaking his hand. [1][2][4][5], In 1956, Wootten was hired as a history teacher and the coach of the football and basketball teams at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. But even Mustaf said he is disturbed by how Strickland got the job and that none of the people behind the decision attended the meeting with parents. No point passing gun control if you don't prosecute gun crimes. Jeff Allen is a professional basketball player. Director of Player Development Portland Trailblazer, Assistant Coach University of Notre Dame. In this wide-ranging documentary, top coaches, players, and sports journalists - Coach K, Roy Williams, Mike Brey, James Brown, John Feinstein, and others - tell the story of DeMatha High School and its legendary coach who shaped the game of basketball and changed lives along the way. Wootten turned down the offers, according to Sports Illustrated, because the Maryland job, which was not forthcoming, was the only college job he wanted. The lady Cadets improved to 25-6 on the season - one year after defeating Bishop McNamara High School of Forestville, Maryland, for the 2021-22 title. 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. It really hurts my heart because I never thought DeMatha would get to this point and to not even think enough about us. In terms of how this whole thing has taken place, I cant, Mustaf said in an interview. Office Hours: 7:45am-3:30pm, Copyright 2021 DeMatha Catholic High School, LT ( SEAL ) Brendan Looney ' 99 Convocation Center. Coming off a challenging, pandemic-condensed season, some found out about Strickland on social media. In the fall, St. Johns won the WCAC football championship and also titles in boys and girls cross country, girls field hockey and girls soccer. DeMatha has long been recognized as one of the elite academic institutions in suburban Washington. But to Smith and others, it should have been taken into account immediately, whether Strickland ends up staying on the bench or not. [13][14][15], In 1996, Wootten nearly died because of a malfunctioning liver and was quickly rushed to the hospital for a liver transplant. But several said they feared that the hires signaled a reset intended to attract more White donors and to change the perception of a school that is located in predominantly Black Prince Georges County and has a student body that is 48 percent African American and about 65 percent non-White. I cant escape into sports. Also won an NCAA 400m title at Georgia. Is Morgan Wootten the greatest basketball coach ever? Dematha'S Class of 1985 Extraordinary Classy Athletes Howard University Coach Kenny Blakeney, a DeMatha alum, said he supports placing Strickland in the position on a short-term basis and trusts the school will properly vet the next full-time coach. Assistant Coach Washington Wizards, Travis Lyons 94 January 11, 1985. In Youngs second season in Blacksburg, the Hokies went 15-7, losing to Florida in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Roster - DeMatha Stags (Hyattsville, MD) Varsity Basketball 22-23 Site by Glass Canvas. Instead, Joe Wootten left to become the coach at Bishop OConnell, and Jones became the choice. In Spring of 2020, Jones accepted a job as the assistant head coach for Virginia Tech Hokies. Teams - DeMatha Catholic High School High school basketball rankings: Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 opens with Ben Hammond got the ball to WCAC Player of the Year DeShawn Harris-Smith who heaved up an NBA trey attempt from approximately 35 feet away. Kings, Bernard Williams 65 San Diego Rockets. 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). San Antonio Spurs, Joseph Forte 99 I was having an identity crisis. Those explanations havent been conveyed, which frustrates some parents, who contend that handling a transition the way DeMatha did 20 years ago isnt acceptable. . They didnt like that, I dont think. Theyre just waiting for it blow over. [20], In 2017, the documentary film Morgan Wootten: The Godfather of Basketball was released. The couple now have two young boys. Then in the WCAC girls basketball semifinal games, St. Johns defeated Good Counsel, 67-34; and Paul VI edged Bishop McNamara, 53-52, toppling the undefeated Mustangs. [The Athletic is a subscription-based sports website that provides national and local coverage.]. DeMatha basketball coach Mike Jones is leaving the program after 19 seasons to take a job at Virginia Tech, the schools announced Monday. 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. Todd Beckerman, Wrestling, 1996 A legendary prep career with a record of 208-1 the only loss coming during his freshman year. A 6'7" small forward out of DeMatha High School, Branch starred at the University of Maryland from 1981 to 1985. Each coach emphasizes preparation, respect, fair play and teamwork on the playing field and the importance of academic success and growth in the classroom. unknown to the kids. Cook is a professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. Two days later, DeMatha hired Strickland, an alumnus with connections to the basketball team stretching five decades, for at least the next season. Canadian couple endows Notre Dame men's basketball coaching position You have multiple coaches not only coaches but alums thats been a part of DeMatha the majority of their adult lives. 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. 5 in final MaxPreps Top 25 Breakdown: The Stags have established themselves as a mainstay in the MaxPreps Top 25, finishing. Its like a spit in the face to every Black athlete that put that program on the map. Morgan Wootten - Wikipedia He learned more from the losses than the wins. Steve Settles Boston Celtics, Adrian Branch 81 Conference tournament champion. On top of being one of the best basketball teams in the Washington, DC area, the school has won six national championships and 41 WCAC Championships. Sidney Lowe, Basketball, 1979 Along with DeMatha teammate Dereck Whittenburg, led North Carolina State to the 1983 NCAA title. For the Jan. 27 funeral Mass, 1,500 mourners - many former players, coaching and teaching colleagues, family and friends - filled the Morgan and Kathy Wootten Gymnasium on the campus of DeMatha, where from 1956 to 2002, Wootten served as the head basketball coach and was a world history teacher at the all-boys school in Hyattsville, Maryland. It's a program built on tradition with a storied past that has strengthened each decade even as the game of basketball continues to change. Has gone on to a distinguished broadcasting career with FOX and CBS. Brown is currently host of the NFL on Fox pregame show. It was a game of dramatic plays and dramatic action by both teams. DeMatha means everything to me, Jones said. The Howard University Ive talked to 100 people and all 100 of them said this process was faulty. 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. Given that history, Day said, the school should get some benefit of the doubt. The Cadets, coached by veteran Behan (a former Bucknell player), outscored the Panthers 16-9 to trail 19-18 as the first quarter concluded. Bishop McNamara vs. DeMatha | 3/1/2023 High School Basketball Conference regular season and conference tournament champion We did not want the student-athletes to feel as if theyre being abandoned. Thaire Vance 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. In the fourth quarter, St. Johns led for the first 5:20 of game action. Twin titles: St. John's girls' and boys' basketball teams both net 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. [14], Joe became a basketball coach at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. Day said inclusion will factor in the decision, pointing to the recent hiring of Shaka Dickerson, who is Black, as dean of students. Jones said he has not given any thought to who will replace him as coach of the Stags or whether he will play any part in that hiring process. On top of being one of the best basketball teams in the Washington, DC area, the school has won six national championships. 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. And I dont think that they would ever come out and say that, but they didnt like that.. But Smiths plan for them has been shaken, he said, after his alma maters recent decision to replace Woottens Black successor, Mike Jones, with a White interim coach, Pete Strickland bypassing, without even interviewing, several Black assistants in the process. Wootten was born in Durham, North Carolina on April 21, 1931, the son of a United States Navy officer Charles Thomas Wootten, Jr. and grandson of photographer Bayard Wootten. In 1984 Branch led the Terrapins to the ACC Championship. Cook won the 2015 NCAA national championship with Duke, and won two NBA championships, one with the Golden State Warriors in 2018 and one with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. We were hoping that the administration wasnt that tone-deaf. List of famous alumni from DeMatha Catholic High School, with photos when available. Six-time All-Star led the league in scoring twice. He and teammate Joe Forte, 2001 ACC player of year at North Carolina, led DeMatha to City Title as juniors. He was an All-ACC second team selection twice. Times have changed. The move upset not just Smith but many of the programs parents, other alumni and other stakeholders, according to interviews with a dozen people in and around the storied basketball team. He has a wealth of experience and really is connected with the DeMatha mission, Day said. Jones has established himself as not only a worthy successor to Wootten but also one of the most respected figures in the D.C. areas ultracompetitive prep basketball scene. Starting running back for Philadelphia Eagles since 2004 and two-time Pro Bowler. And since DeMatha requires coaches to be educators, Strickland can easily fill the position in the English department vacated by Jones. Morgan Bayard Wootten (April 21, 1931 January 21, 2020) was an American high school basketball coach for 46 seasons at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. Student-athletes play and work to their potential. Kings, Bernard Williams 65 [18][19], In 1992, Wootten wrote a manual for coaching, Coaching Basketball Successfully, with co-author Dave Gilbert. 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. I wanted them to know that this was the most difficult decision of my life, Jones said.