OPS strives to provide more than just regular coverage of basketball at the
prep level. With direction from Rob Taylor and Ozie Davis III, OPS has become
Ohio's premier web-site covering AAU Basketball from youth through high
school.
Our reasons for covering this area of sport is simple. With ever increasing
numbers, AAU Basketball has built a cult following in Ohio and around the
country. What was once an inexpensive sport with intentions of keeping Americas
youth off the streets and in the gyms has now become an expensive tournament
driven sport for those with deep pockets or the right sponsorships.
As Rob Taylor stated in his latest article "State of Ohio AAU Basketball"
many programs have become a search for the next great player and the ability to
cash in on that players name with shoe contracts or other endorsement deals for
the high cost of travel.
One program has been built with simple down to earth principles. The Dayton
Nets were founded to help kids from the Miami Valley play affordable AAU
Basketball with kids from all different economical and cultural backgrounds.
With kids from inner city and the suburbs playing and learning life's lessons
the Nets are building a strong following with parents who have drawn tired of
the high dollar constant travel that many of today's top AAU program are forced
to follow.
With help OPS was given the chance to talk with the powers that be of the
Nets. What we found were adults really looking to help kids with more than
perfecting their jump shot or the great no-look pass. The Nets were built to
develop young athletes into young men ready for the reality of the world. The
main people behind the Nets are proving you can always go home and give back to
your community in some capacity.
We visited the Nets during a recent practice held at Jefferson High School.
Chuck Taylor and John Hardwick took some time away from the court to give us a
behind the scenes look at the Nets program.
OPS: Who founded the Nets program and when?
Chuck Taylor: I founded this program in 1996. We started with a 1st and 2nd
grade team. At every level I had a son that war really starting to play
basketball and I was trying to get some type of individual basketball time for
him and his friends around the nationhood. It kind of grew after I felt there
was a need for kids who couldn't afford the ever growing cost of playing AAU
Basketball. As you know the cost of AAU is astronomical and I had a chance
because of my job as a court bailiff to ask attorneys to help sponsor my
program. Because of their help our program has become very successful and they
are very helpful. That is were our money comes from and they believe in our
program.
OPS: What makes the Nets a different type of AAU program?
Chuck Taylor: We try to mentor kids and keep a very family atmosphere within
the program. We want to bring the kids off the playgrounds and into the gyms to
play basketball. We try to get the suburb kids and the inner city kids together
to bond as friends. Not everyone is going to the NBA or get a college
scholarship and to me friendship is great in a child's development.
OPS: You seem to have kids from all over. What schools do you have
covered?
Chuck Taylor: We have so many schools; let me give you the cities. Piqua,
Troy, Huber Heights, Trotwood, Dayton, Clayton, Miamisburg, Centerville,
Fairborn really the whole Miami Valley.
OPS: When talking about mentorship, how do you keep them on the straight and
narrow?
Chuck Taylor: Being a court bailiff I see all these old athletes getting into
trouble for one reason or another as they come through the system. So we try to
get our hands on these kids in the 4th or 5th grade. We mentor staring in the
4th grade through the 9th grade. We have instituted things like this summer
computer classes and we have a coach's wife that helps tutor our kids. Most of
the kids we have, both Coach Hardwick and I have known their parents from
growing up together. Coach Hardwick and I played baseball together growing up.
We've been great friends and with this program it allows us to reach back and
make these kids believe in themselves and stay on the straight and narrow
path.
OPS: Were did you go to school at?
Chuck Taylor: I went to Roth High School and ended up at Howard University on
a football scholarship.
John Hardwick: I went to Trotwood - Madison High School and then I went to
the U.S Naval Academy for baseball.
OPS: How many kids are in the program today?
Chuck Taylor: We have 72 kids in the program. We have a 4th grade team, two
5th grade teams, two 7th grade teams and a 9th grade team. Next year will see us
grow again as we join with the Dakota Center. We have already spoken to the
coach of this program and he felt the Nets program is great. I knew the head
coach from growing up and I know all of these kids. There coming aboard next
year so we will have another team next year.
OPS: If a kid or parent is interested in becoming part of the Nets what
should they do?
Chuck Taylor: They should contact me or Coach Hardwick. My number is
937-333-4354 or 937-524-623. Coach Hardwick's number is 937-898-8909 or
937-307-6497. They just need to give us a call and we can give them more
information.
OPS: What has been the response around the other Dayton area AAU teams and
also the teams from around the state?
Chuck Taylor: Oh, it's been great. When we started this it was based on just
pulling kids in. We use basketball to just pull kids in. We believe as an
organization that winning is not that important. It's the mentoring and trying
to keep those kids out of trouble. Instead of having kids in juvenile court we
want them on the basketball court. We always need to reevaluate because we
didn't expect the program to grow like it has with the type of talent we have in
the program. So next year you're going to see some changes and I can promise you
that you're going to see us on that AAU circuit working to take the program to
another level.
OPS: You said you're getting great help from some local attorneys and
business. What else do you need for your program.
Chuck Taylor: Like any AAU program we could use a major sponsor. Like I said
the majority of these kids couldn't afford the cost of being involved with an
AAU program. That is why we've kind of stayed local. OYB is great on prices and
I know with AAU there are a couple of more steps we need to take monetary wise
for us to do that. That is why this year we didn't step that way. Mainly it was
because of the monetary value of AAU. But were looking for a shoe contract like
everyone else and working on taking the next steps and get out there and compete
next year.
OPS: The Nets have received a lot of talk on our message boards. The one
player that has received the most talk is Chris Freeman. What can you tell us
about Chris?
Chuck Taylor: He's a specimen. 6'5, 250 lbs and he's one of the biggest
around. He will be a great player someday. What he needs to do is work on
conditioning and playing all the time instead of some of the time. As a player
he's got a nice 10 foot jump shot and a nice little hook shot and he's a
dominate force in the middle when he comes to play.
Chuck Taylor: I also want to mention that we have seven coaches who make this
program what it is.
Part of the Nets coaching
staff
OFF THE COURT
After leaving Jefferson High School and my visit with the Nets I felt a great
impact was being made on several of the kids I saw. While it's always easy to
talk about programs that have deep pockets or high impact players I often wonder
if they get the personal time that most teenage boys need during their
development as basketball players and men. What I saw from the Nets were several
men willing to give their time and energy to help kids anyway possible. I hope
and wish that most AAU programs have the same goals and interest in their young
men as the coaches of the Nets show. There is more than just basketball skills
being learned by the players on the Nets. There seeing first hand what the power
of giving back can do for so many.
I would like to thank Coach Taylor and Hardwick for their time during our
visit. I would also like to thank the players, parents and rest of the Nets
staff for their great reception during our stay. The Dayton Nets will next play
in the All-American Cage Classic Nationals in Kettering, Ohio on June
25th-27th.
Having spoke to several groups since OPS started I can say these men know
what giving back to their community is all about. Working with kids is not an
easy chore and these men have earned the respect from their players and also the
parents. The Nets program is like many across the state. Build on limited funds,
help is always needed to provide the guidance and leadership to our youth of
today. Without programs like the Nets many of our kids wouldn't have the chance
to play basketball at the level they are working towards.
If you're a company or a person who has interest in helping the Nets with
sponsorship please call Coach Taylor or Hardwick at the following phone numbers.
Coach Taylor can be reached at 937-333-4354 or 937-524-623; Coach Hardwick's
number is 937-898-8909 or 937-307-6497.
Link for Team Photos of Nets
WHITE TEAM PHOTO
PURPLE TEAM PHOTO