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 Green appreciates how Michael Jordan felt. He was cut from his high school basketball team. Not once, but twice. Now, two years later, the 6-8 dunkmeister from Houston, Texas, is considered the best bet among all teenagers in the country to be picked in the first round of the NBA draft.
What happened? How did Green evolve from a two-time reject to a 25-foot jump shooter? Green credits his AAU coach, Rick Nelson, and his decision to transfer to a private school for the dramatic turnaround.
Last spring, Green played in two major tournaments and couldn't understand why college coaches and scouts criticized his performance. Most agreed he was an outstanding shooter with enormous athleticism. But he couldn't rebound or defend or handle the ball.
"If you want to be really good, call me and we'll go to work,'' Nelson told Green.
Green called Nelson at midnight.
"I really want to be good,'' he said.
A week later, they went into the gym. Green worked out twice a day, at 6 a.m. and 6 at night. He stayed until he could execute all the drills eight to 10 times in a row without making a mistake. Later, at the Reebok-ABCD camp in New Jersey, he vowed he would be the MVP -- and he was.
Since then, Green has taken the country by storm. No one has been more impressive.
Mark Richardson - Head Coach, Nacogdoches H.S. Testimonial
"Rick Nelson and his Elite Action staff have been very beneficial in the development of
Damion James and Kendle Hall. The individual workouts have helped them become better offensive players with and without the ball in there hands. They also improved in their off season conditioning and their work habits helping them to achieve their goals of becoming complete basketball players."
Mark Richardson
Head Coach Nacogdoches H.S.
Dale Vanwright Sr.
- father of Dale Vanwright Jr.Testimonial
To: Everett "Rick" Nelson,
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Rivals.com |
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Dale Vanwright
Jr. is the Buffaloes' highest
ranked signee in years. |
I wanted
to send a personal letter of thanks to
you and your organization for the
development of my son Dale L. Vanwright
Jr. I remember when my son was a
freshman at Bellaire High School, he
really could not shoot very feel nor did
he have a lot of basketball moves, but
now that he is a senior, it's a
different story. Rick, your "Sweat Shop"
has provided my son and others chances
of a lifetime. Thanks in whole part to
you and your dedication, my son will
have the chance to play basketball at
the University of Colorado, the "Big
12". Not only have I witness you helping
my son, but I also have witness you take
a kid that was cut from his high school
team to the number 18th pick in the 2005
NBA draft (Gerald Green), while help
sending other to major D-1 schools.
When Dale first started with your
program (Houston Elite), you told me
that if I allow you to work with my son,
"He will become one of the Elite players
in the nation". At that time it sound
like a sells pitch, but over time, I saw
that you really care about the kids and
more importantly, my son. Rick, even
though I'm Dale's father, you have been
the person that he can relate to. Thank
You for your help in steering my son in
the right direction. You been more than
an Coach to my son, you have been mine
and his friend, not a whole lot more a
person can ask a stranger to do that you
have not already done.
Since the start of your "Sweat Shop", my
son performance level was at a low D-1
player, but you have produced a high
major ABCD All-Star D-1 type of player.
Your "Sweat Shop" taught my son how to
understand the game, how to become a
scoring threat, how to work on his game,
and finally how to enjoy success. Dale,
in his senior year of high school leads
his team in 3 point percentage (45%),
shooting 53% overall and 2nd in assists
per game at 4.2 assists. According to
the Houston Chronicle Final Boys
Statistics Class 5A Leaders, dated
Tuesday, February 21, 2006, Dale is 5th
in scoring with averaging 20.5 points
per game, 13th in rebounding at 7.8 per
game, 7th in steals at 3.9 per game, and
6th in free throw shooting at 82%. Rick,
without you and your "Sweat Shop", these
numbers would have been a lot lower.
Dale finish the ABCD Camp rank #45 out
of 117 of the top kids in the nation,
that an honor that I am so proud of as
Dale's dad. Rick, you have made Dale a
player that any team must have on their
team and you have taught my son how to
"Play the Game of Basketball".
Thank You Rick,
Sincerely,
Dale L. Vanwright, Sr.
I'M NEXT!
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