Newspaper Page Text
14A
JUNE 1, 2000
Teen girls can parlay hoop skills into college scholarship
By Timothy Cox
AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
Squeaks from shoes hitting the
hard court were the only sounds
emitted from the gym at Glenn
Hills High School. The quiet in
tensity expressed by youngladies
practicingbasketball wasreflected
with closed mouths and open
minds foclised on their coaches.
The group known as Eye in
Team/Lady Sixers are comprised
of local middle and high school
girls with objectives on basketball
excellence and academic prowess.
As part of the national Amateur
Athletic Union (AAU) organiza
tion, the Augusta-based team was
organized by Kevin Powell, a
former Glenn Hills High School
baseball and basketball standout
who continued his baseball career
while earning a marketing and
business degree from Morehouse
College.
Powell said it was important to
start the program as “his way of
giving back. I was in a mentoring
program at Morehouse and real
ized the impact we had on chil
dren. I noticed how not enough
student-athletes understand the
importance of academics. Plus, I
love basketball and working with
children,” said the financial ana
lystand University of South Caro
lina graduate student.
Eye In Team/Lady Sixers are
not affiliated with area schools,
although the team features stu
dents from schools in Richmond,
Columbia, McDuffie and Aiken
counties. Only 12 girls tried out
for the team in its debut season
last year. The current squad has
42 participants, grades 8 through
12. “In order to continue with the
team, hittingthe booksis amust,”
says Powell. “Academics are very
important. We don’t have time for
Advertise with the Augusta Focus
Call (706)724-7855
;IQ . \” '
Other Dealers Offer 4.9% & 3.9% APR But
| You'll Save $6,000 In Intrest Oniy!
AN ey v
R g GSN e —
A= el T il R s sW N,
)'\r SVs ; i :;;zgf e x:‘w mw/‘m%
i MONTERO SPORTIIoramusGALANT
'PRE-OWNED SPECIALS
| ®7 chevy Tl T 88 Honda [IR'ITHTIEYN 02 Ford 93 Chevy |
1 Nowva =TT R[] Accord Eclipse Tempo Lumina ;
' *1,950 wll 2,950 BK- L W °3,550
h 93 Jeep 93 Ford 97 Kia 97 Hyundal 95 24 Mitsubishli
Cherokee Tauvrus Sephia Eiantra T, ) Eciipse *
B AN *3,680 BW -8 *6,250 IR K: ‘W *6,980
{96 Mmitsublishil BEX-T A [Tll.l)} 96 Mazda 99 Hyundai 98 Ford 95 Nissan
1 Galant Pickup aa2e L OLT-T0 1 Contour LLI
1 *6,995 I XTI N *7,150 BXI N *8.3a5 KX U:T:
; 95 Kia 97 Mitsubishil B 3 8 107 1111, 28 Ford 99 suzuki 97 Nissan |
T 2 T T Rilrcage Neon IRenimggany Esteem sentra i
Be:R:LLE *0,105 BOEE{N *9,.615 B oN+:il *9,640 |
{ 97 saturn 98 Ford .97 Dodge 98 Honda 29 Kia 96 Dodge :
; SL2 Taurus Caravan Civic Sportage Ram axa
1 ‘9,995 Ri[-Hll-N *10,995 Bil { N *11,850 B Kl] |
o N aLY
I @ wMirsußisHl = ServooDepertmertHouwm One block west of mygm oIJuoB 08
§¢ orech 10K mkes per you wlowsd. 160 Mener PO plus W gB e O ot connoton, .
{ e 0 :
i _ , o[s
Shop Augusta Focus Classifieds
AUGUSTAFOCUS
T = i, e
e
ey Wikt 4
o IR R h R N T B ey
ey 1 R e
e ? il P 4ffi
i : A e G
i 1 : Ll e
:i& e e
; . Biisaess b’i@f‘g gL v
B | R *fi"fi@%% L
EIT/Lady Sixers are making waves on the hoop court. Pictured
from left, Joycelyn Nelson, 14; Tyhiesha Smith, 14; Marian
Whitfield, 15 and Jacquelyn Nelson, 14. (Photo by Timothy Cox
y
players who aren’t committed to
their books.” A tutorial program
is available to students who also
show an eagerness for study,
Powell added.
Performing with Eye In Team
could potentially mean a full, aca
demic ride to college. It worked
out for Shavonne Holden. Al
though the Harlem senior was a
good athletelast year, her partici
pationin the AAU program made
her talents more widely known.
“This was a great program for my
daughter,” said U.S. Command
Sergeant Major John Holden Jr.
Taking part in the program pro
pelled Shavonne to become Co
lumbia County’s premier player,
said her father. “It offered her a
chance to display her talents for
somany more schools.” Shavonne
enters West Point Army Academy
(N.Y.) on a full-paid scholarship,
this fall.
Even though Lenora Murray
findsherself“going nonstop” after
working as a Civil Service em
ployee, she realizes daughter
Chantal Murray’s “potential” and
stays committed. “Since she was
in 6' grade, I've supported her by
taking her to practice and doing
whatever it takes,” explained Ms.
Murray. For 13-year-old Chantal
and others, like the Nelson twins
Joycelyn and Jaquelyn,
Shavonne’s success is a shining
example how Eye In Team can
ultimately pay off. The Nelson
sisters said they understand the
importance of maintaining their
grades so they can stay on the
court.
Powell gives credit to head
coaches and former local high
school products Ken Griffin (Glenn
Hills) and Chuck Graham (Rich
mond Academy). Both played col
legebasketball and arefundamen
tally-oriented, said Powell. “That
gives us a very high instructional
level,” he said, adding that Chuck
played professionallyin the Conti-
nental Basketball Association and
overseas.
The team travelstovarioustour
naments in Atlanta, Nashville,
Charlotte, Florida, South Caro
lina and Alabama. Although
Northeastern cities have long
been privy to the AAU concept,
Powell said Augustais starting to
understand the positive effects of
participation. “We’re hoping over
the next few years, people will
startrealizingour girls are achiev
ing major scholarships based on
their exposure to our program,”
said Powell. Augusta’s burgeon
ing basketball reputation with
William Avery, Ricky Moore,
Vonteego Cummings, Lecole
Willingham and Sherika Wright
have awakened coaches to the
array of available local talent.
“Everyone can’t be the top player
on the team, but this allows
coaches to see perhaps the second
best player on the squad,” ex
plained Powell. He’s also proud of
Lucy Laney High School senior
and Eye In Team member Ernesia
Wideman who was voted CSRA
athlete ofthe year and hasearned
afull-ride scholarship to Augusta
State University. For information
about joining EIT/Lady Sixers,
contact coach Graham at
706.736.1436.
Gy o
& Summer
i Sale!
% ale.
ins S SO
Begins Saturday, June 3rd RO
9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (c\‘\c( :
*Prior sales not included. S\\‘.\-c‘:
Public Information & Education
Family Day
Bell Auditorium
Saturday, June 3rd
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
e Federal, State, & County Exhibitors!
*Children’s Activities!
* Job Fair, Health Care, Education, & 1
fi Family Values Information! b '
“‘ * Taste of the Region! p 00“
@
‘oo *Meet Elected Officials! R 'zn 3
* Entertainment: Community Choirs, o s ’
Step Teams, Augusta Mini Theatre :
e |ssue Forum
Come Get a Piece of the Pie!
Between 7th and Bth Streets
. Downtown Augusta _
Sponsored by: Proctor&Gamble, bavis Broadcasting, NewsCHANNELS, :
City of Augusta, Coca-Cola Bottling Co-Augusta
Smith to serve as June
Brown Bag speaker
The June Brown Bag speaker at the Augusta Museum of
History will be Major General Perry M. Smith, who will talk
about Jimmie Dyess, Augusta’s greatest hero. Maj. Gen. Smith
is a teacher, author and television commentator. He serves as
a news correspondent for NBC-TV and is the military analyst
for CBS radio.
The Brown Bag program will be held on Wednesday, June 7,
at 12 noon. Bring your lunch and a beverage and dessert will
be provided. The program is free to museum members, $2 for
non-members. Reservations are required; please call the
Education Department at (706) 722-8454.
The Augusta Museum of History is located at 560 Reynolds
Street in downtown Augusta. Hours of operation are Tuesday
through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.
Reduced admission is offered on Sundays. Please call (706) 722-
8454 for more information.
Augusta alumni chapter of Alabama
State alumni seeks new members
The Augusta alumni chapter of Alabama State University
is seeking new members. If you are interested, please
contact Mr. Edward C. Riley at (706) 722-6721. The next
meeting will be held on Sunday, June 11, at 6 p.m.
Mr. Benjamin Motely is president, Mrs. Johnnie Dawson is
secretary and Ms. Keisha Dixon is reporter.