THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501200268
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAN COOLEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
FIVE YEARS AGO Michael White had never even considered becoming a basketball coach.
But White, who has always had a heart for helping neighborhood teens, said all that changed when two teens made a request he couldn't refuse - be their basketball coach.
According to White, two teens he was familiar with were not good enough at the time to make the cut on one of the local junior varsity high school teams. But they still wanted to play, so they approached him. White discovered there were seven others who also wanted to play, enough to form a club team.
Soon thereafter the Lake Kennedy Clippers were born.
Since the team's inception, the Clippers have been consistently successful on the court.
The team, which competes in fall, winter and spring rec leagues primarily against area boys club teams, regularly finishes near the top of the standings and has won four championships in its five-year history. In addition the Clippers have garnered seven first-place trophies in various club invitational tournaments. Their worst record, a very respectable 16-8, came the first season.
This season's edition is off to a 5-2 start. White has 14 players with guards Gene Cummins and Shawn Bailey and forward Terrell Gore and center Peter Cummins leading the way.
What makes the Clippers' success over the years even more remarkable is the fact that they don't have a regular place to practice. Birdsong Recreation Center is their home most of the time, but often the Clippers have to travel to Portsmouth or Norfolk.
``I'm always calling around, looking for places, but sometimes we may not be able to practice for a week and a half,'' White said. ``You have to tip your hat off to these kids, that they still remember the plays.''
To help offset the limited practice time, White schedules scrimmages against junior varsity and varsity high school teams from Norfolk.
The Clippers have managed to hold their own, including a tough game with Norview that was much closer than the 76-63 score indicates.
Despite the lack of practice facilities, White said the community has been very generous in other ways.
East Washington Style Shop and Reginald Brothers Oil Co. have donated T-shirts and basketballs. Ronnie Wyatt and Norfolk State basketball coach Michael Bernard donated uniforms.
Without any previous coaching experience, White, a 1977 Suffolk High graduate, has sought the advice of former Suffolk and Norview coach Ed Young, Booker T. Washington coach Barry Hamler and Lakeland's John Fuller.
Fuller also invited the Clippers to compete in the eight-team Lakeland summer league last summer. The Clippers were the only club team in an otherwise all varsity high school league, and failed to win a game, but White said that didn't matter.
``Just getting invited was an honor,'' White said. ``It was a good learning experience for them, playing with the big boys.''
The trademark of the Clipper teams has been to run as much as possible, while trapping and pressing full court and playing an occasional zone.
Things obviously change over five years, but the Clippers have the same concept each year. The team is made up of players cut from the area high school teams, some from Nansemond River, but most from Lakeland. Fuller has made a regular practice of sending players to White because he respects what White is trying to do for the community.
``I respect him as a person and for what he does for the kids,'' Fuller said. ``It gives them something to do and keeps them off the streets. The idea is to make them better citizens and hopefully better ball players.''
These days just coming to White and saying you want to play doesn't guarantee a spot on the roster. They have to pass the ``White test'' first.
There are the usual physical ability and talent level drills, but the ``White test'' weighs personality and attitude. White looks for players who are willing to hustle, listen and go through physical drills without complaining.
``From the time they come to try out and leave, I can pretty much tell (what type of person he is),'' White said. ``The normal, simple things you may not look at, I'm looking at. I look at how they approach me, how they ask me for things and how well they get along with the players.
``I look at the body language and how they react when I put them through certain drills. If I start hearing complaints, I won't keep them.''
The ``White test'' seems to work. White said he has not had any discipline problems with his players during the five years of coaching. Plus the players always seem to get along.
However, the ``testing'' doesn't stop once a player has made the team.
White wants to make sure all of his players are getting good grades and most of the time all he has to do is ask them, but sometimes he has to do more.
``I can usually tell when they're honest and when they're shooting the breeze,'' White said. ``A couple of times I've done a little snooping. I've called schools and talked to parents. But most of the time I've checked with their buddies. They may see (problems) before a parent does.''
Now that White seems to have found his niche in coaching, the next question is how long will he and the Clippers continue on?
``As long as I continue to get at least six kids to come to me and tell me they want to play, I will coach,'' White said. ``I just wish there were more clubs to give teens something to do and keep them out of trouble.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Michael White coaches the Lake Kennedy Clippers, a community
basketball team that plays area boys club teams.
by CNB