THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 4, 1996 TAG: 9607030245
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 75 lines
IT'S SUMMERTIME and that means vacation from the books and the teachers.
But what it doesn't mean is a break from basketball.
The 4th annual Rising Stars girls summer league is in full swing at Princess Anne High School, providing South Hampton Roads teams a chance to hone their skills in an organized league.
The newly NCAA sanctioned league also provides players a chance to show off their skills to college scouts during the summer.
Under NCAA by-laws, college coaches were unable to attend non-sanctioned events. League director Brian Miller appealed to the NCAA for status as a sanctioned event - the summer league already falls under AAU regulations - in order to get more college coaches to the gym.
Now Division I coaches have a three-week window - July 8-31 - in which they can watch players in the Rising Stars League. Division II and III coaches can attend anytime.
In order to receive an NCAA sanction, Miller had to educate the players about NCAA eligibility rules and track the coaches who visit the league.
Not only are the girls gaining more exposure, but they're also getting firsthand knowledge of what the recruiting process is all about and how it works.
But the best thing about the league, Miller says, is the opportunity the girls have to get to know their opponents.
``Kids come in on nights they don't play and hang out and then go out with their friends after the games,'' he said. ``They're making friends. Sure, they rouse each other and trash talk on the court, but after the game, they're friends.''
Teams from the Southeastern, Eastern and Beach Districts and the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools are competing, giving the girls the chance to meet players from all over. Since its inception in 1993, the Rising Stars League has grown from 17 to 28 teams. This year, the league added Hickory and Lakeland, which will both join the Southeastern District in 1996-97 season.
Also new to the league is the creation of stronger and weaker leagues to prevent blowouts in the two divisions. Coaches, along with Miller, grouped teams in the Sand and Water divisions according to projected standings following the 1996 season.
Miller says most of the games, which are comprised of 20-minute halves with a running clock, have been close and have made the league more competitive.
``Teams that normally don't see the light of day are winning games,'' he said. Miller added that it's also helping the players' confidence levels grow, which in turn, enhances their skills on the court.
``People are seeing now that you've got to play summer league to compete,'' he said. ``And the private schools, they use summer league as their training camps. They don't use it to win or lose.
``It's a family atmosphere here. We have a good time and everybody knows each other. Plus, at the same time, the girls are improving.''
BOYS SUMMER LEAGUE: The Nansemond River boys basketball summer league is also under way. Nansemond River, Lakeland and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy are three of the league's 10 teams.
The Warriors and Cavaliers, who will move into Group AAA and the Southeastern District next year, are facing four teams - Deep Creek, Great Bridge, Oscar Smith and Indian River - from their future district. Heritage, Churchland and Wilson are also in the summer league.
The Saints are facing competition unlike they've ever seen, according to coach Rick Van Orden.
``We didn't play competition like this in the (Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools). There's a lot more talent,'' said Van Orden, whose team is 1-3 with a win by forfeit. ``This is really good for us. We play better every night. We're realizing that we can get a lot better.''
N-SA, in its first summer in the league, lost to Lakeland 40-31 two weeks ago and was scheduled to play Nansemond River on Wednesday night.
Other games of interest include: Nansemond River vs. Indian River on Monday at 7:30 p.m.; Lakeland vs. Nansemond River on July 10 at 8:30 p.m.; N-SA vs. Lakeland on July 17 at 9:30 p.m.; and Lakeland vs. Indian River on July 24 at 9:30 p.m. All games are played at Nansemond River. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Lakeland's William Barnes, left, brings the ball down the court
against the Heritage defense. by CNB