St. James Coastal Crew Rebels founder and sports center director Ernie Walthour said his basketball program has come a long way since its inception in 1993. The coach said his Rebels teams have wrapped up another successful season and nearly 20 players signed scholarships or letters of intent to play at the next level.
As the 2010 AAU summer circuit winds down, Walthour said it’s time to recognize the accomplishments the teams made and bid farewell to senior players.
17U Rebels players, Shavon Stoves, DJ Felder and Jordan Johnson, who play for FPCA, and Shakur Cook, Tucory Rhodes, Tabias Marion and Jamel Perteet, who play for Liberty County High School, are among the AAU Rebels who will vie for spots next year in the college circuit.
"It will be the last time several of these players will play as Rebels," Walthour said of the incoming high school seniors. "We are getting set to try and make some college deals for the kids that have been involved in our program for the last six years."Walthour said the organization has increased the number of players signing scholarships and letters of intent for the past three years. In the past two seasons, around 16 athletes took their game to the next level.
As for the program’s success, this summer the Rebels introduced two girls teams and saw most of their quads place well throughout the AAU circuit.
Pick up a copy of Sunday's Coastal Courier to read the complete story.