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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetsDaily)</div><div class='quotemain'>Steve Smith of Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy is probably the most successful high school coach in America … in terms of preparing his players for the NBA. More than 20 have made it to the league, including Carmelo Anthony, Jerry Stackhouse, Stevie Jackson and Kevin Durant. But one of the one success stories he is most proud of is the transformation of DeSagana Diop.</div>
Become Legendary - Ryan Canner-O'Mealy - Rise Magazine
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>When Smith won his 700th game this January, his career record stood at 700-44. With so many wins, it’s hard for Smith to pinpoint a particular game as his most memorable. And asking him to pick his favorite team among his seven national champions is like asking about his favorite child.
Instead, Smith likes to think of the journeys players make while on campus. Carmelo might be the first one cited, but the transformation of Dallas Mavericks center DeSagana Diop is a particular source of pride for Smith.
When Diop came to Oak Hill as a junior back in 1999, he was a 7-foot Muslim from Senegal at a Baptist school in Virginia farm country with only a basic understanding of English. The first time Smith worked out Diop, the big man shot seven consecutive air balls on short jump hooks.
But he studied hard, becoming fluent in English within six weeks, and was just as diligent on the court. Diop became so comfortable that he would sit in the first row at church every week next to musical director Lane Phipps, a local dairy farmer. Two years after enrolling, Diop was an NBA lottery pick out of Oak Hill.
“From seven air balls to the No. 8 pick — that’s not bad,” Smith says.</div>
It's a great article, about their current top recruit, Brandon Jennings, and the Oak Hill coach, Steve Smith. I enjoyed reading that, and I recommend everyone read it. Also made me appreciate Carmelo soo much more.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>When Smith won his 700th game this January, his career record stood at 700-44. With so many wins, it’s hard for Smith to pinpoint a particular game as his most memorable. And asking him to pick his favorite team among his seven national champions is like asking about his favorite child.
Instead, Smith likes to think of the journeys players make while on campus. Carmelo might be the first one cited, but the transformation of Dallas Mavericks center DeSagana Diop is a particular source of pride for Smith.
When Diop came to Oak Hill as a junior back in 1999, he was a 7-foot Muslim from Senegal at a Baptist school in Virginia farm country with only a basic understanding of English. The first time Smith worked out Diop, the big man shot seven consecutive air balls on short jump hooks.
But he studied hard, becoming fluent in English within six weeks, and was just as diligent on the court. Diop became so comfortable that he would sit in the first row at church every week next to musical director Lane Phipps, a local dairy farmer. Two years after enrolling, Diop was an NBA lottery pick out of Oak Hill.
“From seven air balls to the No. 8 pick — that’s not bad,” Smith says.</div>
It's a great article, about their current top recruit, Brandon Jennings, and the Oak Hill coach, Steve Smith. I enjoyed reading that, and I recommend everyone read it. Also made me appreciate Carmelo soo much more.
