Any Kids You Officiated Made It Big?
 

About that time for the season to tip off...I have a friend who is starting his SR year at the University of Michigan and plays for their basketball team...been friends with their family for close to 16 years.

That got me to thinking about how fast time goes and I remember officiating him in AAU as a youngster and he's on the brink of potentially getting his named called in next June's NBA Draft.

Who are some of the "kids" you officiated (HS or AAU) over the years that have been able to make a household name for themselves through the game of hoops.

For me it would be:

Zak Irvin - U of M (Super nice kid from a great family)
Yogi Ferrell - IU (nice kid and was clearly the best player on the floor when I had his AAU teams prior to HS)
Collin Hartman - IU (nice kid)
Julius Randle - UK and LA Lakers (one of the nicest AAU kids I every had the chance to have at length conversation with).
Gary Harris - MSU and Denver Nuggets (nice guy)
Greg Oden - OSU and NBA (my first AAU tourney he was 8th grader at time)
Mike Conley - OSU and Memphis Grizz (my very first AAU tourney he was 8th grader at time...man that kid was QUICK!)
Tayah Reimer - Notre Dame and MSU Women's team

I'm sure there are more...It just kind of got me thinking how time flies as I'm headed into my 18th year of calling games and coaching kids and every year I wonder who I'll see that will one day be a regular household name during the NCAA or NBA season...

One of my students from one of the very first basketball officiating classes is officiating men's basketball in The Big 10, and another umpires in the IL and is a MLB alternate. And of course MTD, Jr., will be starting his third year as a women's college softball umpire in Spring 2017.

MTD, Sr.

I reffed George Mikan back when he was in 3rd grade. ;)

A few kids I officiated about 10 years back I see occasionally around town and speak with them; they all remember me from having officiated their games. A few were junior college players but dropped out of school and working at target or walmart, one gal went to a D-1 school but she's back home living with parents with a 2 yr old kid, another guy got a leg injury and asked me about how to get into reffing games.

Too many to count. But since we are in the middle of football season, I did T up Tyrod Taylor twice in his senior year. He used to be a head case in high school, but has matured into a very respectable young man.

One of my first Varsity assignments was at Mauldin High School and a player named Kevin Garnett. I told him to tuck his shirt in.
Raymond Felton and Jadeveon Clowney were two of the best athletes I officiated.

Marcus Camby ...
 

Eric Bledsoe
DeMarcus Cousins