The Hot Seat Featuring Rob Cole (F.A.C.E.S.)

Being a former AAU coach and director, I understand some frustrations that might enter the mind of a head man. Therefore we have developed a forum for coaches to get out how they feel respectfully. This column is called the “Hot Seat”. Next on the Hot Seat will be none other than Rob Cole (Director and Head Coach) of F.A.C.E.S. Basketball Program.

Welcome To The Hot Seat

BS: What are your thoughts about last season?

RC: We had a great season! 16 tournaments (8 championships, 2 runner-ups, 4 Final Four, and 3rd place AAU National “Classic Bracket” Champions). WOW! Who could ask for more?

BS: What did you think about our final top 10?

RC: Nothing, just one perspective on an entire season of basketball.

BS: How do you feel about the new grade exception rule?

RC: Legalized cheating at the AAU level; AAU will get more teams competing at D2 and D3 level; disadvantage to those D1 teams and athletes that have competed against 3 grade exceptions at any given time, because they are now forced to play against unlimited 14-15 year olds that are bigger and stronger. I also think it will promote parents to hold their child back for the sake of dominating a particular age group just because the rules say they can.

BS: How will this rule affect your team?

RC: As a coach it’s a non-factor for me because I will continue to prepare my team to play the game of basketball. My players have always been undersized and under aged compared to many of our opponents, like David and Goliath. This year we may not win or have many runner-ups during high-profiled tournaments, but they will know we are in the building. As you know Mike we never back down, therefore with this new rule in effect we will get on the hardwood and do what we do best, PLAY BALL….BTA!

BS: What’s the first thing come to mind when you hear these words?

BS: King Street Kings?
RC:2010 12U NJ AAU District Champs

BS: Team Battle?
RC:2010 AAU National 5th place champions.

BS: AAU Basketball?
RC:Experience and exposure.

BS: Basketball Spotlight?
RC: Michael Melton.

BS:What your response to critics of your coaching style and forms of discipline?

RC: Mike and critics, “I’m not a politician! I develop the student athlete and prepare them for the game of basketball which I love. Those that appreciate and desire what I have to offer are in my corner and those that don’t are not. I judge the outcomes of my teaching/coaching by the many parents and athletes (old and new) that come to me and say “thank you for everything that you have done”. In life you agree to disagree. My coaching style and discipline will prepare them for life and future basketball endeavors. Pride, discipline, respect, and hard work are our motto and it works, evidenced by what you see on/off the court from my players and parents.

BS: If you left basketball today how do you think Rob Cole should be remembered?
RC: My accolades as a player and coach speak for itself. I got the job done on/off the court (player/coach). I don’t think but I know that I will be remembered as one of the best athletes and coach to ever have a hand in the game of basketball.

Reid Shines @ the Fall Jam Fest

We were at Seton Hall again on Sunday for the Hoop Group Fall Jam Fest. We saw 7 games in their entirety including 5 playoff and championship games. As usual we break down the top players in separate stories by grade and day to promote as many prospects as possible. There were some excellent performances by a few players. The top juniors we saw:
The top NJ juniors we saw.

Jamal Reid
5-foot-11 Combo
Roadrunners - Newark East Side HS
12 points, 2 treys, 2 rebounds
Scored well all weekend

TARIQ CAREY LIKES ACC; HAS EARLY FAVORITE

September 1, 2010 by NBE Blogger

Newark (NJ) guard in 2012 class is looking for respect as one of best in his class

by MATT WHITFIELD

Perhaps overlooked and underrated because he doesn’t play at one of Northern New Jersey’s perennial Top 25 USA Today programs, Tariq Carey feels he deserves some respect. Carey is an active guard with good athleticism and size for a rising junior. The Newark (NJ) Eastside product plays hard on both sides of the floor and has really improved his all-around. He has an ability to get into the lane and finish or distribute. Carey can score with contact at the rim and showed a much improved ability to connect from three-point range on the AAU circuit when NBE saw him with the NJ Playaz 16U team. Defensively, he is very aggressive and is adept at racking up steals and starting fast breaks.

With all that ability and an impressive list of schools involved in his recruitment, Carey is scratching his head when he looks at top 100 rankings around the internet.

“I definitely feel I’m underrated, but that comes with it [playing at Newark Eastside versus one of Northern New Jersey’s many prep powers],” said Carey recently at the Five-Star Super Session camp in Brewster (NY). “It’s really not a big deal to me, but as far as one to be noticed I feel I’m noticed, but I just want to be in the Rivals Top 100. I think I should be in the Rivals Top 100 and Scout.”

Carey however has gotten a good deal of interest from colleges at this early stage.

“Interest is [from] a lot of schools…Missouri, Creighton, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Villanova, La Salle, Georgia, so it’s a lot of schools,” said Carey. “As far as offers Georgia offered and Seton Hall, Creighton and Wake Forest are pending on the season because they are waiting for their 2011 class to be done.”

Carey says Notre Dame, Creighton and Wake Forest are recruiting him the hardest, but it is the ACC program of the group that stands out as he has grown up a fan of the Demon Deacons..

“Yea right now there definitely number one,” said Carey of Wake Forest.

Carey has already visited the campus in Winston-Salem in June as he was down there for their Elite Camp, but he will likely return in the near future for another visit once basketball practice begins in October and take in a football game as well..

“They told me they wanted me to come down for their Midnight Madness and come down for any games, football or basketball,” said Carey.

Creighton also is likely to get a visit this fall from Carey and he also made an unofficial to Villanova with a few of his high school teammates.

“I actually went up there [Villanova] for an open gym and I played with the team,” carey said. “They invited us to an open gym. It was real good I played with Malk Wayns and Corey Fisher and I held my own.”

Despite Carey’s proximity to the Prudential Center, The Rac and Madison Square, he is not overly interested in playing in the Big East.

“I wouldn’t mind playing there [in the Big East] but as far as that being my main conference I want to be in now, the ACC is really where I want to play at,” said Carey.

Speaking to NBE last weekend at the Five-Star Super Session Camp, Carey indicated the areas of his game he will be working on the most before entering college as a freshman in the fall of 2012.

“Getting stronger, making my jump shot more consistent, basically strength and conditioning stuff like that,” said Carey.

Carey made the switch this summer from NJ Elite to joined Jimmy Salmon’s NJ Playaz AAU program and will likely see his game pick up even further over the coming months. For Wake Forest basketball fans and staff, Tariq Carey is on to keep tabs on in the coming months, even if other websites aren’t.