GPU Steelrivers: A Household Name

GPU Establishes Itself in Western PA and Across the Nation as a Premier Grassroots Basketball Program

September 2015 www.gpubasketball.com

Continued on

GPU partners with Prep U. Hoops and the Southpointe Courthouse and starts the Prep Fall League –

The Official Preseason. REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!

CLICK HERE Page

2

Commit – Get Bet ter – Be Grea t

GPU was founded in 2013 with humble beginnings and only 3 players – Keeno Holmes, Thomas Melonja and Isaiah Scribner. In 2015, over 120 players became a part of the GPU program - the GPU tradition - as it grew to 12 teams – boys and girls. GPU’s presence was felt locally and nationally as teams participated in tournaments here at home in Pennsylvania, and Ohio, Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia,

Ohio and Las Vegas. GPU teams were not only competitive, but representative of Western PA basketball players.

www.gpubasketball.com

2

GPU BECOMES A HOUSEHOLD NAME Review of the Past, Present & Future

Continued from page 1 – 2013 was GPU’s inaugural season – the first year of the program. In an almost serendipitous chain of events, GPU started by default and during the 2013 season, three players began GPU’s story. That season, GPU’s 6th Grade team laid the foundation for what was to come. In 2013, players and parents voluntarily committed to “crossing the rivers” in hopes of doing something special as a basketball team. By the end of summer, GPU had the top 6th graders in western Pennsylvania and covered an 800- mile radius ranging from Sharon to Penn- Trafford. Although the details are very important and tell a majority of the story, suffice it to say, the 2013 GPU Season provide to be memorable and a fun-filled, individual and collective experience of commitments fulfilled. In 2014, GPU expanded from 1 team to 3 teams and ended with its 7th Grade team finishing the season with a national ranking. Many championships were won, but the memories of victories were nothing compared to the overall experience – the friendships formed, road trips and team outings. Nonetheless, GPU was not yet not a true program. Players, coaches and parents anticipated 2015. Would it compare to 2014? Could it compare? Could GPU really get better? Well, it did … GPU Basketball is not just a team or group of teams, it is a program - the Program. In 2015, GPU hit a growth spurt because of the commitment a handful of players made almost two years ago to get getter and be great – together. 2015 was special because it was the first year of the Girls program, which is expected to follow in the footsteps of past teams. Thanks to all of the parents, players and coaches for making GPU an official program, but it’s only the beginning. How great will GPU be? How great can GPU become? The answers to the questions remain unknown, but regardless, in 2016, we will be stronger and we will get better - all because of your commitment. Looking forward to 2016!

GPU 2016 PLANS

cont.

www.gpubasketball.com pg.2

3

In 2016, GPU will have a full-fledged boys and girls program from grades 3 to 12 (8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U & 17U). Some groups will have two teams – a National and Regional team. The National team will travel to tournaments near and far, whereas the Regional teams will play in more local tournaments (Pittsburgh, Ohio and West Virginia). All teams will practice on average twice a week beginning in March and play in 5 to 8 tournaments. Pre-registration and tryouts for GPU 2016 will begin in September.

PROGRAM REVIEW

GPU is a grassroots basketball organization that focuses on and prioritizes the instruction and development of young players. GPU offer competitive, developmental instructional & recreational basketball opportunities through our camps, clinics, leagues, teams, trainings and leagues (visit www.prepuhoops.com). Our programs are designed for young players of all ages, skills and interests and always place the players first. GPU does not focus exclusively on having AAU teams as some other programs, although that is a part of what we do...and when we do, those teams compete at a very high level.

GPU 2016 PLANS

 

2015 GPU COACH OF THE YEAR CHLOE STEWART

2015 was GPU first year having a Girls Program. The goal was to start with 2 teams, which it did at the 7th and 8th grade level. Coach Chloe Stewart coached both of these teams during the season and did an absolutely phenomenal job! She proved she was not just a good coach, but a great mentor and teacher of the game to young females. Parents loved her and players respected her! Coach Stewart’s teams committed and they got better, which is the goal of the GPU Basketball Program. Thanks, Chloe for your efforts!!

www.gpubasketball.com pg.3

4

PLAYER EXPECTATIONS At GPU, we have a saying, “x’s and o’s are only the

beginning…” What this means is we want to use

basketball, which has the attention of our young

players, and use it as a tool to create an environment

results in a positive experience. The GPU experience

is elite from a basketball, social and academic

standpoint. Our players are expected to compete

between the lines at a high level in practice and

games. Our players are expected to carry themselves

as young men and women representing themselves,

their parents, coaches and community – and the

program. Our players are expected to excel

academically and are held accountable for

maintaining grades. Our players do not just commit

to a team, they commit to a program – a way of doing

things. In return, the Program commits to them.

GPU officially partners with Prep U. Hoops for all of its trainings, camps,

clinics and leagues. Visit www.prepuhoops.com

cont.

www.gpubasketball.com pg.4

HOME OF GPU BASKETBALL

GPU PARTNERS WITH PREP U. HOOPS

5

GPU TEAM OF THE YEAR CLASS OF 2019 DOMINATES AREA

In 2015, the GPU Steelrivers Class of 2019 represented the program throughout the country, playing in tournaments from Virginia to Las Vegas.

This roster included the best basketball players in Western PA and proved it was not just the best team in the area, but one of the better teams nationally.

Congratulations to this team and the players who are listed below. All of these players will be coming to a HS gym near you this winter season at the Varsity level:

Jesse Fera – Upper St. Claire High School Keeno Holmes – Lincoln Park Colin Mclinden – Upper St. Claire High School Thomas Melonja – Lincoln Park Alex Mullen – Bethel Park High School Andrew Recchia – Mars High School Nate Ridgeway – Sewickley Academy Kyi Wright – Farrell High School

GPU ALL STARS

Keeno Holmes (left) and Kyi Wright (right) were selected to the NYBL All Star Teams for their play during the NYBL sessions in Washington D.C., Richmond, Virginia and Columbus, Ohio. This is a great honor and well deserved from 2 players who are on their way to receiving national rankings in their class. You can click on their image to see some highlights of their play this season.

www.gpubasketball.com pg.5

CLICK HERE FOR HIGHLIGHTS

CLICK IMAGE FOR PLAYER H IGHLIGHTS

6

The 10U /4th Grade GPU Steelrivers can now call themselves CHAMPIONS after defeating Cleveland Heights 52 to 41. A great game by a great team! They didn't just win the championship game, they took it, and now they have something that can never be taken away from them - a championship! Congrats! GPU had many team throughout the program that had memorable seasons, but the 14U Lady Steelrivers standout because they came into the season without knowing how things would go, but they stuck with it, they got better, and in their last tournament of the year, they became champions. Congratulations girls! A special thanks to Coach Chloe, who coached this team to getting better.

The 13U GPU Steelrivers, coached by Coach Russell was made up of players who needed to be initiated into the program. Every player on this team had to turn in his jersey for what deemed lack of a willingness to compete, not even halfway through the season, and then something happened…

Players accepted the challenged and started competing with themselves and other teams in the way GPU teams and players are expected to compete. They not only committed to the process of getting better, they embraced it individually and collectively. When it was all said and done, this team gained the respect of its coaches, other teams and everyone throughout the program.

It wasn’t about whether they won, it was about how they competed. Yes, they won more than a few and their fair share, but with this team, that wasn’t the point – it was never about points – it was about lessons learned and points made during those lessons.

They committed and they got better!!

Mission Accomplished.

cont.

GPU 13U – THE PROCESS

www.gpubasketball.com pg.6

7

The 15U and 17U GPU Steelrivers, coached by Coach Deanes and Coach Sessions, respectively, both won the Motown Tournament Championships in their division. The 15U team throughout the year played with a chip on their shoulder. Intense, in your face and physical is what they were and how they played. Coach Sessions battled through injuries with the 17U group, but all in all this team and its players got better. They competed at a high level and had a nice showing in the Hoop Group’s Pittsburgh Jamfest – the biggest tournament during the Division I Coaches Live Period.

GPU 9U PROVES TO BE A FORCE

The 9U GPU Steelrivers often played up a division in tournaments because of the lack of other teams in their age division across the region. That didn’t stop this team though, coached by Coach Derubbo and Coach Verner from winning multiple tournament championships, establishing this group as the top 9U team in the area. If this group stays together, things could get pretty interesting as this team is full of not just athletes, but skilled basketball players!

11U Teams Wins Foothills Classic Led by Coach Del Re, the 11U team, who had a number of younger players, stepped up to win the Foothills Classic Tournament. What a season!!

cont.

www.gpubasketball.com pg.7

GPU SUMMER LEAGUE Over 250 players and 30 teams played in the 2nd Annual GPU Summer League held at the Southpointe Courthouse and Armory Youth Center. Competition was fierce and emotions ran high. In a league where coaching was intentionally limited, every player who participated got better and learned something about themselves , their game and the game of basketball – on their own. In the end, although champions were crowned, every team and player competed like champions. The Summer ended with All Star games in each division and four different individual competitions – Skills, Free Throws, 3 Pointers and Timed Layups. The winners are listed below:

Boys Middle Boys JV Boys Varsity Skills Kylan Holmes Jamie Smith Alex Mullen Free Throws Anthony Blake T. Turnbull Dave Pitassi 3 Pointers Anthony Blake Jamie Smith Alex Mullen Layups James Garcia Kylan Holmes Keeno Holmes

Girls Primary Girls JV Skills Ashlyne Woods Lauren Mullen Free Throws Kenzie Clutter Aislin Malcolm 3 Pointers Alexis Bordas Aislin Malcolm Layups Haylen Cook Aislin Malcolm

HOME OF GPU BASKETBALL

www.gpubasketball.com pg.8

BP2 BOYS PRIMARY CHAMPS

(NOT PICTURED)

9

www.gpubasketball.com