Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 6:06 pm  |  26 responses

Baltimore Love Thing

Notes from a showcase in B-more. Plus, interviews with Dee Brown, Jai Lewis and more.

by Abe Schwadron

Considering his monster contract and stack of endorsement deals, you’d think Carmelo Anthony could afford decent air conditioning for the gym at his self-titled hometown youth center. Instead, the crowd of players, fans, media and scouts that mobbed the Melo Center on Sunday for the Baltimore Showcase endured a muggy sweatfest, with outside temperatures touching triple digits. Then again, the 96 participants in the open run would have been feeling the heat no matter what the environment, since they knew standing out against the competition could be the key to a contract.

They came from DC, Philly, Alabama, and much further in hopes of just that: a pro deal. And “pro” means the NBDL (former NBA Slam Dunk champ turned D-League coach Dee Brown was in attendance), ABA, WBA, EBA or any other BA with scouts  in attendance. Reality is, even the cream of the crop from Sunday’s tryout won’t be “taking their talents” to any NBA city this season. In fact, many may be headed overseas, because despite the backdrop of downtown Baltimore, there was a pronounced international flavor in the air, with players and scouts representing clubs from Germany, Mexico, Israel, Argentina, Canada, Norway, Finland, Trinidad and Tobago, the Philippines and more.

To no one’s surprise, the games were brutally physical and generally void of team play. Still, some unfamiliar names with obscure college backgrounds made solid impressions. Among them were SG Dewones “Sipp” Smith from LeTourneau, PG Dele Ojo out of Pfeiffer, and Chris Seaborn, an ex-UMBC forward.

The melange of talent also included more recognizable names, like former St. Joe’s guard Darrin Govens, ex-Florida State pointman Isaiah Swann, streetball veteran Randy Gill (aka “White Chocolate”) and Jai Lewis, a key member of George Mason’s 2006 Final Four team. Lewis drew interest from the NFL after college, a la Antonio Gates, but decided to pursue hoops in Europe and Asia and says he’s still “in love with the hardwood.”

Check out interviews with Lewis, Gill and Brown below. Special thanks to Noam Fishman of Performance Sports Management for putting the event together.

 

 

 

 

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  • The Philosopher Posted: Jul.26 at 6:14 pm
    Good sh1t.

  • total scrotal implosion Posted: Jul.26 at 7:55 pm
    White chocolate is still around? What was that tv show he was on?

  • the professor Posted: Jul.26 at 8:02 pm
    white chocolates all over the place still
    @total scrotal he won MTV’s who got game

  • turtle Posted: Jul.26 at 8:39 pm
    Randy Gill has some big-azz ears (he can ball tho).

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Jul.26 at 9:54 pm
    Thanks, Abe. Great coverage.

  • KIMMIE Posted: Jul.27 at 12:35 am
    THATTA BABY DEWONES “SIPP” SMITH!!!!! I SEE YOU HANDLED OUR BUSINESS!!!!

  • Aunt Carolyn Posted: Jul.27 at 10:37 am
    What up Dewones “sipp” Smith I see that you mean business hang in there and take care love U Much!!!!

  • Marcel Louimeus Posted: Jul.27 at 11:58 am
    Baltimore Love Thang Highlight Reel: Dude is wet in the beginning of the video! That #2 is doin his thing out there no doubt, them people out there can’t hold him…!

  • Dewones Posted: Jul.27 at 12:42 pm
    This was a great experience for me. I have to say that the talent level was high. Shot out to my boyz Duke and Detroit for keep it real. They both held there on up their as well. God Bless
    P.S. it was hott as heck in that gym, come on Melo..lol

  • kwame Posted: Jul.27 at 12:54 pm
    does anyone realize tha lebron bit that “take my talents” from kobe when he declared for the draft?

  • DEE Posted: Jul.27 at 12:57 pm
    I SEE YOU SIPP!!!!! SURE HATE I MISSED THE BMORE TRIP! BUT KEEP HANDLING YA BUSINESS AND STAY FOCUSED!!! MUCH LOVE FROM HOUSTON DEE

  • Trevor Posted: Jul.27 at 3:24 pm
    Muh Boy Sip doin work!! That’s what I like to see man, keep up the good work!

  • Matt R Posted: Jul.27 at 3:30 pm
    Congrats Sip….go get it

  • Bigg Sexxy Posted: Jul.27 at 8:48 pm
    Thats my boy #2 rep for that sipp and that Eastex going to the top betta watch out

  • SCOOP AKA MR> EXCLUSIVE Posted: Jul.28 at 12:24 pm
    AUGH AIGHT, “SIPP”,BETTER KNOWN TO ME AS MUNCH, I SEE U DROPN OFF AT THE BOWL STILL FROM THAT THREE POINT LINE MY BOY..THATS WHAT UM TALKING ABOUT.. KEPP DOING YO THANG BALLA..HEADED TO THE TOP SOON, JUST MAKE SHO U KEEP GOD IN YOUR LIFE AND SEND YO BOY A TICKET OR TWO MY BOY!!! I WISH U WOULD HAVE DUNKED ON ONE OF THEM THOUGH..STAY DEDICATED, MOTIVATED, AND DETERMINED AND HAVE FAITH AND U ALREADY THERE..KEEP YO HEAD UP…1 SHOT AT A TIME AND REMEMBER AINT NO I IN TEAM!!

  • Becky Posted: Jul.28 at 12:40 pm
    Nice work Sipp! Watching that jump shot go right in never gets old! Keep up the good work!

  • Lee Posted: Jul.28 at 12:40 pm
    Mississppi’s finest at work. I see you boy keep doing your thang. Show em what i taught ya!!

  • Paul Posted: Jul.28 at 12:46 pm
    That’s whats up Sipp. Keep doing your thing. May God continue to give you success. The same to the other ballers as well.

  • Kerron James Posted: Jul.28 at 12:46 pm
    That boi Sipp gettin’ buckets!

  • michael lambert Posted: Jul.28 at 5:00 pm
    Thats my roommate #2 Sipp. I see what 6a.m. practice been doing for you bro. Keep doing ya thang sir.

  • Dave Posted: Jul.29 at 7:37 am
    #2 Sipp bro. Keep da thang real. Killin it out there mutha. Send your brotha a tiket when you hit it man. Kill it bro.

  • Wingsbhigh Posted: Jul.30 at 8:02 pm
    Yeah I give the dude Sipp credit he was good but I was a kid in there from bmore did the same thing and his two highlights were amazing.. It was a great experience. Where can I get the film from.. Oh yeah Sipp lost by 30 lol now who’s real

  • ThaGhost Posted: Jul.31 at 4:23 pm
    I see all that hard work Sipp put in finally starting to pay off. That dream you been dreaming gone come true man just keep doing you. You got skills! You ain’t no me yet haha but you talented bruh. -ya lit bro-

  • Renikki Banks Posted: Aug.1 at 8:53 pm
    I see ya Dewones “Sipp” Smith! Looking good with the jumpers! :-) ) Hard work does pay off and good things come to those who wait! Continue to work hard and keep GOD #1, and he will come through if its in his will! Keep up the hard work and stay strong!

  • Sipp Posted: Aug.1 at 9:26 pm
    Wings!You know i give credit where credit is due. You did ya thang up there too man, you got mad game #59. I dnt need to say much i let my game speaks for me playa… : )

  • Lin Posted: Aug.2 at 12:06 am
    “Sipp” we are great and we are so proud of you. You are an amazing player.

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