32-year-old Jon Vinson is giving the residents of Oakland, California something to be proud of.  For more than 15 years, he has worked to improve the opportunity and potential of youth in his community through basketball.  He has developed a city recreation league and even coaches high school and junior high basketball.

Our Coach of the Week wrote that he noticed a severe lack of community activities for the younger kids in his neighborhood back in the 1990's. At the time, Coach Vinson was just a teenager himself, but age was no barrier.


   
"The kids asked me to give them something to do," he wrote. "They were fighting a lot and wanted to escape the neighborhood drama."

He believed then and he believes now that the underserved youth in Oakland are bright, ambitious and athletic.   His legacy has been creating and maintaining the DBC Basketball Club.  He also coaches at Arroyo high school and Frick Middle School in association with the Oakland Unified school district.

Coach Vinson wrote that each of his teams are doing well this season and in particular, his players are continuing to show growth and potential.  Although his greatest accomplishment has been helping each player score well in the classroom and build a path to college.  

"To see them make it to college brings a great deal of joy to the community," wrote Coach Vinson. "We are an inspiration to youth everywhere."
 
Like many programs across the nation, Coach Vinson's league budget is limited.  Rather than let his athletes suffer from lack of equipment or a travel fund, he encourages them to seek out fundraising opportunities and support from the community.  He highlights in the team's fundraising letter that participation and education are key.  He wrote, "Every child that wants to participate will be able to.  We help with tutoring where needed and make their education and intricate part of the requirements for continued participation."



Coach Vinson's Keys to Success:

• No child should be turned away.

• Each player deserves the opportunity and experience to play.

• Coaches have an obligation to teach the game of basketball as well as provide life skills and support at all times.

Thank you Coach Vinson for you assertive attitude and commitment to your community!

 

University of Maryland Eastern Shore - The men's team opened the season with a 75-57 loss to Stony Brook University on Friday, November 13th. They will continue their season tonight with a contest on the road versus Marquette University. The women's team also loss their season opener on Sunday to the University of Maryland Baltimore County by a score of 102-65.

 

 

 

 

Washington College - The men's team will also be participating in the Pride of Maryland Basketball Tournament. They will open their schedule with an opening matchup against Hood College. The women's team will also open their schedule on Friday by participating in the Messiah College/Wingate Hotel Invitational. They will face Messiah College in their opening matchup.

 

 

Cecil College - The men's team began the Rashad Brooks era with an opening 113-82 loss to Harcum College in Pennsylvania on November 11th. On November 14th, they followed up the loss with a 98-83 victory over Northern Virginia Community College. Their next matchup will be on Wednesday, November 18th versus Delaware Technical & Community College. The women opened their schedule with a 69-61 victory over Camden County College on November 11th. They followed that with a 84-63 loss to Northern Virginia Community College on November 14. Their next matchup will also be on Wednesday, November 18th against Delaware Technical & Community College.

 

 

Chesapeake College - The Skipjacks have begun the season 1-4 under new coach Reggie Williams. They opened their season by participating in the Howard Community College Tournament on November 6th & 7th. The 'Jacks defeated Howard Community College 74-67 before losing to Northern Virginia Community College 108-84.  The 'Jacks then loss their next two games last week - losing to CCBC-Catonsville 66-65 and Mercer County Community College 77-69.  The women's team also opened their season by participating in the Howard Community College Tournament on November 13th & 14th. They split both games, losing the opener versus Monroe Community College 85-65 before defeating Middlesex Community College 64-55. Their next contest will be today versus Harcum Community College.

 

In other news . . .

 

Milbourne Watch - Landon Milbourne posted an all-around game in the opener against Charleston Southern with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. Look for Milbourne to have a strong senior season for the Terps, who were chosen to finish 5th in the ACC in the preseason predictions. The Terps will face Fairfield University tonight in their next matchup. Milbourne is the son of Andre Foreman, former Stephen Decatur & Salisbury University standout and the all-time leading scorer in Division III history.