high school basketball

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mNQudgbwto&t=2m11s

Exhibit A, B, C, D, E, F, G why you NEVER try and take a charge close to the basket when a player who can dunk is coming down the lane. It’s not worth it. One second you’re thinking about all the high fives you’ll get in the huddle for taking that charge and the next second you’ve got a face full of nuts and you’re being shown all over the nation as the victim of the #1 play on Sportscenter. Them’s the breaks. You made your bed and now you have to lie in it. Memo to all aspiring ballplayers out there- Don’t be the guy that takes charges because sooner or later you’ll get your soul dunked on for the world to see.

Upset of the century that the dude who threw down that dunk was white

Obligatory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZHvd0ks7Es

From clevelandbrowns.com

Bitonio could sink 15-footers. He could weave in-and-out of traffic and spin home a gorgeous finger-roll. He could anchor a 1-2-2 zone press defense. Boxing out, playing help defense, finding the right opening to make the extra pass – Bitonio could do it all, and gracefully, too.

During his senior year at Long Beach Wilson High School, Bitonio averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds – the latter led the powerhouse California league he played in. For portions of certain games, the coaches trusted Bitonio to guard future Toronto Raptors forward DeMar DeRozan and the San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard – the former made the 2014 NBA All-Star game while the latter won the NBA Finals MVP over LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

Second round draft pick in the NFL, future member of the NFL’s all rookie team, Cleveland Browns starting offensive lineman… All of that pales in the athletic achievement and overall coolness of guarding Demar DeRozan and the NBA Finals MVP while you were in high school.

Picture this. You’re sitting in the stands of a dusty, dimly lit high school gym in California. In walks this guy named Demar:

Who can do things like this:

He’s gonna be a tough matchup so you’ll need to put your best wing defender on Demar. Someone who can match him step for step and challenge his every shot. Someone who is as well conditioned as DeRozan and someone with the same jumping ability and stamina. Who is that someone you may ask?

(press play, let it build a little)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvTm_BhZdOE

“STANDING 6’4 AND WEIGHING IN AT 265 LBS. FROM LONG BEACH WILSON HIGH SCHOOL, SMALL FORWARD JOOOOOOOEEELLLL BITOOOONNIIIOOOOOOOOO!!!!”