NBA prospect Juwan Staten shows why LeBron had so much faith in him as West Virginia defeats Kansas

  

Juwan Staten reppin' West Virginia after huge W

    Seven years ago Juwan Staten was "The Man" in the state of Ohio. A junior at Thurgood Marshall out of Dayton, Staten had led his squad to the Ohio High School State Finals and had just fallen short of winning a state title, which had sent the All-State guard in tears. LeBron James, on the sideline watching Staten put on a show to keep the Cougars in the game, had consoled the young star, letting him know his future was bright, that he had balled out and dominated in the presence of one the best players in the NBA, all the while patting him on the back and hugging the distraught Staten.

LeBron consoles Staten at HS State Finals

     Staten would then go to a prep school his senior year, leaving Thurgood, to better prepare himself for college. He would use those words for inspiration that LeBron had left him. When he decided to stay at Dayton, the whole city was in shock. The best player in Ohio - who left for prep school - will comeback to play for his hometown?

This was sure to bring a level of respect, love and appreciation to Juwan, as he would be able to lead the Flyers to the promise land right?

In the words of Borat the Entertainer, "Not so much."

In a tumultuous year at UD, Staten decided to transfer after his freshman year. He was badgered by the city. He was dissed by the UD faithful. Called a quitter, a trader, and not loyal. It hurt him and his family, especially his father, Bill Staten, who had carefully watched his son throughout the whole process, and was not hesitant to step in, when he felt needed. Staten had coached at Thurgood and Colonel White, and heard all the negative words that was said about his son. Not to mention the fact that Staten wasn't starting his freshman year. Whether he was ready to start or not, is another story, but then-coach Brian Gregory decided to bring him along slowly, which was not happily taken by Staten. This caused a rift between Staten and the staff, and ultimately would lead to Staten heading to West Virginia.

 While that moment wasn't a storybook ending for Staten, this season sure has been, with his signature moment at the hands of the mighty Kansas Jayhawks.

   Staten was accepted by Huggins, and wasn't coddled by any means. Huggins wasn't sold on his sophomore prodigy. He wanted Staten to take more responsibility for his mistakes. Work harder. Show more. Become more mature.
So Staten did.

Staten GW shot vs Kansas

His junior year for the Mountaineers was phenomenal and you could see Huggins opening up to his star, all the while keeping him accountable. Staten made All-Big 12, and was selected this year as the Pre-Season Big 12 Player of the Year.

So with the Kansas Jayhawks leading by 1 with 9 seconds to go and Staten having missed his last two shots, who would get the ball?
Hmmm....Yep, you guessed it.

Staten went coast to coast with a smooth spin move and left hand layup to give the Montaineers the lead - then ran full speed down to the other end - beating everyone down the court, to rattle Perry Ellis into missing the shot and giving the Mountaineers the huge W, solidifying their March Madness hopes.
After the game, Staten quoted, "We keep fighting and believing. We didn't give up".

Im sure LeBron knew what he was watching that March day in Columbus.

Now the whole world knows as well.



More info?    www.SportsEffectLive.com
Subscribe to the SELive Hot 5 blog!

Miami Valley Football High School Predictions, Top 10 players to watch for; Top 5 Storylines in Dayton High School Football

As we enter to another rugged season of Football here in the Miami Valley, one thing is for certain; With all the moves that happened in the Miami Valley Area, this is sure to be one exciting season. With a plethora of players committed to D-1 colleges, teams trying to get back to the state, and social sports awareness at a all time high, its easy to see why we could be in for a epic season here in the Miami Valley.

Top 5 Predictions:

(1) Trotwood will win State this season 
    While I know this is not jumping out on a limb, the Rams did lose the man who rebuilt the Trotwood organization into a dynasty (Maurice Douglass) and also a couple of key players. However, the new coach (Jeff Graham) although while not as experienced as Douglass, has some experience of his own (NFL Veteran) and he has a experienced QB (Messiah DeWeaver) who will lead the way along with a Small College ready D with D-1 talent lurking at every position; Make a note as Trotwood plays Springfield in Week 1 tonight.


(2) Belmont will go .500 this season
     Now this is jumping out on a limb! Anybody who knows the history of Belmont knows that when it comes to football? Haven't hit on much in the last say......50 years or so?....But a new day is coming, as former Thurgood coach (Earl White has moved over to the Bison after leading Thurgood to consecutive playoff appearaces and building a reputation for rolling over folks with the running game. Add to that a pack of young, athletic, hungry players who give not one inkling of a thought to history and you get a possible great story here; the Bison thrashed Ansonia 36-22 to start the season 1-0. Stay tuned.


(3) Springfield will fight for state - in two years
    When the news leaked that Maurice Douglass was leaving the Mighty Rams program and moving to Springfield, it was almost like a earthquake had been sent through the GWOC and Southwest Ohio. Why leave the place that is going to State Championship Games every single year, all the while sending kids all over to D-1 programs?  But make no mistake; Douglass has a way with his players,  and he can restructure a program quickly; And although it seemed like a bad move, it was the perfect one for him to make; He knows there is a wealth of talent in Springfield, but the community was dying. Players not caring, or transferring.  Nothing that a guy who took a middling program and turned it into a powerhouse couldn't handle. While he's already changed the mindset, it will take a year or so to change the results on the scoreboard to the point where we see them in the State Semis. But don't doubt Douglass, as when he gets his QB back in midseason if they are over .500? Watch out.

(4) Wayne will end up in Final Four this year
    The Warriors have been really close in getting to the state title game, but because of the powerhouses that roam down in Cincy, its been too tough to get through; well that could change this year, as the Warriors are primed and ready to breakthrough with QB DMitrick Trice leading the way; With a top D back and weapons galore, this will be a banner year for the Warriors. Question is, can they put it all together when it counts?


(5) West Carrolton will have the hottest freshman in the state
    Yes you read it right; The Pirates, of all people, have one of the best talents in the State, and he will be debuting as the starting RB for the Pirates. Jaylen Artis, nicknamed the "Tank", will put his talents on display this weekend. He has been punishing opponents since pee wee, and now the Pirates have put the ball in the hands of the talented frosh; Can he help rise the Pirates from the depths of the GWOC bottom?


                                   Here is SportsEffectLive Top Players to watch for this Season:


Messiah DeWeaver QB, Trotwood - DeWeaver will look to prove his commitment to Michigan as a junior is no fluke. And he's definitely ready for the challenge.

Jamahl Manley QB , Thurgood - Without the coach to run the scheme that worked so well, can Manley step up to the challenge to become a All-State QB and lead his Cougars back to playoffs?

Damian Popp  RB, Centerville - Popp popped all over the scene last year, and didn't stop until he ran for almost 2k (1,982 yds) and 20 TD's; Can he top 2,000 this season?

Chris Young RB/ LB, Miamisburg  - Young was dominant with the Vikings last season, amassing 16 TD's on the ground; however, he's even scarier on the defensive side, which is what the D-1's see.

D'Mitrick Trice QB, Wayne - Trice lit it up for 34 TD's and only 8 INT's for a 11-2 squad last year. Can he go one more notch and get them boys to the State?

Davion Lankford  RB, Belmont - Lankford was unstoppable racking up 3 TD's and 130 yards in Game 1; Can he keep that up all season when the D is keying on him? Great start nevertheless.

Nick Coleman RB, Alter  - Coleman was a monster last year, and will follow fellow Knight Malik Zaire to Notre Dame; Question is, can he lead a Alter team deep into the playoffs?

Jaylen Artis  RB, West Carrollton - Artis, nicknamed the "Tank", has been unstoppable up into this point; Now the heralded frosh will be tested early and often; Can he handle the transition?

Kevin Love talks- finally; A Reality Show in Ohio?; New Dayton Public Sports Program

SportsEffectLive Hot Topics of Tuesday
(1) Love announcement, press conference today
Kevin Love will speak today after long awaited trade which sent him to Northeast Ohio to play with LeBron, Kyrie and the new look Cavs, who seem to have "first dibs" on the NBA Finals; Love, after being put on "silent treatment" by NBA, his reps, etc.,will finally get to talk about the trade that happened a month ago- even though he wasn't allowed to say a word. What will he say? Will he guarantee the infamous LBJ comment of "Not 1, Not 2, etc"?

(2) Reality Show in Ohio?
With the takeover of "Reality TV" every network has a plethora of Reality Shows that focus on any and every type of idea they can wiggle out of the producers minds. So, why not Ohio? Word is that the first Full Season Reality show will start airing in October; Which it will be either featuring the top Barbers or Beauticians. With Ohio being named one of the Top 10 "Sexiest places in the country" its only neccessary that Hollywood be brought to Ohio; Hell we got LeBron back, and Johnny Football has brought a new level of coverage Ohio has never seen; Stay tuned for more details on this major breakthrough for the Ohio folks.
Do you think Ohio can handle a Reality Show?

(3) Dayton Public Schools Sports Games Nationally Televised?
Dayton Public Schools will look toward making great strides as they possibly partner up with SportsEffectLive to bring a weekly show to the Miami Valley; Included will be broadcasted games of football, basketball, and possibly track or baseball. Along with it is a weekly Sports show in which coaches, players, and businesses will be the features, while the fans and supporters will have a chance to interact with their favorite players! Not to mention building a new youth broadcasting organization to continue the positive movement in education and sports in the Dayton area.
Do you think Dayton High School Sports should be nationally televised?

Follow Us on Twitter: @thesportseffect
Follow Us on Instagram: sportseffectlive
Follow Us Fbook: SportsEffectLive FanPage

NBA Playoffs Day 1; Winners and Losers, Heros and Zeros,

The NBA Playoffs kicked off yesterday, and it was - drama filled - to say the least;
Here's our Day 1 Recap and our HEROES and ZEROS of what looks to be one of the most dramatic, surprising NBA playoffs in the last 10 years....

Heroes Headlines

                             The "TRUTH" sends Nets to late win over upstart Toronto

When Paul Pierce was brought to the BK, it was simply for one reason - to hit big shots. And hit big shots he did, as Pierce hit 9 crucial points late in the 4th to send the Nets to the game 1 win over the T.Dot. After his last dagger shot, Pierce was quoted as saying "That's why they brought me here!!".
Ain't that the Truth!! Brooklyn was lead by resurgence of DWill and steady Joe Johnson. 
Wonder what Raptors General Manager Masai Uiri said after the game, this is what he said before it.


                                Warriors hold off Clippers down the stretch

In what was the most intense series opener of all yesterday, Harrison Barnes hit a huge 3 late to help seal the deal. The Clippers turned the ball over twice late, went 0-2 on their final shots and the Warriors got 36 from their dynamic backcourt as Golden St. held off late Clippers rally. CP3 was brilliant getting the Clip Joint back in game but made a couple key errors (or a foul call, depending on how u look at it) and missed a couple huge free throws.


                             The ATL manhandles Pacers; is a split on the way?

Atlanta dominated the second half after a 50-50 halftime tie, en route to a EASY win over the Pacers...Jeff Teague, a Indy native, had his way in the game dropping 28, and Paul Millsap dominated in the 3rd to give the 8th seeded Hawks a huge win over the top seed. More important is that after establishing himself in the post on the first offensive play for the Pacers, Hibbert seemed to be ineffective, while Paul George had a bad shooting night, and George Hill was non-existant. Could all the drama that has affected the locker room, really derail the Pacers and send them to a epic collapse?

                                  Thunder cruise early, then hold off Grizz late

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook nearly outscored the Grizzlies by themselves in the first half; However Memphis got it together, put on a huge run in the 3rd, and very nearly pulled off the biggest comeback in NBA history; I did say nearly did I? Biggest stat of the game? 5-29 Field Goal shooting by Grizzlies in the 1st qtr...



Craziest Game of the Day:   Clippers - Warriors

Biggest Surprise of Day 1:  Pacers being blown out, Toronto's GM statement

Heroes of  Day 1:   Deron Williams, Paul Pierce,  Harrison Barnes, Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant

MILK CARTON  "Where Are U?" players of  Day 1:  
Blake Griffin, Clips  - Shake n Blake was in foul trouble all day long; a step slow, and just not in rhythm; And then at the end he poured water on some dude complaining about his 6th foul call...Not cool cuzzo!    

George  Hill & Roy Hibbert, Pacers  - Hill and Hibbert was basically invisible yesterday; Hibbert scored the first bucket, then went thru 46 minutes of obscurity, while being dominated by the smaller bigs of Atlanta; Hill must contain Teague, who torched them for 28;  Hibbert must make Atlanta change their strategy by demanding the ball; if not, could be adios Indiana.

Dayton advances, and infuriates which superstars? Florida backcourt shines; Wisconsin cruises, then kicks it with ARod

 Dayton continues its magical ride, chops down Stanford Cardinal, infuriates superstars.
   Dayton showed again why even though they are considered a Cinderella, they have become a real force as Jordan Sibert dropped 18 to lead the Flyers to a 82-72 win over Stanford. Dayton gained a lead mid-1st half and controlled the tempo of the game. The funniest moments of the night were on the faces of the stars (Coach Johnny Dawkins, Seahawks CB Richard Sherman, and politician Condelezza Rice) who cant seem to figure out how Dayton was smacking their team down. But in irony, if Sherman was watching correctly, Im sure he seen some Seahawks in this Dayton team, as they took it to the Cardinals with grit, cool, and a desire that Stanford showed only in glimpses.



Florida finishes UCLA,
  Florida sharpshooter Michael Frazier II dropped 5 threes and Scottie Wilbekin got hot late to lead the #1 Gators to a win over UCLA...Wilbekin stock seems to be rising, after having issues just a couple years ago; 

  

Wisconsin cruises, kick it with Aaron Rodgers  
   Wisconsin dispatched of Baylor as Aaron Rodgers attended the game; Afterwards, he kicked it with the boys in the locker room, took some pics, and congratulated the coach. Considering this is the most exciting team the Badgers have had in years, its almost like a revolutionary moment for the Badgers, who are known for slow play and grind it out philosophy.
   
 Just in the Nick of time;  Zona wins, keeps Miller Lite Streak alive
   Zona' slides by San Diego St with a late rally started by Fab Frosh Aaron Gordon and finished by Nick Johnson, who scored 15 points after going- get this - 0-11  from the field. And even more impressive, he scored all 15 of those after the 3 minute mark, when the game was in the balance. This keeps the Miller Lite streak alive (With Archie winning at UD) as the only brothers who could possibly coach separate teams to the same Final Four.

Dayton suprises Syracuse, UD president parties all night; Is Dayton, Ohio officially the #1 Hotbed for Hoops?

     With March Madness occurring every year, it has been an unspoken word around the Miami Valley that while college hoops is the "hot topic" around the country, its not as much here as Wright St & UD haven't been as prominent when it comes to March. As we watch Ohio St, Cincy, and  Xavier all have great success we often wonder, "Why can't Dayton or Wright St win a tourney game?"


Devin Oliver, Flyers headed to Sweet 16

Well not this year my friends! Not only are the Flyers flyin' higher than a Snoop Dogg Concert after the classic nailbiting W over the 'Cuse, but with all the teams in the tourney, the First Four being here, and the impact of players in the college game, could Little Ole Dayton, Ohio be the Official #1 Hotbed for Hoops spot at this very moment?

Now while this sounds a little overboard, considering that places like Texas, Florida, New York, Indiana, and California breed great hoopers daily,  please consider some of the facts behind this very argument:

When you look at who was the dominant player in the NCAA Tourney, up to this point, you have to give some major votes for Jefferson Grad Adreain Payne (Michigan St); Payne was sensational in his 41 point outburst (in only 25 min no less); but the second leading scorer for Mich St was Wayne Grad Travis Trice with 19. Now if everyone from Barack Obama to Dick Vitale and half of ESPN picking the Spartans to win, wonder who will be a favorite to be Most Outstanding Player if it comes to fruition?

Adreain Payne goin' insane

The First Four has been a clear WIN WIN for not only the NCAA's but for Dayton, as 3 of the 4 winning teams from the First Four advanced to the round of 32. And with the First Four added to the 1st & 2nd round hosting that Dayton does every other year the city is profiting quite well, which in  turn brings excitement back to the city, which I think has seeped into the minds of the UD players, coaches, and staff. Im sure the Flyers were bitter having to watch the Madness while other teams come to play in your house year after year. Not this year though.

And lets not forget about the ladies shall we?  Daytons Womens program has been dancing for the last 5 years (vs #11 Florida), and the Wright St ladies also are in the dance, making it 3 of 4 for the D-1 colleges in the Miami Valley getting to the big dance (Wright St men lost in Horizon League Championship Game)

With impact players all over the country making statements such as Juwan Staten (West Virginia) , Geron Johnson (Memphis) and more future great players in tow (Justin Bibbs, Luke Kennard, AJ Harris) there's no doubt that Dayton, Ohio is on the map. Question is, is the United States of America ready to accept that Dayton, Ohio is the OFFICIAL HOTBED FOR HOOPS? 

Ask President Barack Obama that question. He's convinced enough that he tweeted congrats to UD and he's ready to play Devin Oliver in some 1 on 1s. I'm sure Oliver will take him up on that offer -
only after he's finished with the Madness.


Comments are welcome

NBA Season Kicks off today; Here are the 10 BIGGEST STORYLINES this season

Whats up my peoples! With a new NBA season upon us, we here at SportsEffectLive know that as exciting as last season was, this year has a whole new set of storylines which could make for one of the great years in NBA history.
Heres our SELive Hot 10 Storylines in the 2013-2014 season

1. Can LeBron, DWade and Co. win their third straight title?
With Miami now winning not one, but two titles now, really loosens the cloak around LeBrons neck, which could really be a problem for the League this year; If things fall right (healthy Greg Oden, inspired Michael Beasley, new DWade) we could be looking at a 70- win team this season. If things fall flat (hurt Oden or DWade), look for Heat to struggle to win a 3-peat. Anything in between? Dont bet against it.

2. Which team in the East has the best chance to knock off champs?
There are 3 teams who will look to take the reins from Miami- Chicago, Brooklyn, and Indiana. We think that the Knicks have the players to do it as well, but can they find their chemistry? Brooklyn, on paper, looks great. They have all the tools to get it done (aside from a veteran coach); The Pacers took the Heat to the brink last year; now with a healthy Granger? Things could get interesting. Then there's Da Bulls (see #5).

3. Can Spurs bounce back from epic loss?  Or will father time chase them off?The Spurs were 1 rebound, and 1 missed FT away from being champs; instead, they watched Ray Allen drop the biggest 3 in Heat history, then watched LBJ finish em off in game 7. While this was a crushing defeat, bear in mind, that nothing motivates players more than failure. Especially a team like the Spurs. Look for the Spurs to challenge again this year.

4. Can Oklahoma City get back to Finals? Will Westbrook be Westbrook 2.0?
It looked like OKC would be back in Finals, but when Russell Westbrook went down,that opportunity went out the window. The Thunder chances will hinge directly on if Westbrook comes back close to 100 percent. If he still has that explosion and fearlessness, look for OKC challenge the Miami Heat for the NBA title. If he's not a hundred percent? Could be another unfortunate season for the Thunder.

5. Will Derrick Rose be DRose 2.0 after injury?
watching Derek rose in the preseason definitely hyped up the Bulls fans and maybe put the Eastern Conference teams on notice. However it was the preseason, so you can put too much into it. D Rose looked tremendous. a lot of people feel that with a healthy Rose, the Bulls can overtake the Miami for the title. If he's anything like he looked in the  preseason, then it could be a good summer for the Bulls to get to the Finals? The supporting cast is primed and ready as well, and u know Bulls coach Thibedeau will be letting the physicality play and the anger boil (starting tnight @ Heats ring ceremony).


Coming Tomorrow:
6. Can Doc Rivers lead Clippers to the promise land?

7. What type of player will Kobe Bryant be when he comes back? & Can the Lakers survive without him?

8. Who will run New York?  Nets or Knicks

9. Are the Warriors ready to take the next step? Is Steph Curry a MVP

10. Can the Cavs get to the playoffs? Will Coach Mike Brown & Bynum help get them there?