AAU Preview: The Lab

<p>The grassroots basketball season has gotten started and teams are starting to warm up for the spring evaluation weekend. Today we take a look at one of the newer teams in the state, The Lab, which is based out of the Medford area.</p> <p>Here’s a transcript of a conversation we had with program director Sherman Hunter.</p> <p><strong>Why did you start your program? How long have you been around?</strong></p> <p>I started the LAB program based upon providing a vehicle for kids within our community to truly embrace all that life has to offer.  Our program is focused upon the development of our players as people, and community leaders over basketball.  Through basketball we teach our kids the importance of developing their self-confidence, a strong belief system, an appreciation of hard work and what good things life has to offer.</p> <p>Our program has been in existence since November 2017.</p> <p><strong>What is the goal of your program for 2019?</strong></p> <p>To have 10 teams established, and playing within the Adidas Gauntlet for our teams.  More importantly I am motivated to have our program become more and more integrated within the community.  We want to make sure that we can help our players become more and more aware of how they need to give back to their community while they are given opportunities as a player and person.</p> <p><strong>What is your program’s mission every year?</strong></p> <p>My mission each year is to help our kids become the best that they can be.  It is about providing them with the Life skills to be successful as a person, business person, husband, wife, employee or employer.  Helping our kids getting better at basketball is a non-negotiable.  We will get our kids better based upon an advanced curriculum, and a specific plan to help our kids, but if we remove the Life portion out of the LAB, our opportunity to help our kids will not be achieved as I feel it should be.  The LAB stands for “Life and Basketball’, because one day the basketball stops bouncing, but who we are as a person will last for a lifetime.</p> <p><strong>Do you know of any players that will be back in your program this year? Who should we have our eye on?</strong></p> <p>At this time, we have a few players that will be making a splash within their conference.</p> <ul> <li>Jadence Clifton - Sophomore Del Norte High school</li> <li>Victor Orozco – Junior North Medford High school</li> <li>Tre Young – Junior St. Marys High school</li> <li>Sherman Hunter III – Junior South Medford High school</li> <li>Jude Pannell – Sophmore South Medford High School</li> </ul> <p><strong>What are the main tournaments you will be playing in this year?</strong></p> <ul> <li>City of Roses – April 26^th - 28^th</li> <li>Sea town shootout - May 4^th - 5^th</li> <li>West coast showcase – May 18^th – 19^th</li> <li>Hoop memorial – May 25 – 27th</li> </ul>