The 2014-15 Season Tips-Off

The "Dream Team" (Lt to Rt: Chris Haig, Dave Brown, and Mike Newell)

The 2014-15 Basketball Season is officially underway and 

the NRP Score-Table "Dream Team" is poised and ready for duty!

The 10th Annual Battle at the Ridge Thanksgiving Tournament launched with a hard-fought game between Maine East and Vernon Hills.  The Cougars of Vernon Hills edged the Blue Demons of Maine East 63-53.

The NRP Knights host Juarez Academy in tomorrow night's second season opener.

Former Knights Captain, Mike Kane, Visits Open Gym

Mike Kane makes a surprise visit to NRP to see his former 'mates at an open gym.  Mike was a starter, senior captain, and key member of the 2014 Knights' IHSA Class 2A Regional Championship squad.  Known for his relentless defensive energy and "clutch plays" under pressure, Mike is currently attending Harper CC.  He has his eyes set on an eventual transfer to IIT (Illinois Institute of Technology) to pursue a degree in Computer Programming.

Great to see you, Mike!

"The Tradition Continues: Once a Knight, Always a Knight!"

Mike (front row, 3rd from left) and his former Knights Basketball teammates

Former Knights Captain, Steve Leazer, now a Billiken!

The Billikens were a Top 20 team last year as they made their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament.  The Billikens are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Steve and Billikens head coach, Jim Crews, during a break in the action at the Chaifetz Arena -- Chaifetz is an on-campus arena that seats 10,600 fans. 

Steve on defense during a practice scrimmage.

Steve was the Knights Captain during the 2013-14 season and led the team to a strong 20-8 record, an IHSA Regional Championship, and a 2nd Place Conference finish.  He was also an IBCA All-State Special Mention Selection, 1st Team All-Conference, and All-Tournament at "The Battle at the Ridge."

Bo Knows

"To me, no coach in America asks a man to make any sacrifice; rather, we do the opposite. We ask men to live clean, come clean, think clean; and to stop doing the things that would destroy him physically, morally, and mentally."

Bo Schembechler
University of Michigan Football Coaching Legend

Welcome Back To The NRP Hoops Blog!

The Basketball Knights have been hard at work this summer honing their skills for what they expect will be another successful season.  

Besides playing against top-notch Chicago-area competition in a local summer league, the Knights traveled to shoot-outs at Purdue University and the University of Evansville to compete against the best programs in the Hoosier state and 
in southern Illinois.

An oft-heard motto at NRP is: 

"Northridge Basketball is not about the scoreboard; it's about growing up!"

This axiom never rings truer than it does during the"Summer Season" when our time together is focused on skill refinement, challenging ourselves against outstanding opponents, and gaining the experience necessary to build a cohesive team that performs at its best when it counts the most -- during the regular season.

Once again this summer, the Knights utilized their 25 contact days to work together as a team as well as to engage in individual skill workout sessions with their coaches.

Throughout the coming weeks, we will post Knights Basketball updates along with useful information to help you continue preparing for the upcoming school year and basketball season.

Welcome Back, Knights!!

New Zealand College Coach Visits Knights' Practice

On Thursday, Nov 21, Coach Piet Van Hasselt of the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand visited the Northridge practice as part of his whirlwind tour of basketball practices and games in the United States.  

Coach Piet is making this trip in an effort to improve the level of basketball coaching in his home country.  You can read about his trip on his blog: http://pietvh.tumblr.com

The Knights were honored and humbled that Coach Piet selected Northridge as one of his stops given the many outstanding basketball options that he has at his disposal in Chicago and the greater midwest.

Again, we thank him for selecting Northridge.  We wish him well and hope that his trip is worthwhile professionally and personally rewarding.

Good Times & Great Memories with some of NRP's finest!

Pictured below are six members of the 2008 and 2009 NRP Varsity teams who gathered last Saturday night at the O'Hare Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate '09 graduate Jason Beck's marriage to Kelly Knorr (Willows '09). 

Along with their teammates, this group of Knights accounted for 41 victories against one of the toughest schedules ever at NRP, 2 IHSA Class 2A Regional Championships, 1 Conference Championship, and Northridge's first-ever Grant Holiday Tournament Championship. In addition, they were the first Northridge team in school history to win 23 games in a season and to register a 15 game winning streak during the 2008-09 season.

 Pictured (left to right): Guard Sam Carter, Guard Jack Whalen, Forward Jason Beck, Coach Rey, Forward Rob Rey, Forward Julian Coleman, and Guard Brian Bland.

CONGRATS TO JASON AND KELLY!

GO KNIGHTS!

The 2,500 Club continues growing ...

 

Senior Dan Currie becomes the fourth "2,500 Club" member.  Way to go, Dan!!

 

Who will be next?

And the shots just keep on dropping ...

 

The newest member of the "2,500 on The Gun" Club is junior Matt Brown

 

Congrats, Matt!!!!!!

 

The Race to 5,000 is Raging!!!!

 

Remember:

It's what you do ON YOUR OWN when no one is watching that makes the difference in YOUR development.  Teams are made during the season, players are made in the off-season!

 

Scroll down and read "Ordinary Days" poem ... it's at the heart of NRP Basketball success. 

Second Knight Hits 2,500 Made Shots

 

Sophomore Pablo Esparza joins Senior Steve Leazer the "2,500 on The Gun" Club!

 

Next goal: 5,000!  Who will be the first to get there?

 

Congratulations, Pablo!