| 23 July 2011
SeaTown Sports had the lucky opportunity to cover the Hoops 206 Charity Basketball Classic at Key Arena yesterday. We caught up with a couple of local basketball stars to get their thoughts on the Seattle basketball scene and their glory days in high school. See our short interviews with Rodney Stuckey, Spencer Hawes, Tony Wroten Jr. and Mitch Johnson after the jump.
Rodney Stuckey
(Kentwood '04, Eastern Washington '07, Detroit Pistons 2007-Present)
Who was on your squad when you played for Rotary?
"Aaron Brooks, Marvin Williams, C.J. Giles, Josh Heytvelt, Terrence Williams, Marcus Williams. We actually were pretty good, we made it to the final four in a big-time tournament"
So you were better than Friends of Hoop?
"I mean we made it further than them...so I guess were better (laughter in the background)"
Most-heated rivalry in high school?
"I'd have to say Auburn high school. They had a couple of guys: Dan Stafford, Pace Pendleton"
Best player you played against in high school while you were at Kentwood?
"It was my sophomore year. We played against Justin Holt from Lincoln High School. He put up 45 points on us at Districts."
Best defender you played against?
"Hmmm..."
Who locked you up in high school?
"Nobody locked me up. I averaged 26 points a game. Actually, my brother LaRon was a good defender in high school."
Best shot-blocker...Spencer?
"Naw, Spencer wasn't a shot-blocker, he was more of a scorer"
Most clutch Seattle basketball player?
"I'd have to say either Jamal [Crawford] or J.T. [Jason Terry]. J.T. has a ring, so that's clutch right there."
Spencer Hawes
(Seattle Prep '05, Washington '07, Sacramento Kings/Philadelphia 76ers 2007-Present)
Thoughts on the Seattle basketball scene while you were in high school?
"It was so much fun. I just remember the atmosphere at all of the different gyms. Going into Beach, and O'Dea...all those spots."
Toughest gym to play in?
"Bainbridge is a sleeper because you got to make that trip over there and that takes up the whole day. But, I'd say O'Dea is probably the toughest gym to play in."
Best player you played against in high school?
"Martell [Webster] in practice"
Who was on Friends of Hoop with you going into your Senior year?
"Myself, Jon Brockman, Mitch Johnson, Micah Downs, Jamelle McMillan, Martell Webster and the list goes on. We were lucky. A lot of guys came together, and it was so much fun to be a part of it. I learned a lot from the experience and gained a lot of confidence from playing with those guys"
In your opinion, do you think that was one of the best AAU squads you've ever seen put on the floor?
"I don't know, there were a lot of teams. Spiece Indy Heat out of Indianapolis was my same year. They had [Greg] Oden, [Mike] Conley, Daequon Cook and Josh McRoberts."
Most heated rivalry during high school?
"O'Dea"
Not Blanchet?
"Not Blanchet, they can't quite compete, so they don't make the list"
Quick hits:
Best shooter? "Jason Terry"
Best passer? "Me"
Best shot-blocker? "Me"
Best ball-handler? "Jamal [Crawford]
Best defender? "Ummm, no one from Seattle really plays defense."
Tony Wroten Jr.
(Garfield '11, Washington 2011-Present)
Most heated rivarly?
"Garfield and Franklin easy"
Best player you played against in Seattle?
"Reggie Moore"
Seattle or Tacoma, who's got the better ballers?
"Seattle. No Comparison. Easy. That's not even close!
You tell that to Isaiah?
"I tell him that all the time. He knows."
Quick hits:
Best shooter? "Tre Simmons"
Best passer? "William Conroy"
Shot-blocker? "Alvin Snow"
Ball-handler? "Jamal Crawford"
Most clutch? "Jamal Crawford"
Mitch Johnson
(O'Dea '05, Stanford '09, Overseas 2009-Present)
Most heated rival when you were at O'Dea?
"Rainier Beach and Seattle Prep, it's a tie. At the time Terrence Williams was the same year at Rainier Beach and Martell and Spencer were at Prep. It was always a three team race to see who was going to win Metro and the State Championship."
Toughest player you had to play against in high school?
"Martell [Webster]"
You still playing?
"I played in Europe this past year, in Poland and Lativa. In Poland, I played against Daniel Ewing from Duke, Bobby Brown from the Clippers, Mike Wilks who played for the Sonics. There was good competition there. I'm probably going to go back."
You keep in touch with any of your old O'Dea teammates?
"I keep in touch with some of them guys. It's busy, everyone is all spread out now in different colleges and jobs. We try to keep in touch. We had a good time there, so those relationships will last a lot longer than our four years at O'Dea."
What's going on with Chris Banchero?
"I heard he might be playing in the Phillipines, because he'll be on their national team. He's injured, but he's trying to recover, and that's what's next on his agenda."
Quick hits:
Best shooter? "Jason Terry"
Best passer? "Mitch Johnson"
Best defender? "Terrence Williams"
Shot-blocker? "Spencer Hawes by defalut"
Ball-handler? "Jamal Crawford"
Most clutch? "Jason Terry"
--Kevin Cacabelos ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
