Darrington Hobson Re-Signs With Milwaukee Bucks

Huge congratulations to Texas D1 Ambassadors alumni Darrington "Butta" Hobson. The former New Mexico Lobo and Mountain West Conference MVP was drafted with the 37th pick overall in the NBA's 2010 Draft. Unfortunately, two hip surgeries put him on the shelf before he ever played a minute for the Milwaukee Bucks and he's spent the majority of the last few months in Albuquerque, NM rehabbing and getting ready for what has become a strike shortened NBA career.

The 6'7" lefty G can score, rebound and has great court vision. I am so happy to announce that he has signed a two year partially guaranteed 1.4 million dollar deal with the Bucks a couple of days ago. When Darrington and I touched base a couple of months ago, I pointed out to him that I think I had a full head of hair back in the day when myself and Coach Beasley were mentoring him. :-) He is the first of what are soon to be several NBA players from the Texas D1 Ambassadors.

Below is a great picture compliments of USA Today. Far left is Austin, TX own A.J. Hardeman of Del Valle H.S. (#00) and Darrington Hobson (#1) both going up for a rebound. Both are Texas D1 Ambassadors alumni, shown here repping the New Mexico Lobos.

Albuquerque La Cueva's Bryce Aford Throws One Down

2013 G 6'3" Bryce Alford of Albuquerque La Cueva Throws Down In Transition



I know I'm getting old but I don't remember New Mexico Lobos Heac Coach Papa Steve Alford doing this back in the day for the Indiana Hoosiers. Can't say that Bryce can shoot it like his dad (not many could) but he can also fill it up from behind the three point line.

You'll be able to find Alford in the backcourt with Danny Granger's D1 Ambassadors on the circuit this coming spring and summer.

D1 Ambassador Robert Griffin III Wins Heisman Trophy

In 11 years since founding the D1 Ambassadors basketball club there have been many special moments. As a father, without question my own son seeing his goals realized of playing Division One basketball and subsequently obtaining his bachelor's degree tops the list. I always say that the McDonald's All American Honors won by John Henson is "sexy" but that each of our guys is equal and a player such as Reinier Strobos of New Braunfels Canyon going to M.I.T. arguably the world's #1 engineering school is just as gratifying to me as the program founder. Last night added another chapter in the book. (Photos compliments of Baylor University)

Texas D1 Ambassadors and Copperas Cove (TX) multi sport athlete Robert Griffin III took home one of amateur sports biggest prizes. He is the 77th winner of the Heisman Trophy. His exploits at Baylor on the gridiron speak for themselves and are well chronicled. He has had an amazing career. It was both joyous and painful watching him kick the Texas Longhorns around last week which was a performance that likely cemented the Heisman for him. (I watched the game in Arizona at a Phoenix Texas Exes gathering).

There is however, another RG III that most casual fans do not know. An old friend of mine, Coach John Avritt was the girls basketball coach at Copperas Cove back about 8 years ago. Coach told me unequivocably that he had a freshman at the high schoool who just had to play for me. He could run, jump, dunk handle the ball and was an excellent team mate and top shelf person. As with many of our players, an endorsement of our program was given by the high school coach and Griffin was on his way with Texas D1.

His family were outstanding folks but I remember well his dad being firm on playing multiple sports so many times he had to juggle basketball with track and sometimes we'd miss him not being at hoops events. He had good reason though as he was a world class 400 meter hurdler and there was this other silly little thing getting in the way....FOOTBALL. Good choice, Robert although I believe anything you'd chosen would be done at a high level.

Griffin finished high school in December, enrolled at Baylor early not only for spring football but to run track as well. At a school with several Olympic Champions coming out of the 400 meter ranks (think multiple Olympic Champion Michael Johnson) he also made his mark on the football field. First he made it as a runner (1000 yards rushing as a freshman) and then as a passer/dual threat. Don't be surprised if he turns down the millions from the NFL Draft to stay for his senior year and snag a Baylor Law Degreee while he's at it. It's not improbable for the straight A student.

Congratulations Robert and to his parents, Mr. and Mrs, Robert Griffin of Copperas Cove. We're proud you wore the jeresy of the Texas D1 Ambassadors. As with all things you did it with class, dignity and a smile on your face. You have truly gone on to be an ambassador to your community of Copperas Cove, Baylor and Texas D1.-Coach Max Ivany and the D1 Nation Family.

Travon Landry Commits To Tennessee Volunteers

I received a text message this afternoon from Papa John Landry informing me that his son, Travon Landry had verballed to UT. "Not Texas, says Big John, but the other UT." Landry a 6'1" G in the class of 2013 will play in the Southeast Conference for the Tennessee Volunteers. Landry started as a freshman at San Antonio Madison (TX), started alongside J. Mychal Reese (Texas A&M) as a soph at Bryan (TX) and recently moved to Huntsville, AL as his father took a job there and currently starts for Huntsville Bob Jones, an Alabama 6A powerhouse. Travon's older brother Jonathan played at Coppin State and is now at Alabama A&M.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Bob Jones basketball coach Danny Petty has confirmed that Travon Landry, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior point guard who transferred in from Bryan (Texas) High this past summer, verablly committed to Tennessee this weekend.

Landry had drawn interest from other SEC schools like Alabama, Vanderbilt and Georgia. He is averaging approximately eight points per game through four games this season after averaging 12.3 points and 3.5 assists per game last year as a sophomore.

"He's not shooting that much," Petty said. "He's a great point guard and sees the floor extremely well. He's a great defender, too. "He's a coach's dream in that he's very coachable. He goes hard in practice, which is what you want from your leaders. He's got a lot of basketball knowledge, and he's still learning our guys."

Bob Jones is 4-0 this season and is coming off an appearance in last year's Class 6A Northwest Regional final. The Patriots won the state title in 2009.

Landry is a super athletic point. Always looking to attack and get into the paint, he's a tough guy to stop when it comes to dribble penetration. His shot is improving and he defends hard. Travon played with the Texas D1 Ambassadors starting back when he was in the 6th grade and is shown above with Texas D1 in Minnesota. he began playing 17U with Texas D1 when he was a freshman. Congratulations to the Landry's.-Coach Max Ivany and The D1 Ambassadors Family

San Antonio Churchill Goes North And Melts Jack Frost

To date, San Antonio Churchill has one blemish on it's record, a last second loss to San Antonio Stevens as Southern Methodist University signee, Uche Ofoegbu his a long range banked three just before the buzzer. Their record stands at 10-1 and will be tested tonight in the Championship game of the Lone Star Invitational as they play Converse Wagner.

I'm getting ahead of myself though as this recap is in regards to the Georgetown Jack Frost Invitational. It's less than a 3 hour drive up I-35 for Sir Winston Churchill and once they arrived they ran roughshod over the field.
Connor Lammert of San Antonio Churchill shown throwing one down in the summer with the Texas D1 Ambassadors. The Texas signee is dominating this school season.

San Antonio Churchill 95 Austin Reagan 23
Sadly, gone are the days of mighty, mighty Reagan once the scourge of Austin in football, track and basketball. Shifting demographics and the Austin ISD turning a blind eye to "magnet schools" pillaging their players have left them with almost nothing on the athletic scene. Churchill played everyone but the waterboy in this rout.

San Antonio Churchill 75 Austin Akins 68
2012 G P.J. Rivera led Akins with 20 points, while 2012 G Scott Mammell (Army Prep School commit) had 23 in the win.

San Antonio Churchill 96 Conroe Woodlands College Park 77
College Park's Evan Cooper dropped 32 points but Texas signee Connor Lammert dominated inside and out with 27 points.

2013 G 6'3" Taylor Sutlive of Churchill shown below at Max Ivany's Austin-San Antonio Challenge. He's coming into his own, is an excellent shooter and is showing some of Momma Sutlive's genes (she played for Virginia Tech).

San Antonio Churchill 76 HCYA South 48
2014 Justin Jackson of HCYA is big time in the National Rankings and he didn't disappoint as he scored 19 points. However, Churchill has too many weapons and 2013 G Taylor Sutlive's 21 points supported by 2012 P 6'9" Connor Lammert's (Texas signee) 18 allowed the Chargers to cruise to the "Ship".

San Francosco's Cody "Do It All" Doolin

While many of Central Texas' naysayers were dismissing Austin Westlake's Cody Doolin 2 years ago as "not being good enough" I was singing his praises. Today those same people shut their mouths and avoid the subject as Doolin continues to play at a high level for demanding San Francisco Dons Coach Rex Walters. The true soph has averaged over 30 minutes a game for both of his campaigns by the Bay.

Doolin continues to add to his legacy by scoring the 5th game winning bucket of his young career. This was nothing new to me as I saw him hitch talented Texas D1 Ambassadors squads on his back during the summers and lead them down the stretch. The tough as nails guard scored the equalizer in the last minute of the game against Montana, a three pointer. He finished with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 32 minutes. He saved his best for overtime though as he scored the game winning layup with 35 seconds to go in the extra session.

From the Helena (MT) Independent Record:

MISSOULA — Sophomore guard Cody Doolin scored on a layup with 35 second remaining to lead the University of San Francisco Dons to a 65-62 victory over the host Montana Grizzlies on Thursday evening in Dahlberg Arena.

The Grizzlies (4-3) took a six-point lead over the Dons (6-3) with 3:58 left to play on a lay-up by senior forward Art Steward. USF scored six unanswered point after that, though, and tied the contest 59-59 with 2:07 to go on a lay-up by senior forward Angelo Coloiaro.
Montana then regained the lead on a three-point play by sophomore guard Kareem Jamar, making it 62-59 UM at the 2:02 mark. But Doolin’s three-pointer with 1:40 left tied it at 62-all, and then Doolin made the game-winner about a minute later.

Texas D1 Ambassadors alum, Cody Doolin of Austin Westlake, the Justin Bieeber look alike of the West Coast Conference. All American boy with an assassin's mentality.

Explosive Athletes Intitute Training

Coach Max Ivany of www.d1nation.com with 6'10" Tommy Smith (Phoenix North HS, Arizona State) Chicago Bulls 2003 Draft Pick and Houston native 6'11" Jake Voskuhl (right) Houston Strake Jesuit HS, member of UConn's 1999 National Championship squad and 9 year NBA veteran. For those of you who only see NBA guys from afar it's hard to understand how big and strong these dudes are. (I'm 5'10" and 205 pounds to give you a point of reference.)

Today I was invited to the Explosive Athletes Institute in Phoenix, Arizona by owner Sid Sharma. I've seen more trainers doing their thing and claiming to be the "best" than I have fingers and toes. I watched Mr. Sharma's workouts and was impressed with some of his thinking outside the box as well as his technical expertise as he holds two advanced degrees in biomechanical engineering. He certainly brings a unique scientific background to the business. Anyone who gets NBA guys to buy in have to be doing something right.

The most enjoyable part of the day was interacting with Tommy Smith and Jake Voskuhl, two really nice guys who are both looking to be in The League this year and getting their bodies ready. Both swore by Sid's methods. Jake and I both being Houston guys exchanged a lot of stories and of course know many of the same people. He got a chuckle out of recounting how John Lucas tabbed him with the name "Old Franchise" back in the day when he was getting up at 5AM to go to Luke's workouts....anyway, this is good stuff. Enjoy the video.-Coach Max Ivany