A (love) letter from the editor…

Photo credit: WDEL.com

Living across the street from Bancroft Elementary in the early 90s meant Stormin’ Norman Oliver’s summer basketball league, Stormin’s Classic, was literally steps away from my door. Wilmington wasn’t as dangerous then, so I got to walk over on those muggy nights and step into Bancroft’s gym, where I used to shoot around when I was a student during the school year.

It was there I saw Lenny Brown, he of William Penn High School and Xavier University fame, literally climb the ladder on a helpless defender. I’m talking knee in the chest, arm all in the rim. Count it and the blocking foul. You thought NBA benches go wild NOW? The gym came unglued at that dunk. I was standing near the entrance, spellbound.

That was the moment basketball really became it for me – my favorite sport, my favorite metaphor for life, everything. I was never much of an athlete (I was an extra body on the Howard High School of Technology football team, but that was it), but I knew sports and statistics well enough that I figured if I couldn’t be an athlete, I could report their exploits.

Journalism took me to Delaware State University, where I was the student reporter for the Hornet men’s team’s only trip to the NCAA tournament in 2005. It took me to St. Mary’s County, Maryland, where I covered three Division III sweet 16 teams at St. Mary’s College. Finally, it brought me back to Delaware, where I’ve written about high school sports on and off since 2011.

While starting a new job, my research mind convinced me to invest in a Newspapers.com subscription and one day, boredom had me looking at results from every boys and girls hoops tournament here from 1967 to the present. What I found was Delaware has always had a rich and interesting history of hoops – players were going to away to college and making names for themselves long before the advent of mixtapes and highlight videos.

Also, as a student of the game and lover of journalism, I was amazed that newspapers used to put out two editions a day, with news for the morning and evening hours. I came away with way more respect and admiration for the old school and a determination to create something that would devote as much coverage to basketball.

The idea for the First State Hoops Report was born then, but it took a couple of years to get off the ground…or at least on the runway. So consider this an official introduction – FSHR is here and the 2019-2020 season, which starts in less than two weeks, will be our first official season of full coverage.

Myself and my video camera will take in at least one boys and girls game a week and hopefully a photographer will join me. Stories will be written and videos will be shot and edited to appear on the site, as well as a weekly podcast talking about the week that was in Delaware high school basketball.

We also will gladly accept tips, suggestions and news sent our way from anyone in the know. If a player has had a great week, set a career high, hit the game winning shot – we want to hear about it. 1000 point club, school’s all-time leading scorer? Please let us know. This venture will be as successful as audience participation dictates as it’s currently a staff of one.

That said, the love of the game is what inspired the creation of FSHR and that’s what’s going to carry us through this season, one that looks to be fun on both sides. Can Sanford repeat as both boys and girls state champions or will challengers emerge to take the crown? There are plenty of talented athletes on the rise and teams growing together that should make for a fun season. So let’s have fun together. If you see the guy in the picture (way more facial hair now, btw) with video camera in hand and press pass around neck, say what’s up.

Until then, enjoy the season and welcome to the First State Hoops Report. Tip-off is on the way.

Chris Stevens

Founding Editor

First State Hoops Report