Most Slept on Kid in Reno (Norris Dupree #22)

I don't normally like to single out one kid on a team (because he/she plays on a TEAM), but I'll be damned if this young bol, Norris Dupree isn't one of the most slept on (slang term for 'overlooked') baller in the Reno area. 

I've watched this dude play over 3-4 games so far this season and he's dope...period.  You see, the funny thing about his game is that he COULD take over if he wanted to, but he's willing to do the dirty work AND share the rock.  I've seen this kid dive on the floor for loose balls, handle the rock to give Andrew Johnson a breather, rebound, play lockdown defense on opposing PG's and drive the lane like he enjoys getting hacked (another slang term, this means getting fouled...very hard).

I've never seen this kid sulk, complain or show a shitty attitude.  I've never seen him yell at a teammate, pass the buck or ignore his coach.  All this young man does is go out and play his H.E.A.R.T out.  Everytime I read the reno gazette-journal they NEVER mention this kid.  Don't get me wrong...he team does have two other studs on it, legit studs, but this dude deserves some sun too. 

So Norris...here's a little bit of sun for you fam!  I dig the way you play, best of luck to you and your Hawks in the tourney.

Follow @iplaywithheart

Manogue Miners vs. Hug Hawks (1st Round Nevada High School Tournament)

Februrary 15, 2012

This past Wednesday was the start of the Nevada High School Boys Varsity State Tournament.  As far as tournament go, we all know that no matter what your seed is, NOTHING is guaranteed.  The only guarantee is your seeding.  But the only thing your seeding can do for you is offer a home game.  It's ultimately up to the teams to duke it out and see who moves on to the next round.

During the last part of the Boys Basketball season I have watched several teams play and I have a little bit of working knowledge on who's who.  So when the 1st Round started, it only made sense to go watch the Hug Hawks (they're close, they're pretty good and my young bol Rian Narra plays for'm).  First I want to say that the Hawks are real...I mean, you have to bring your A++ game if you don't want to get run out the gym.

With that being said, Manogue played hard in the 1st quarter.  It actually looked like the game could go either way (I actually tweeted about it during the game).  Once the 2nd quarter started, that's when the depth and speed of the Hawks started to take its tole on the Miners.  But I have to give credit to the Miners for playing with a bunch of H.E.A.R.T.  I've watched about 3 or 4 games at Hug...and that is one rowdy ass crowd!  It's the high school equivalent of playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium.  You not only have the students to deal with...you have to deal with the parents as well!

Long story short (as short as I can make it...I tend to talk alot) both teams played hard, they hustled, they contested shots, drove the lane on the big men and dove on the floor for loose balls.  Hug ultimately came away with the "W" and is moving on to the next round while Manogue's season is over.  Below are just some of the pictures that spoke to me personally, embody the spirit of competition, and display the H.E.A.R.T that I love to see athlete's play with!

Hug vs. Reno Varsity Wrestling

January 11, 2012

In the sports hierarchy, wrestling doesn't get a lot of love.  If you ask most people, it ranks behind Football, Hoops, Baseball and in some parts of the States, Soccer.  But if you have ever been to a wrestling match, you can tell that wrestler's could care less if there's a full house, just parents or absolutely nobody watching.  I went to go watch Hug High wrestle against Reno High tonight at Reno High School.  I came away impressed by how hard the kids wrestled, the intensity of every match and the sportsmanship between both teams.  I didn't have a roster of either team, but Adrian Rodriguez (Hug High Wrestler) was cool enough to talk to me afterwards.  And after talking to him, these are just my thoughts on the nights matches.

These first two pictures are from the very first match I saw.  The Hug wrestler (in Green) was aggressive as was the Reno wrestler.  The Hug wrestler kind of faded in the third period while the Reno wrestler still had a high motor going.  Some kids would quit, get frustrated and do something reckless if they thought they were going to lose.  The Hug wrestler just kept on fighting.  I could tell he was gassed, but he continued to wrestle his ass off.  He lost the match, but he went down fighting.  Can't be mad at that....kid definitely has H.E.A.R.T.

The very next match was Adrian Rodriguezs' (Hug wrestler).  This kid has a very high motor and controlled his match from start to finish.  He was aggressive, kept moving and was in control in every situation.  Since this was my first wrestling meet I've ever been to, I found myself watching more than taking pictures, but he was a very technical wrestler who knew what he was doing.  He won his match.

The match that really sticks out in my mind is this one (the four pictures that you see preceding this paragraph).  It was hard fought on both sides.  The Hug wrestler was doing work and the Reno wrestler was too.  The thing that really stood out in my eyes was the Reno wrestler had head gear that kept slipping down over his face, restricting his vision.  At no time during the match did he try to stop or complain the refs about it though, he just kept trooping on like nothing happened!  I mean the kid was straight up G!!!!  You can even see in the last picture that he's about to get pinned with eyes covered.  Not ONCE did he say a word (and I would know, I was only 10-15 ft away when this was going down).

Both of the teams tonight (Hug High and Reno High) wrestled their asses off and did so with a ton of H.E.A.R.T.  Regardless of the outcome, both teams wrestled clean and with respect to their opponents.  I was highly impressed how they conducted themselves and hyped each other up before each match.  These kids weren't wrestling for the people in the stands, they were wrestling out of love for the sport and for each other.

Follow Me! and Like It!

Reed vs. Hug Varsity Boys Hoops

January 10, 2012

I'm still trying to get a feel for High School hoops out here in Nevada.  Last week I went to see Douglas vs. Reed and came away impressed.  So my dude Nate (from Douglas H.S.) told me I should check out their game against Hug.  So to get a fair assessment on Hug, Reed and Douglas, I was fortunate enough to see Reed play Hug tonight.  For me, it's not all about wins and loses, it's about how hard and how much H.E.A.R.T you play with.  I don't care if you lose by 50, just don't give up, don't quit and never, ever think of a loss as a loss...it's a learning experience.

So I'm at the game shooting pictures H.E.A.R.T Athletics and I couldn't help myself actually watching more of the game than picture taking.  Here are a few of the players that stood out from this game from Hug and the dudes from Reed who cemented what I thought about them from the Douglas game last week.

The game had mad energy from the get go.  The Hug players before they even started to warm-up did the huddle thing and got the crowd GOING! *BLOGGER NOTE* I tried to up load the pictures from the game but for some reason blogger.com is being stubborn, you can see the Reed vs. Hug game photos on my business facebook page www.facebook.com/heartathleticsllc.com.  Moving on...

Hug Players



Andrew Johnson (PG) is a stud...period.  This kid can get any shot, anytime he wants.  He's at home controlling the tempo, driving the lane and playing D.  Without a doubt, I was thoroughly impressed.  He's not the biggest kid, but his H.E.A.R.T is huge.

Norris Dupree (SG) is the glue man.  He's quick, can create his own shot and hustles.  I actually sat in front of his Uncle and we chopped it up a little.  Also played with a lot of H.E.A.R.T.

Sam Williams (C) is a force in the middle.  Without a doubt he owned the paint tonight.  But I got to be honest.  Douglas has this kid Hunter Myers that's going to make Friday's game a true battle.

Reed Players

Jamel Ramos (PG) is a Freshman playing Varsity hoops...enough said.  He started off the game guarding Drew Johnson and held his own.  The kid hustles, plays D and can knock down the open jumper.  When he's a Senior he's going to own the Reno area (you heard it here first).

A.J. Silva (F) can knock down open shots, hustles and plays his ass off.  I've seen him twice and he definitely translates his football skills to the hardwood.  Big ol' H.E.A.R.T on this kid.

Ty Shepard (G) plays hard all game long, but I got to be honest...he's quick enough to get past his defender but looks to get others involved first.  At the end of the Hug game he was taking control by driving the lane and getting buckets....I just wished he had done it sooner.  Either or, the kid "gets it" and is team first.  Hard nosed player.

Overall it was a great game, some iffy officiating (but that's to be expected) and both teams played hard to the end.  I'm really starting to dig Reno hoops.  A lot of the kids here play with a ton of H.E.A.R.T and I can't wait to see this Hug vs. Douglass game!