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Welcome to a different installment of Hoops, Rap and All the pieces Black, a weekly column that zeroes in on the 2 elementary parts of SLAM—hoops and rap—whereas threading in different elements of the colourful tapestry of Black tradition. Let’s get it.
Quiet because it’s stored, Osman Bangura’s fingerprints are everywhere in the sport at each stage—highschool, faculty and even the NBA. At completely different factors over the previous twenty years, he coached one of many nation’s greatest basketball applications in Virginia’s Paul VI Excessive Faculty, and at Howard College for a stint. He’s additionally helped construct Workforce Durant and Workforce Takeover, respectively, to turn out to be two of the premier Nike EYBL applications within the nation. On the subject of teaching and basketball, you identify it and Osman has carried out it. He’s performed many roles, each massive and small, in serving to a large number of hoopers obtain their dream of taking part in Division I basketball and a few to the league. He has unequivocally turn out to be THE man within the DMV grassroots basketball panorama.
“I’ve been teaching for a really very long time,” says Osman. “However individuals don’t actually know that as a result of I don’t boast. Folks do the speaking.”
Osman, 46, who was born in Sierra Leone and moved to Prince George’s County, Maryland when he was eight, has no qualms about taking part in the background whereas others get the shine. His soft-spoken confidence units him aside from a lot of his friends. He’s not in it for his ego. He is aware of his function—whichever one the second requires—and he performs it about in addition to anybody within the nation in his discipline. He merely desires to assist put youngsters able to get scholarships and assist youngsters enhance their high quality of life by the sport, and he’s carried out each ten instances over. It’s not that he shies away from the notoriety and a focus, however he’s not looking for it both.
“I’ve carried out a lot for teenagers and I don’t anticipate nothing again,” he tells me. “The way in which I used to be raised, you do proper and the blessings are gonna come.”
Osman acquired into basketball late, and although he developed to be a fairly good participant, admits he was by no means fairly the prospect like his brother, Alpha Bangura, who went on to play for St. John’s College earlier than carving out a stable profession abroad. “I’ve all the time been a stable participant. I used to be extra of a defensive man, I wasn’t a stud or all-American,” says Osman describing his sport. And whereas he earned some alternatives on the subsequent stage, his faculty taking part in profession was filled with forks within the street.
Sadly for Osman, he suffered a handful of accidents together with a ruptured Achilles and indifferent retina, which might ultimately get the very best of him and stop him from having the taking part in profession he envisioned for himself. He final performed for Division III powerhouse Virginia Wesleyan in Virginia Seaside earlier than hanging up his jersey for good. “I used to be so beat, I believed basketball simply wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get by it,” he says.
However Osman knew he nonetheless had extra to offer to the sport, even when it was not predicated on his athletic skills. Osman returned to Maryland and one of many first individuals he reached out to was Glenn Farello, then-head coach at Eleanor Roosevelt Excessive Faculty, probably the greatest public highschool basketball applications within the space on the time.
Farello has since moved on to educate Paul VI, the place he’s been for the previous 16 seasons. Farello has been named Coach of the Yr 13 instances. He’s coached greater than 80 faculty basketball gamers and counting, with 22 who’ve performed professionally 5 who’ve performed within the NBA. And Osman was there for a bit of that. “I instructed Farello, ‘Man, pay attention, I’m again dwelling [from school]. I been by a lot and I wish to give again. I’ve loads to share,’” Osman recollects. It was a no brainer for Farello who coached Osman’s brother, Alpha, years prior.
The yr was 2003 when Osman made that telephone name and jumped into teaching, and he hasn’t appeared again since.
“I felt [coaching] is what I needed to do, I felt like I bought myself brief as a participant. I do know I may’ve carried out a lot extra however I simply coasted by it,” says Osman. “I needed to give again, even when only one individual acquired one thing out of it.” Effectively, when you think about all the present faculty coaches, Division I hoopers and NBA gamers who Osman coached alongside his journey, it’s protected to say that loads of individuals acquired one thing out of it. Brooklyn Nets’ Dariq Whitehead, New Orleans Pelicans’ Jordan Hawkins, Syracuse’s Judah Mintz, Oregon’s Kwame Evans and Florida State’s Jalen Warley are only a tremendous tiny pattern measurement of Osman’s former gamers.
This listing of basketball success tales that Osman is connected to is just going to continue to grow, too. As we speak, he’s the top coach at Thomas Pullen, which Osman says is among the greatest center faculty basketball applications in Maryland. He additionally not too long ago determined to half methods with Workforce Durant as their program director and head coach, and rejoin crosstown rival Workforce Takeover, the place he acquired his first style of teaching AAU hoops within the early 2010s. Even with Osman leaving Workforce Durant and becoming a member of forces with a rival squad, you’d be hard-pressed to search out somebody badmouth him or query his integrity. And that’s as a result of Osman’s intentions are made very clear; it’s all the time all in regards to the youngsters.
Many individuals think about the DMV to be the promise land for faculty basketball recruiting, and Osman is on the heart of it. He’s not the one main determine on this area, however he’s on the high of a shortlist of essentially the most impactful. And whereas Osman may justifiably stroll round along with his chest out, he prefers to play it cool. He offers the credit score again to his student-athletes and his workers each likelihood he will get.
“With out the youngsters, there’s no teaching,” says Osman. “And the largest factor I’d say is that there’s method you possibly can do all of this by your self. I’d completely not achieve success if I didn’t have my workers. I’ve it straightforward as a result of I rise up [and coach], however these guys take loads off my shoulders from scouting, recruiting, washing uniforms and driving vans.”
There aren’t many youth coaches on the market with a observe document that’s akin to Osman’s. He’s carried out nearly every part this sport has to supply. However he’s nonetheless decided to continue to grow and evolving. He says he nonetheless has feats to perform and targets to examine off. He’s labored at each stage besides the NBA, and that’s the place he has his eyes set when eager about the distant future. “I’ve carried out a lot on this [youth basketball] area and I believe I’m wanted on this area. However long-term I’d like to be an NBA scout or GM sooner or later,” says Osman. “I couldn’t play on the highest stage however perhaps I can coach, be a scout or within the entrance workplace on the highest stage and affect the sport that method.”
Certain, his targets are lofty however I wouldn’t guess in opposition to Osman. And it goes again to one thing he stated early on, “you do proper and the blessings are gonna come.” He’s not excellent, no person is. However Osman has carried out plenty of proper through the years. It’s protected to imagine the blessings are going to proceed coming tenfold.
Curtis’ Nook
Hoops: One other week of school hoops and one other freshman placing the world on discover for what to anticipate for years to come back. This time it was LSU WBB freshman Mikaylah Williams who dropped 42 factors in a win in opposition to Kent State. LSU is loaded with expertise and a championship pedigree made obvious by final yr’s nationwide championship. Including gifted freshmen like Mikaylah to the fold simply means LSU will likely be a pressure to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.
Rap: In the event you’re on the hunt for a refreshing pay attention crammed with elegant manufacturing, easy flows and high quality substance, try Oddisee’s album “To What End,” which dropped early this yr. I only in the near past got here throughout it and have been operating it constantly.
All the pieces Black: This week Brandon Jennings penned a guest story for SLAM about his Tuff Crowd collaboration with Stephen Curry’s Curry Model. Brandon referred to as it “essentially the most impactful collaboration the league has ever seen” and he made some legitimate factors to help his declare. You’ll want to give {that a} learn and take a look at the gathering here.
As all the time, right here’s the official Hoops, Rap and All the pieces Black playlist. It’ll be up to date weekly with every column. Add the playlist to your library to remain within the know, and make sure you comply with SLAM on Spotify.
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