The world-wide ambassador of basketball, Darryl Dawkins, enlivens the proceedings with his personality while adorned in his bright burgundy suit during the late September, season-ending dinner at Mezza Restaurant in Secaucus honoring the accomplishments of the Essex County-based Team Izod/Sports University AAU basketball program

SECAUCUS- He entered the beautiful Mezze Restaurant dressed to a 'T' in his bright burgundy suit, looking rather svelte. Obviously, "Chocolate Thunder," the gentle giant himself, better known as Darryl Dawkins, has been working out lately. After all, as the grand ambassador of basketball near and far, and as a coach for Team Izod/Sports University, being at a season-ending event for a team he loves was absolutely in the travel agenda on a late September early evening. "I wouldn't miss this event for the world," said Dawkins, whose personality and spirit epitomize what AAU basketball should be about, and his persona and energy reverberate through the rest of the personalities who have made the two-year-old Team Izod/SU hoops program one to keep an eye on moving forward.

The players who comprise the 15-, 16- and 17-and-under AAU basketball teams for Fairfield-based Team Izod/SU have learned quickly from people such as Dawkins, team President & General Manager Ed Bright and noted coaches led by Brian Coleman that this is an adventure that goes beyond basketball.

Whether it's a cultural exchange with a visiting Israeli National Youth team, taking notes from a speech and communications expert in the Sports University facilities in Fairfield, or traveling around the country to shine in AAU hoops tournaments in Clarksville, Tenn., or Las Vegas, Nev., it's a wide-ranging menu of ideas and adventures for the young men who make up the Team Izod/SU rosters, something the enthusiastic Bright was quick to point out during an enjoyable evening with players, parents, friends and supporters of a team that has cer tainly made major inroads in two fast-moving years.

"We only want the best for our kids," said Bright, who is a longtime friend of Dawkins, dating back to the latter's days with the New Jersey Nets in the early 1980s. "We expect everyone to give 110 % and we believe in our hearts that there is such an opportunity with sports to grow a certain type of leader.

Players, coaches and supporters of Team Izod/Sports U's strong 15-and-under AAU basketball team get together during a recent, special evening to commemorate a successful season at Mezza Restaurant in Secaucus. (Photos by Koqui Fung The 16-U Team Izod/Sports U players are feted for their successful 2009 season.

"Let's face it: each one of our kids is tall; there's nowhere for them to hide. If we can show them life other than the dream of one day just being a ball player, and instill in them a work ethic, integrity and fairness with humility, we can produce something very special."

The formula definitely appears to be working, and players were reminded during the season-ending dinner at Mezze, that they better maintain the right, well-rounded outlook.

"I tell each kid that he is so lucky to be involved with a team like this," said the 52-year-old Dawkins, who was the first high school player to go directly to the NBA. "We emphasize academics and being a good citizen first while being devoted to your family.

"I also tell them to be the best they can be, regardless of what they do when they leave the game of basketball, which everyone will have to do at some point. But, we also work hard with them to try and find the best college situation where they hopefully can play basketball and be successful students."

Team Izod/Sports U President and General Manager Ed Bright (right) enjoys a moment at the podium with coach Brian Coleman as two of the key figures behind the Fairfield-based AAU hoops program partake in 2009 season-ending festivities.

Coleman, who works during the winter with legendary coach Bob Hurley's storied high school program at St. Anthony in Jersey City, is a rising star in the coaching ranks. The combination of the elder statesman with the big smile and the young mentor with a great passion for teaching the game has been a great combination for Team Izod/SU during the AAU season.

"Without Darryl Dawkins and Coach Coleman there would be no Team Izod," said Bright. "Darryl has become the face and ambassador of our program. His personality and spirit combine to transform and bring to life any atmosphere he walks into.

"Since day 1, he has been our mentor in what motivates the athlete, and he has shown us and taught us how to better reach young people. Although I must admit it, no one isn't going to listen to the 7-foot tall, 350-pound Chocolate Thunder. "He is one of the most recognizable men on the planet!"

"Brian Coleman is one of the finest, young coaches in America. Obviously, being under the greatest high school coach, arguably the greatest coach period has had a profound effect on his life. Brian is from the inner city. He started coaching to show young me n that there was an alternative to street life. His coaching of players, such as Mike Rosario, Tyshawn Taylor and other such notables, speaks for itself. "But, we have not met an equal to Brian in his ability to get the best out of his athletes and transfer that into life skills. His commitment to see these young men be successful on and off the court is unparalleled. He truly lives out the saying that, 'No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care!"

The list of colleges actively recruiting Team Izod/SU players is extensive, including the likes of Virginia, Miami, Providence, Seton Hall, Penn State, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Oregon State, Princeton and Fordham, just to name a few.

In its first season of operation in 2008 the team had a historic trip to Iceland, playing in an international tournament against European teams. In the spring and summer of 2010, Team Izod/SU will be traveling to Israel, Germany and Russia. "The basketball and cultural exchange experiences these young men can have with this AAU program are unique and unmatched," said Dawkins. "This is like a dream come true for me to see the opportunities presented, and the fact these young men are learning and growing up before our very eyes just puts a smile on my face."

As far as on-the-court accomplishments during the spring-summer-early fall 2009 season, some of the noteworthy performances for the Essex County-based AAU hoops program included:

*8th place AAU Nationals in Clarksville, Tenn.

*winner of the gold championship at Las Vegas main event

*finalist at Rumble In the Bronx, 15-U and 17-U

*finals of Gym Rat Challenge, 16-U and 17-U

*16-U Fall Fest Silver Champions Hoop Group

*15-U Sharpshooters Champions

*15-U AAU NJ state finalist

*16-U NJ State quarterfinalist

*17-U NJ State AAU semifinalist

*Pittsburgh Hoop Group 16-U quarterfinalist

*Open finalist at Fall Fest

*Israeli Friendship Game vs. AIFL Team

*Philly finalist

Some of the biggest award winners honored at the recent dinner at Mezza Restaurant for their play and leadership during the 2009 Team Izod/SU season were:

Co- MVPs- Joshua Brown and Jerome Frink

Captain: Matthew Johnson for 2010 season

MIP: Matthew Rennie

MVP: Lucky Jones

MIP: Mario Moody and Tyuan Williams

Captain: Jordan Quick for the 2010 season

MVP: Elijah Carter

Scholar-Athletes: John Caprio and Derrick Williams

Iron Man Award: Derrick Williams

Parents of the Year: Michael and Rochelle Forehand and Jodi and Brian Rennie

Coaches: Frank Burno, Herman Johnson, Lou Jones and Eric Harrield

"Team Izod has grown so fast because we do things the right way," said Bright. "First and foremost, our purpose and passion is honorable and noble. "We love these kids and every kid that comes into our program."

Team Izod/SU has had many supporters throughout the growth spurt filled with success for the AAU hoops program. "The relationship with Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH), which is one of the largest apparel companies in the world, and brands which include Van Heusen, Calvin Klein, IZOD, G.H. Bass & Co., Bass, Arrow and Eagle, Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole New York, Reaction Kenneth Cole, BCBG, Max Azria, BCBG, ATTITUDE, MICHAEL, Michael Kors, Donald J. Trump Signature, Sean John and CHAPS, just to name a few, have been essential to the exposure of Team IZOD in 2009," said Bright. "Not so much for the monetary reasons, but because of their partnership in our join vision to affect young men's lives through sports. "They understand that there are a unique set of challenges for our young men of today that are unprecedented, especially for the urban athlete. IZOD has pledged their commitment to us to grow leaders for the next generation through the benefits that can only come through athletic competition." The New Jersey Nets also are excited by the work of Team Izod/SU. Present at the recent dinner at Mezza Restaurant to help honor the team were current Nets Sean Williams and Trent Hassell.

On an evening where the shrimp on a stick, steak-a-bobs, salad and special pasta dishes were enjoyed by young and older a like, the great Chocolate Thunder provided a perfect summation of what his favorite AAU team means as he held court in the spacious Mezze Restaurant before making his way back home to Allentown, Pa.

"The one thing I can tell you is the people involved with Team Izod have one idea in common, and that's doing what's best for these young people involved with the team, while making their parents and friends proud," said the ultimate hoops ambassador. "This is not your typical AAU basketball team, I can tell you that for sure. "These young men are learning a lot more than just the fundamentals of the game, which are important, yes, but not as important as being good, solid citizens and students of life!"

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