(Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
The Iron Man Drill forces a basketball player to focus, hustle and be tough.
A version of the drill was run at Anthony Ireland’s Fourth Annual AI3 Skills Academy on Thursday. Kids from 9-14 years of age started the drill by picking up an offensive player, Dean College guard Jordan Booker, driving to the basket. Immediately after, the player steps into the lane, draws a charge and needs to sell it. The charge comes in the form of being run into by staff member Blake Ireland, Anthony Ireland’s cousin, who was wielding a practice pad.
After taking the charge, the player must recover quickly and save a ball going out of bounds, then turn around and sprint down the floor to catch up to a lead pass from incoming Crosby High School senior Justin Davis.
The player then goes and coasts in for a layup to finish the drill, right? Nope.
Waiting for the player at the other end is former Wilby star and professional basketball player Marcus James, all six feet, seven inches of him. James alternated between intimidating and attempting to block shots.
“It brings the camaraderie up in the gym,” said Julio Vazquez, program director for the AI3 Leadership Academy.
Players and staff alike cheered each competitor on, with plenty of laughter to go around.
The Iron Man Drill is just part of a three-day program that comprises the AI3 Skills Academy. The camp is in its fourth season and is hosted at the Waterbury Policy Activity League gymnasium on Division Street, Jonathan Reed Elementary School at the corner of Robinson and Griggs streets, and outdoor PAL basketball courts in between the two facilities.
“It’s year four now, we’re establishing ourselves in the city,” said Anthony Ireland, academy founder and professional basketball player.
The academy is also expanding. Staff members will choose 20 kids for the first-ever Elite Skills Academy, which will be held July 2-3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Crosby. Sacred Heart assistant coach Jay Seay pointed out that Division I coaches Max Good and Myke Scholl will be there on July 3. The keynote speech is good for local coaches, trainers and aspiring athletes of all ages, Seay said.
As has always been the case with the AI3 Skills Academy, it’s about the Brass City past and present giving back to the future.
“It’s super humbling,” Ireland said about those who come to the academy. “It really shows the level of the connection we’ve built.”
On Wednesday, the first day of the academy, Waterbury legend Ryan Gomes was in attendance and cheering the kids on during drills. Damian and Dale Saunders dropped by, and their height always amazes the kids.
At the camp Thursday, staff included current Waterbury stars like Mikey West and Treasure Coleman, and there were plenty of former Brass City scholastic standouts in attendance. There was Marcus James and his older brother Daryl, who was a two-year starter at Eastern Connecticut State University. Ta’Quan “Tootie” Zimmerman, the sixth man of the year in the National Basketball League of Canada, was there with his brother Duval Zimmerman, Jr. Justice Goulbourne, who graduated with Booker from Crosby, is a student assistant at the academy. Briana Bradford, a star at Holy Cross High School and the University of New Haven, was also working with the kids.
Current college players like Booker, Idalis Miranda and Justin Strielkauskas were all there, helping out and dishing out knowledge. The staff also included those who played the game and still love every minute of it. Freddie Feliciano, Sacred Heart High Class of 1991, worked with the 13-14 year-olds at Reed Elementary School.
There was Marquis Fisher, a former referee who would have won the award for most animated coach if there was one Thursday. There were plenty of laughs in the PAL gym as Fisher and Goulbourne went back and forth encouraging players and scolding the referee.
“He’s a neighborhood guy, he loves basketball,” said Vazquez, himself a Crosby graduate.
Vazquez makes sure everything moves smoothly, though he also steps in and coaches or referees when need be.
Community is the theme that stretches throughout the AI3 Skills Academy, be it through basketball or life lessons. Current and former players keep coming back to help out, and there’s no hassle.
“They’re like ‘Hey man, what’s the day,'” Vazquez said.
It’s all about the future of the Brass City.
“Ultimately, we’re just giving back to the community,” Ireland said.
Ireland and company plan on doing that for a long time to come, and everything that comes out of the AI3 Leadership Academy and its camps will only help the future leaders of Waterbury.
GALLERY
Here are my photos from Thursday’s session.
