Shannon Sharpe is a familiar figure to football fans nationwide. He played for 14 seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, retiring as the career leader in touchdowns, receptions and yardage by a tight end. He also won two Super Bowls with Denver and a third with Baltimore. After his playing career ended, he became a popular figure on the CBS network's NFL broadcast. However, his early life and college career are less well-known.
Opportunities began to expand exponentially following the passing of Title IX, the 1972 Education Amendments to the Civil Rights Act. This act expanded high school sporting opportunities to include girls' teams, creating an exp...
The value of hard work and perseverance is one of the most important skills parents can teach their children. While every parent wants her child to be successful, children can't succeed without substantial effort and work. Rese...
John Clay was born on January 4, 1988, in Racine, Wisconsin. Clay’s parents, Sara and John Clay, remained in Racine throughout his childhood. He shone as a running back throughout his high school and college careers. At j...
The National Federation of State High School Associations spells out in its basketball rule book what equipment that high school basketball players are prohibited from wearing. In general, the rules prevent players from wearing...
LeBron James has played in the NBA for eight seasons as of 2011 -- seven with the Cleveland Cavaliers and one with the Miami Heat. James was selected with the first overall pick by the Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft and has ea...
Basketball is designed to showcase its stars, which is why the idea of teamwork can be hard to come by on the court. When only one or two players consistently make the high profile plays, the rest of the team suffers. If you co...
High school basketball tryouts involve a variety of drills and tests that require a good amount of hand-eye coordination, speed and strength, which come into play during a basketball game. You can become better prepared for try...
Basketball is a game in which you can earn playing time based solely on your work ethic, especially at the college and high school levels and younger. While much of your success centers on your talent and ability level, you can...
John Wall is a professional basketball player with the NBA's Washington Wizards. After a distinguished high school career, Wall enrolled at the University of Kentucky. After only one season with the Wildcats, he entered the NBA...
The difference between boys and girls basketball increases at the high school level because to the widening physical differences between the genders. The structure of the game is similar for boys and girls, but the pace and ath...
He was one of the top high school basketball players in the country. After that, it was on to Georgetown, a perennial collegiate powerhouse. The next stop was the biggest -- the NBA. Othella Harrington realized his dream, but t...
Created as a cheap form of entertainment during the Depression era, donkey basketball evolved into a popular fundraising event for high schools. Quite popular in the Midwest, in particular, donkey basketball usually is play
Adam Jones is a star prep high school basketball player for St. Thomas More Chancellors in Winter Park, Florida. Jones is a 6-foot-7-inch power forward who weighs in at 200 lbs. In 2008, his eligibility was reinstated at Winter...
Basketball coaches run tryouts to determine who will make the team. During these tryouts it is best to run a variety of drills so you can see a player's ability in each skill area. Running these drills as stations enables you t...
Basketball is a sport that requires coordination, speed and skill. Good nutrition during training and games is very important for players to perform well. Meals and snacks should be balanced and contain an adequate amount of ca...
Despite their name, free throws aren't exactly "free." Although it may be difficult for an observer to fathom how a high school basketball player who practices daily could miss an unguarded, flat-footed shot from relatively clo...
The "JV" in JV basketball stands for "junior varsity," and that means the players on the JV team are considered a step below the varsity team -- the top team in a high school or college. Often what a player does in JV basketbal...
On the professional and college levels, head basketball coaches often earn big bucks and major fame. That's not the case, though, for high school coaches, who often do the job for nothing more than love of the game. While the r...
In the college ranks, Allie Patterson completed her senior season for the Hawaii Warrior Wahines. In high school basketball, junior Allie Patterson, a 5-foot-2 guard with the Galesburg-Augusta club, led her team to a shocking u...
John Elway is one of the best quarterbacks in National Football League history and such a good athlete that he also played professional baseball. After choosing football, he led the Denver Broncos to three Super Bowls in his fi...
High school basketball is a competitive and thrilling sport that features skilled players and talented athletes. Prior to the start of the season, there might be two or three openings for the high school team every season. Play...
Michael Jordan's high school basketball career is best known for what didn't happen. In the fall of 1978, Jordan didn't make the varsity team as a sophomore at Laney High School in Wilmington, N.C. He played for the junior vars...
Technological advances have multiplied the flooring options for basketball. Previous generation of players competed indoors on wood, tile or tartan surfaces and outdoors on either concrete or asphalt, but new synthetic surfaces...
Los Angeles Laker basketball player Kobe Bryant called his team's sweep in the 2011 National Basketball Association championship playoffs the low point of his career, but his play in prior years has earned honors and acclaim. S...
You might think that the most important parts of girls high school basketball are a quick and talented point guard, strong rebounders and good shooters. And while those elements are key to on-court success, the most important p...
Evan Turner, a basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers, started his professional career in 2010. Prior to that, he was a well-known high school and college star. The 6-foot-7-inch Turner plays both guard and forward, makin...
He was one of five children. Cooper played quarterback for the Wareham High School football team and was voted all-scholastic by the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. Cooper, who also set records in high school basketball and...
It is the administrative and regulatory body for sports and other activities, including speech, theater, debate, music and cheerleading in 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Basketball is one of 16 sports for boys and gir...
When Dr. James Naismith introduced the game of basketball in 1891, his original rule book called for a jump ball after every successful basket to determine possession. However, that rule lasted less than half a century, as a 19...
While most professional basketball players come from traditional college hoops powers, more than a few were largely overlooked coming out of high school, ending up proving their abilities at a smaller school. The lesson here: E...
Professional basketball players come in all shapes and sizes and play in a variety of different leagues, but some general facts about them do exist. These facts are based on averages, which include the average player's height, ...
But buoyed by a mix of will, talent and work ethic, he went on to become the greatest player in basketball history. Few are gifted with Jordan's skill and tenacity, but every aspiring hoops star can strive toward his goals by f...
High school basketball rules with respect to the 3-foot inbound line are administered to varying degrees depending on the league and type of game you are playing. In addition to the 3-foot inbound rule, there are several other ...
The height a basketball is dropped from does affect how high it bounces. According to the International Basketball Federation, a properly inflated ball bounces to about 56 percent to 68 percent from the height it is dropped. Ma...
The three laws that Newton developed deal with forces acting upon a body and the resulting motion of that body. One interesting application of these laws involves the various actions and reactions that occur in a game of basket...
Regulations on basketball goal height are governed in the U.S. by the National Basketball Association, or NBA. These regulations help recreational organizations, high school, college and professional teams understand how goal h...
High school basketball requires specific equipment for organization, practice and official games. The list starts with two permanent backboards anchored into position with a base and a guy wire, with breakaway rims that will re...
The standard dimensions of a basketball goal, such as the size and height of the rim, are the same whether the goal is in a college gym or a fitness center gym. However, other aspects of the goal, such as the backboard, change ...
One of the leading sports where these ankle injuries occur is basketball, which has led many players to search for ways to prevent sprains from occurring. One common tool used in prevention is high-top basketball shoes.
A high school basketball court is smaller than a collegiate court. The 3-point line for women's college basketball is a different distance from the goal than the men's three-point line. However, the dimensions of the basketball...
Basketball is a popular team sport played by all ages. Many elementary schools, which include kindergarten through fifth grade, have a gymnasium or playground with basketball hoops. Unlike other playing levels, elementary schoo...
The size of the ball is sure to affect such plays. However, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Basketball Association, the International Basketball Federation --- often called the FIBA --- and high scho...
A violation in basketball is an infraction of the rules that does not involve contact with another player that could be considered a foul. The penalty for a violation is the awarding of the ball to the opposing team for a throw...
A key component to the game of basketball, dribbling allows you to make plays and score points. The design of the basketball and court allows you to bounce it high enough to dribble successfully. While many factors affect how h...
High school basketball is under the watchful eye of the National Federation of High Schools. This organization sets the standards for all rules in high school basketball, including the proper length and dimensions of the court ...
The rules and regulations for basketball vary depending on the level of competition. A high school basketball court is smaller than an NBA court. The three-point line for women's professional basketball is not as far out as the...
Many youth players participate in basketball each year. Some join a YMCA team, play on a school team or shoot the ball in the driveway or at the park. The height of the hoop remains relatively consistent in basketball. In most ...
Performing well at a high school basketball tryout is essential when you are trying to move up from the middle school level or you are new to the community. When the coach is not familiar with you or your game, you have to come...
Regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the sport, Michael Jordan has achieved the status of a celebrity. The 6-foot, 6-inch-tall Jordan is a basketball legend, highly regarded not only for his spee...
Basketball backboards are important pieces of equipment used in professional leagues like the NBA, and in amateur sports like college and high school basketball as well. The standard layout for a basketball backboard does vary ...
When high school girls want to improve in basketball, they don't have to wait for tryouts before the start of the season to improve their game. They can work on their skill level and strength and conditioning throughout the off...
In 1995, Kevin Garnett made what was then an almost unheard-of leap directly from high school basketball to the NBA. Overcoming tremendous odds and a troubled personal background, Kevin not only fit into the world of profession...
Many aspects of the game of basketball change depending on the level of play. The dimensions of the court and the shooting lines change from high school to collegiate to professional level basketball games. The size of the hoop...
The National Federation of State High School Associations, known as NFHS, publishes its rules, updates and interpretations on all high school sports every year. High schools abide by the many of the same rules as the NCAA and N...
The height of a basketball goal for high school play is the same as for play at all other levels, including college and professional play. The organization that governs the rules and regulations for high school basketball is th...
Playing basketball isn't just about getting exercise for some players. If you have the skills to go to the next level, choosing a school to continue your basketball career can be a difficult decision. Graduation rates, the repu...
Technical fouls are not usually the result of play on the court, but are generally due to a lapse in sportsmanship. From youth leagues to the pros, conduct that results in a technical foul is essentially the same, but the penal...
Earning a basketball scholarship is a dream for many high school players. The idea of playing for a major Division I basketball school can be quite appealing. In addition to playing two or three games a week before sellout crow...
The National Federation of High Schools sets the rules for high school basketball throughout the nation. To have a uniform set of rules, basketball officials throughout the nation use the rules and interpretations made by the N...
The dimensions for a basketball backboard vary slightly among levels, as do the dimensions of the playing court. The specifications are similar, but not exact the same, for high school, collegiate, professional and internationa...
While basketball is a team sport, only one player can hold or dribble the ball at a time, meaning opportunities for isolation occur frequently during the game. The rules of high school basketball clarify what types of actions t...
Not all NBA players get drafted right out of high school or college. Some have to work their way through the developmental leagues until they get noticed by a team that decides to take a chance on them. Such is the case with Ra...
For this reason, most junior high basketball leagues use high school rules from the National Federation of State High School Associations, with some slight modifications.
Basketball officials must have a quick whistle and the ability to make split-second decisions during game play in order to be effective and call a fair game. If you're looking to break into officiating, understanding the duties...
A 10-time All-Star and one of the best scorers of his time, Allen Iverson was one of the best guards of the 1990s and 2000s in the NBA. Nicknamed "The Answer," Iverson led the league in scoring for four seasons, beating out the...
According to the NBA Encyclopedia, his first attempt at basketball was less than successful. His sophomore year at a local high school saw him cut from the varsity team. Jordan bounded back and began a basketball career that co...
Basketball is a fast-paced game with few scheduled breaks in the action, but coaches and players can call a time out to stop the clock and confer as a team. Certain rules in high school basketball govern the number of time outs...
While you can make a contribution to your team if you are not a good shooter, you are much more valuable to your high school team if you have this skill.
High school basketball games give boys and girls the opportunity to enhance their skills and also give spectators the opportunity to enjoy watching games. Officials enforce the rules of the game by calling violations, fouls and...
Basketball is one of the most popular team sports in the world. Team members work together to achieve a common goal -- to get the ball in the basket more times than the opposing team. In order to be a more effective team, playe...
Even at the high school level, contact is nearly constant and players are quick enough that even a long-time hoops observer might have trouble determining whether a violation was committed. So whether you're a high school coach...
Learning how to handle the basketball properly is essential for anyone who wants to play point guard at the high school, college or professional level. A good point guard has skills dribbling the ball with either hand and can g...
