Off The Glass

Report: Ramon Sessions expected to have surgery after season

According to Ohio.com, Myrtle Beach native Ramon "Sessions is expected to have surgery during the offseason to correct a hernia he was diagnosed with in late January."

Also in the story, Sessions responds to how tough it is knowing he will soon relinquish starting point guard duties to Baron Davis. Check out the story here: Ohio.com.

For the record, Sessions was still the Cavs' starter in a loss to Atlanta on Sunday. He had 13 points.

Shallotte's Cedric Simmons averaging double-double in Greece

Shallotte, N.C., native Cedric Simmons is averaging a double-double this season in Greece.

The former first-round NBA draft pick is averaging 12.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game for Greek team E.K. Kavalas, which competes in the Greek League. According to Eurobasket.com, the squad was 10-10 this season as of Saturday.

Simmons played at West Brunswick High School before playing collegiately at N.C. State. He played a couple seasons in the NBA, where he bounced around before playing overseas.

Links: Ramon Sessions struggling since Cavaliers acquired Davis

Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions has hit a rough stretch after playing so well heading into the NBA All-Star Break. It seems to coincide with when Cleveland acquired Baron Davis in a trade deadline deal with the Clippers.

Davis is the starter-to-be, but hasn't started yet. Sessions' play, however, has dropped off anyway.

Here's a couple stories about Sessions' plight:

(Ohio) News-Herald: Davis trade has hurt Sessions' productivity

(Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram: Sessions starting but struggling

North Myrtle Beach's Kyle OK after earthquake, tsunami in Japan

North Myrtle Beach High School alum Matthew Kyle, who is playing for professional basketball team Toyama Grouses of the Basketball Japan League, had to deal with some of the effects of Thursday's earthquake in Japan but is OK.

Kyle, who played collegiately at Yale and played professional ball last season in Tunisia, said the following on his Facebook page around 1 p.m. EST:

"Hey everyone, thanks for all the messages! I am ok, I was on the way to an away game and the earthquake hit... all the power went out and the highway was shut down... so we had to get off the highway and a 4-5 hour trip was pushed to 12 hours... just got to the hotel. everything is fine. my prayers go out to everyone involved with this... what a terrible disaster."

Myrtle Beach Select Youth AAU looking for 11 and under players

AAU basketball is one of the best programs for molding young players and young citizens nowadays and becomes increasingly more important and popular each year. And Myrtle Beach has been known to have great AAU organizations.

Former area AAU players include Ramon Sessions, Raymond Felton and Carlos Powell - and many more. You never know when the next star is just starting to hone his talents.

One AAU organization is looking for players to play 11 and under this year. Below is the information for anyone interested (if more information is needed, post a comment and I'll do my best to get it for you):

P.S.: Sponsors and businesses are encouraged to help a good cause.

Parents letter

Dear Parents,

Another exciting AAU boy’s basketball season is upon us!  Entering our fifth season together, the coaches are excited about the new challenges that will face our club this year.

Many players within our organization will be asked to discover a new work ethic.  This work ethic must also occur in the classroom.  In South Carolina we are at a disadvantage because of the state’s historically low standardized test scores.  Hard work and determination must be established within the classroom and reflected on the court.  Staying awake longer to study in advance for tests and having a shut-down defensive mentality come from each player’s inner fire and character.

This season we will travel to Charlotte, Hilton Head, Raleigh, Columbia, and perhaps Cocoa Beach, Florida for the Division II National Championships.  Players must look upon these trips as opportunities.

Attached to this letter are our Annual Youth Membership fees and information sheet.  A tentative tournament schedule for the spring will be issued soon.  We are asking each parent to do everything they can to provide the total amount listed in the Annual Individual Youth Membership.  The ability of the team to travel will depend on everyone’s contribution.  Players will also be given the opportunity to raise funds through our annual HDTV raffle.

We hope that each parent will believe in the purpose of the club enough to ask local businesses to sponsor our organization.  All club sponsorships are tax deductible and we will glad to provide a receipt to each sponsor.

We look forward to a successful year and good times.


Sincerely,

Saul Joseph Martinez
Club Director

Fees and Information

Mission Statement: 

MB Select Youth Basketball is an AAU organization which will provide opportunities for your child to develop his basketball skills to his fullest potential in a positive learning environment.  Your child will have opportunities to compete against some of the best players in the state and in the country.  This program will stress a positive attitude, superb manners, and outstanding school work!  We will only accept your child’s best effort in all areas!

The purpose of our AAU program is to conduct training and skill sessions to a select group of basketball players on the Grand Strand.  This team will practice 2-3 days per week with practices lasting 1-2 hours in length.  These practices will consist of individual skill training such as dribbling, shooting, passing, rebounding, movement with the ball, and movement without the ball.  We will also insert our team concepts which include our fast break, press break, defenses, and offenses vs the zone and man to man.

Fees:

We are asking each participant to raise funds this season.  We will accomplish this through a variety of fund raising activities.  The more money we raise, the more tournaments we will participate in; including the national tournament (if we qualify) or team camp.

$375-paid by each participant (fee may be split into two payments with first payment due March 9th  /  second due April 15th)
The club fee will pay for a new uniform, a shooting shirt, two sponsor t-shirts, tournament entry, and player/coach hotel stays.

Car washes-each player that shows up and works will get a % of the proceeds.

Raffle-we will raffle off a 37” flat screen television for $5 per ticket.  All players will be required to sell their portion of raffle tickets)

Business sponsorships - $50 or $100. 

Chris Paul leaves court on stretcher after collision with Sessions

Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions and the Cleveland Cavaliers may have an impact on the NBA playoffs after all. However, it's not one that was intended or anything anyone wanted to see.

New Orleans Hornets All-Star Chris Paul left Sunday's game on a stretcher after a collision with Sessions. Sessions stayed in the game and appeared fine and hopefully the same will prove true for Paul.

Here's the early story from The Associated Press:

New Orleans point guard Chris Paul was taken from the floor on a stretcher after suffering an apparent head injury during the third quarter Sunday night in the Hornets' game against Cleveland.

Paul lost the ball driving into the lane and hit his forehead on the right shoulder of Cleveland guard Ramon Sessions. Paul stayed on the floor as trainers from both teams attended to him.

Paul, who was moving his legs and feet, was placed on a flat board and a brace was put on his neck. He was wheeled to the locker room and gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he left the court.

Paul had 13 points and 11 assists in 26 minutes. Cleveland was leading 61-60 with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter.