To God be the Glory Sports



TGBTG News

AUGUST 22, 2008 HOUSTON HOTSHOTS GIRLS AAU SIGNS 1 YEAR AGREEMENT WITH TGBTG SPORTS COMPLEX Houston, Texas - As TGBTG Sports puts the final touches on the 22,400 Sports Complex, the Houston Hotshots Girls AAU Basketball Club become among the first to sign facilities usage agreements to train two of their teams. The Houston Hotshots Basketball Club has been one of the premier Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) girls basketball teams in the United States for over 15 years, assisting over 200 players in receiving scholarships. Five Houston Hotshots alumni have played in the WNBA. According to the agreements, the Hotshots will train their 11 & under and 14 & under teams at the TGBTG Sports Complex on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The group will use 350 hours of court time in the one year agreement. "We are delighted to bring our team to TGBTG Sports Complex to train and develop" said Coach Madine "Dee-Dee" Griffin of the Houston Hotshots. "We look at the gym as our new home." The Hotshots are the second local AAU team to finalize facilities usage agreements with TGBTG Sports. The South Park BallCats Boys 11 & under and 13 & under teams have secured practice space for seven months on Monday and Thursday evenings, committing to 100 hours over 7 month period. "We are glad to work with serious local programs that want to establish a home base," said Cyril White, director of TGBTG Sports. "The Hotshots program exemplifies what we stand for at TGBTG, and we are thrilled to be a part of the personal development process that they extend to their participants." For more information on the Houston Hotshots, visit www.houstonhotshots.org
August 7, 2008 TGBTG Returns from Camp in St. Kitts and Nevis After a weeklong camp in St. Kitts, a group of basketball coaches from To God be the Glory Sports returned to the United States. St. Kitts and Nevis is a small nation of 44,000 people located in the Caribbean. The coaches from the USA traveled to the country to teach basketball fundamentals, identify potential prospects to come study in the USA as student-athletes, and encourage the youngsters in positive, productive lifestyles. "We had a great time working with the young people of St. Kitts and Nevis," said Cyril White, director of TGBTG Sports. "All of the coaches enjoyed our time in camp, and we look forward to coming back in 2009." The camp brought out 165 young people from ages 6-29. It was featured in all of the local news media and generated a great response from the local government leaders and natives. "We are glad to have TGBTG come to our country and work with our young people," said Dave Connor, St. Kitts and Nevis Director of Sports Ministry. "All of the coaches bring a wealth of experience to share with our young people. If our kids are serious to learn, they have a great group to learn from." One of the many highlights of the camp was to take the TGBTG coaches to the neighboring island of Nevis for one night with the top 12 players in St. Kitts camp. There was a friendly exhibition game played between the two teams -- a game that the St. Kitts team managed to squeak out a one point win. TGBTG camp coach Trey Moore, who played briefly with the Nevis team to start the game. commented on the intensity of the game. "You could tell that their was a lot of pride on both sides," said Moore, who was the MVP of BBL league in England in 2006. "It takes that type of intensity and focus all the time to be the best, so we know the youngsters have it in them." TGBTG will return to St. Kitts in 2009 for various events to improve the basketball level on the island. The focus will be on expanding knowledge of team concepts widely used in the USA and seperating the recreational level players from the players that desire to come to the USA. "We have to gradually get the players acclimated to playing the game more like it is done in mainland USA," said White. "It will help the players have an easier transition if they are offered a scholarship and have a chance to come to USA."
July 14, 2008 TGBTG SPORTS TO SPONSOR FITNESS CAMP IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS HOUSTON, TEXAS - To God be the Glory Sports will cooperate with the Sports Ministry of St. Kitts to conduct a week long fitness camp on the island beginning July 28, 2008. The camp is part of TGBTG Sports foreign outreach programs designed to assist in developing young people around the world. TGBTG Sports founder and director Cyril White first traveled to St. Kitts in the summer of 2006 as part of a group of American coaches invited to the Caribbean by Montserrat native Beresford Mack. After co-sponsoring the week long camp on the island in 2006 with t-shirts and prizes for the campers, White missed the 2007 camp, but did support the camp by donating two new breakaway basketball rims for the basketball courts. For 2008, White decided early in the year to commit funds from TGBTG's outreach budget to go back to St. Kitts and organize a camp for the young people with coaches from previous TGBTG activities. �The people from St. Kitts sports ministry were excellent hosts on my last visit, the people left a lasting impression on me, so it was not a hard decision to make doing this camp a priority,� said White, who played professional basketball in China, Nicaragua, and Panama. �It is an investment in the people of St. Kitts and an opportunity to help build bridges to success for the younger generations.� The camp is open for youth and young adults 7-29. The 7-15 year old group will train from 9am � 12:30 each day and 16-29 yr olds will train from 5pm � 8pm each day. Among assisting coaches from the USA will be former WNBA player Rushia Brown. Brown, the owner of Atlanta based Overtime Basketball Academy, also came to St. Kitts as part of the 2006 camp. She indicated her excitement about returning to St. Kitts. �I'm looking forward to making a good thing better,� said Brown, who played 8 years in the WNBA and 10 years in Europe. �I'm proud to have Overtime Basketball be a part of it and hope that each person takes something positive away from the experience.� All of the coaches traveling with TGBTG group have played high level college basketball in addition to some that have played in foreign professional leagues. The goal is to provide instruction from experienced individuals that have high levels of achievement in athletics. �You have to learn from people that have been where you are trying to go,� said White of the TGBTG camp assistant coaches. �The coaches will be a great resource to the camp participants.� TGBTG Sports is an outreach organization based in Houston, Texas that works with young people providing opportunities and guidance in the areas of sports, education, and business. TGBTG has active cooperations designed to help young people in China, Nicaragua, Mexico, Korea, and Russia. For more information, visit www.tgbtg.com.
May 5, 2008 TGBTG Sports Set to Open New Sports Complex / Hosts Pro Hoops team from China HOUSTON, TEXAS -- To God be the Glory Sports will host one of the top teams in the Chinese Basketball Association in Houston for one week as a part of the May 24^th opening ceremonies for the new sports complex the organization has built near Hobby Airport. The Zhejiang Guangsha basketball team, based in Hangzhou, China, will visit the United States for the first time through their multi year cooperation with TGBTG. The team will arrive in Houston on May 23, 2008 in time for the TGBTG Sports building dedication ceremonies on Saturday, May 24 at noon. �We are excited to host this group from China as they have hosted TGBTG groups for many years now,� said Cyril White, founder and director of TGBTG Sports. �This is the first of many foreign groups that are planning to use our facility, and it is fitting that we should start with China as we have achieved so much in our time working together.� The TGBTG Sports Complex is a 22,400 square foot facility located at 7630 Morley Drive. It features 2 hardwood full courts, arena styled basketball goals, a barber shop, a weight room, conference center, computer lab, athletic retail store, lockers rooms, and office suites. It was built to enhance the existing cooperations between TGBTG Sports and various foreign sports federations as well as reach out to local at risk youth when pro teams are not training there. �We have to make an impact on the young people in the surrounding community with our facility,� said White, who has organized several youth outreach activities through TGBTG since 1997. �The international relationships are very important, and so are the young people that we will be able to educate and inspire because of what we are doing at TGBTG.� TGBTG began going to China in 1999 on goodwill basketball tours. Since that time, TGBTG has taken more than 100 professional basketball players to China on 12 basketball tours covering over 50 Chinese cities. With the opening of the new sports complex in Houston, TGBTG extended the invitation for a Chinese team to finally come to the USA. �We've always talked about it on tours, but now the facility is ready, so we are looking forward to hosting our good friends from China,� said White. �This is good for TGBTG, the city of Houston, and for both of our respective countries.� TGBTG will recognize the Zhejiang Guangsha team during the May 24^th building dedication ceremony. The team will train at the facility and play games against free agent teams for one week before going back to China. TGBTG will release a final schedule of events for the team the week of May 19th. A second team from the Chinese Basketball Association is set to arrive at TGBTG Sports Complex in August 2008 during the Olympic games. For more information on TGBTG Sports, visit www.tgbtg.com






TGBTG Wolverines Win Consolation in Beaumont Tourney, Players Prepare for SAT/ACT December 4, 2007 - HOUSTON, TEXAS - Approaching the mid-point of their schedule, the Wolverines prep basketball team bounced back from an early loss to Lufkin High to win the consolation bracket at the James White tournament last weekend. The Wolverines posted impressive wins over Jefferson Academy, area ranked Huntsville, and Anahuac to finish 3-1 in the tournament, moving their record to 10-5 on the season. "The young guys are improving and learning that we need to play hard from start to finish if we are going to win," said Elmer Lucas, head coach of the Wolverines. "It is all a preparation for playing on the college level, and you have be ready if you are going to be one of those that are chosen for that privilege." The Wolverines are preparing for a big match-up on December 19 against Port Arthur Memorial and their University of Texas signee J'Covan Brown. Brown and the high flying Wolverine John Pressley will make for an exciting dual as the two teams square off in the Toyota Center in Houston before the Houston Rockets take the floor to play the Orlando Magic. "We are excited about playing in the Toyota Center again," said Pressley, a Harlem native. "All of us dream of playing in the pros, and playing these games in the Toyota Center is like being in your dream for a moment. I'm pumped for it." In efforts to strengthen their college prospect profiles, all of the Wolverine players are preparing to take the SAT and ACT in January. The specific tutorials and pre-test are intended to help each student post a high score and broaden their college entry opportunities. "We all know we have to take care of our academic business because without that, we won't be able to get in school," said Darrell Strickland, a post graduate player from New York that is also the team captain. "All of us have to challenge each other in our off the court business as well so we grow as people and not just athletes."




Former TGBTG China Tour Player shines on CBA team December 1, 2007 - SHAANXI, CHINA --- Last year in December, TGBTG China tour player Damon King found himself as one of ten undrafted free agents playing on the 10 city exposure tour with the Chinese Basketball Association. One year later, King has played himself into a 1 year contract in China after being drafted in the second round of the 2007-2008 CBA draft by Shaanxi. King averaged 18 points and 6 rebounds on the 10 game TGBTG tour last December. He is averaging close to 20 points with his team in the CBA, including a game when he exploded for 37 points. "Being in China for this long period of time is quite an adjustment," said the 29 year old King. "Some cities are better than others, and I have had to adjust to the style of play in the CBA. But as a professional, you do what you have to do to perform well at your job." King is one of four players from the 2006 China exposure tours to be drafted in the 2007-2008 CBA draft. Damon Stringer ( 3rd round Jiangsu), Johnny Phillips ( 4th round Zhejiang Wanma), and Dante Stiggers ( 4th round Shaanxi) were also drafted, but not signed. Players selected in first 2 rounds are guaranteed contracts. 3rd and 4th round picks are presented deals if higher draft picks elect to decline offers. "It is a blessing for me to have this opportunity to play in China," said King. "Coming on the TGBTG tour gave me some insight on what to expect. Now I just have to keep on working hard and doing a good job over here every day, one day at a time."



TGBTG Sports Pioneer Teaches Kids in China November 7, 2007 -- SHENZHEN, CHINA - To God be the GLory Sports camp coordinator Edward Pittman of Houston, Texas is becoming a big hit with youth basketball training in Shenzhen. Pittman, a graduate of Houston ISD Madison High School and the University of St. Thomas, was one of the first camp coordinators for the To God be the Glory Sports camps in 1997. From 1997-2004, Pittman worked in various roles with TGBTG, including product designer and distributor for the TGBTG Basketball shoes. Pittman moved to China in June of 2004 to organize basketball activities and teach english to young people in Shenzhen, China. Shenzhen in located on the southern coast of mainland China and is less than 1 hour from Hong Kong. Pittman's prime location in Asia has allowed the demand for the camp and clinic activities to quickly spread into the neighboring markets of Hong Kong as well as Guangzhou, home of the recent NBA draftee Yi Jian Lian. "It has been great to establish this market in China with our basketball training," said Pittman, who excites each camp crowd with his array of signature slam dunks. "TGBTG is well known in China because of our pro level tours, but now, the camps and clinics have moved us much more into the grassroots basketball scene of China." Pittman, who can read, write and speak Mandarin Chinese, says that the best is yet to come for the camps and clinics in Asia. "It will really be exciting when we bring NBA players over to be a part of what we are doing," said Pittman. "There are so many aspiring players here in China, and who knows where the next star will come from?"





BRANDON CRUMP SHINES IN KOREAN LEAGUE NOVEMBER 5 -- SEOUL, KOREA -- Houston native Brandon Crump of the Korean Basketball League is adjusting to his new life in Korea. Crump, a 6'10" - 250 lbs forward/center, is in his 3rd year of professional basketball after completing his NCAA career at the University of Tennessee. Crump spent his first two seasons out of college playing for the Shaanxi Kylins of the Chinese Basketball Association, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds each season. Crump has been in uniform for Shaanxi on 3 occasions when the To God be the GLory Sports tour teams are playing in China, and was teammate of 2003 TGBTG tour member Trey Moore while playing for Shaanxi in 2006. After 2 long losing seasons in China, Crump opted out of his contract in China and went to the Korean draft camp held in Las Vegas, NV in July 2007. His workouts were impressive enough to earn him the # 3 pick overall, and a salary that would be a 20% increase to his earnings in China. Crump was excited about the change. "It was a good opportunity for me in China, and I am looking forward to another good one in Korea," said Crump. "Korea is a beautiful country and I plan to enjoy my time here while playing in the Korean league." Known for his jump-hook shot and strong low post presence, Crump is sure to make an impact in the KBL this season. The business savvy Crump will also work to arrange teams from the KBL to come to Houston for activities at the TO GOD BE THE GLORY sports complex in near future. "The KBL is one of the top leagues in Asia, and it would be great for everyone to have them come and experience our culture and the way we play basketball in America," said Crump. "I'm looking forward to big things on and off the court."



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