Podcasts about berks conference

Tyrone Nesby shares with Zeke his story of never giving up on a dream or backing down from a challenge. The new head boys basketball coach at Muhlenberg didn’t start playing organized basketball until eighth grade. He began his sophomore season as the last guy on the bench at Cairo (Ill.) High School. Believing that nothing is impossible, a decade later he found himself playing in the NBA -- and as a teammate of Michael Jordan. It is the same message he conveys to his players at Muhlenberg, a program that went 5-17 last season and has won just six Berks Conference games over the past four seasons. Nesby brings a vast wealth of basketball experience to the Muhls. He played 255 games in the NBA over four seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards, the latter with Jordan. Nesby scored more than 1,000 points in two seasons at UNLV. He has coached AAU teams for the past four years, including his son, Tyrone Nesby IV, who helped lead Reading High to a state championship last season. “My first NBA game was when I played in the NBA,” Nesby tells Zeke. “I had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as an assistant coach. The guys knew I wanted to be a coach when I got done playing basketball. Every time we went on the road I sat behind Michael Jordan on the plane and on the bus and talked a lot. I took advantage of that.” Nesby tells Zeke that he got to the NBA from being the last guy on his high school bench “with a lot of hard work and dedication. I never stopped learning. It doesn’t matter where you started. It’s all about where you finish.” When Zeke asks Nesby what his coaching style at Muhlenberg will be, he replies: “We are doing a lot of getting the ball out quicker. X’s and O’s are big to me, I’m all about plays. Different defense principles, I’m big on that. Teaching can overcome some talent gaps. I don’t have to have the best talent in the county, as long as I have kids that at least know the game a little bit. If you want respect, you gotta give respect. Give me some effort, show me that you really want to be here, that’s enough for me. You can work hard all you want to, you gotta work smart. I have been here (Berks County) four years now. I notice a lot of kids coming to my camp; there are a lot of fundamentals not being taught. We do a lot of fundamentals.” As for his expectations for next season, Nesby replies that “it’s definitely too early to tell. I just told the kids, I do not want to be done in February when our regular season is over.” Nesby encourages his players to play other sports as well. “I tell the kids go play football, go play baseball, I’m OK with that,” he says. “I try to schedule around other sports (in the offseason) so the kids can go play all they want to.”

Since becoming a Board Member for the Council on Chemical Abuse, Michael Kaucher says his eyes have been opened to the reality of addiction and the hope of recovery. “You see it everywhere,” he says in response to the a question regarding the occurrence of addiction. As Executive Director of the Berks Conference of Churches, Kaucher sees how the church body can be a strong force of awareness. With connection to over 450 churches in Berks County, he hopes to increase opportunities for education on addiction to the faith community. Tune in to hear from Michael as he is interviewed by his daughter Jennifer!

Wilson High School boys basketball head coach Matt Coldren tells Zeke about his team's players and prospects this season. The Bulldogs, who won the Berks Conference championship in 2013-2014, return a lot of players from last year's 18-11 young team that made a run to the District 3-AAA semifinals. “We had lots of talented boys without lots of experience,” Coldren tells Zeke. Wilson has lost its top player from last season, Christian Sload, to graduation. “He was one of the best overall athletes I’ve ever coached,” says Coldren of Sload, also an outstanding soccer player and track star. Wilson starts playing its basketball games a week after most schools because Coldren often has numerous football players on his roster and Wilson football usually makes a deep playoff run. “Typically it takes us a little while to get started,” Coldren said of football and basketball overlapping. “We may win games early but they’re ugly. I love having kids who play multiple sports. I wouldn’t have it any other way. But I can’t tell you a season that I’ve had everybody at practice at the start.” Coldren, in his 16th season as Wilson's head coach, talks to Zeke about his team's annual rivalry with Reading High for the Division I title. Coldren explains to Zeke why he made a rare gesture after losing to the Red Knights in last season's conference semifinals, asking Reading coach Rick Perez if he could address his team. “It’s a huge rivalry but it’s a respect rivalry,” Coldren says. “Last year, of all the years I’ve coached, that was the best team they’ve ever had. It was a special group of kids.” Coldren tells Zeke that the PIAA's reclassification, moving Wilson from 4A to 6A, essentially still groups the Bulldogs with the same schools. Coldren also talks about coaching his son Kyle, a junior guard who has moved up from last year's JV team. “I am looking forward to coaching him and getting to spend a lot of time with him in a different aspect than at home,” Coldren tells Zeke.

Reading High basketball coach Rick Perez shares with Zeke what it was like to coach an outstanding group of young men to an amazing 28-4 season, their second straight Berks Conference title, their first District 3-AAAA title in six years, and their first trip to the PIAA semifinals in 33 years. Perez says this team has a special bond and chemistry that united the Reading community. He speaks of his team as an exceptional family that led the charge. "They bought into the concept of family, loyalty and commitment. It became their habit." Perez tells Zeke that he doesn't recruit or accept high-quality transfers because he wants an inclusive home-cooked program with a deep connection that develops trust, and that trust is a big part of this team's success. "Everyone has a voice," he says. "Everyone is important. What we're trying to sustain is much bigger than this year's accomplishments. The culture of Reading High basketball is family, loyalty and commitment." When Zeke asks Perez what he will remember the most about this special season, he says, "Dancing at practice. Ultimately basketball is a game. What do you do in a game? You play." Perez also talks about coaching such an elite talent as Lonnie Walker IV, the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year and first-team All-Stater who is being heavily recruited by numerous marquee college basketball programs. Learn more about Talking Sports & Fitness with Zeke Series and watch other stories!

Reading High basketball star Lonnie Walker IV shares with Zeke the story of leading the Red Knights to a 28-4 season, their second straight Berks Conference title, their first District 3-AAAA title in six years, and their first trip to the PIAA semifinals in 33 years. Walker also tells Zeke about the remarkable bond and chemistry he has with his teammates, a group of friends who have been playing together since the fourth grade. "I'm not a selfish player," he tells Zeke. "I trust every single player on the team. They can do as well as I do." Lonnie also explains how special it was to be embraced so warmly by the community. The city of Reading motivates him. Which is why he says this season was a dream accomplished -- playing for Reading High and doing something for the city of Reading. Lonnie grew up seeing a lot of good players leave the city because of the environment. He said his dad emphasized that you don't have to go anywhere to do well. You just have to work hard. Walker talks about the power of parents and having his dad a role model. "Growing up I thought it was impossible for me to play in Reading," he says. "I took on the challenge. I worked out day and night with my father." He said the best compliment he received was from a 9-year-old kid who told him, "I'm actually happy to be a Red Knight. Thank you." Lonnie says when he heard that he realized why he was here in Reading. And listen to this story to hear his favorite part of this remarkable season.