We are running Holiday Basketball Camp on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am-12pm of this week in La Grange, Lisle and Schaumburg. It is great to see children in the gym working on their games versus sitting around playing video games. This is the time that players become better players as well.

In our Holiday Camps, we stress the basic basketball fundamentals: ball handling, passing, footwork, defense and overall basketball knowledge. We combine them with different Skills Competitions, 3 on 3, 4 on 4 and 5 on 5 half court basketball games. The age groups are 6-14 years of age for the camps.

In my observations, many of these participants have a tough time focusing during the camp instruction. As a youngster, I was taught to focus at home. My parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts made me listen and I did not have a choice! It was the best thing they could have done for me because it transitioned into school and athletics. The ability to listen is the most important ingredient for success as a young athlete.

Listening, hard work, respect for coaches, peers and yourself are the keys to success on the basketball court. Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you on the court!

Coach Erin Babarskis, head coach of the 2008 spring/summer Bulls Academy 15 U Elite team, has been making visits to see her players compete with their respective high school teams.

Coach Erin watched St. Charles East H.S vs. Downers Grove North H.S. play at Wheaton North H.S. this morning. There were seven Bulls Academy 15 U Elite players participating in this game.

Three players for Downers Grove North H.S.: Madeline Boltin (Soph.), Amelia Echemann (Soph.) Mary Echenmann.(Fr.) Four players for St. Charles East H.S.: Taushia Mugge,(Jr.) Jacki Leibforth,(Jr.) Kara Schnier (Jr.) and Shannon Kennedy.(Sr.)

St. Charles East H.S. defeated Downers Grove North H.S. 49 to 42. Madeline Boltin-6 points, Amelia Echemann- 2 points, Shannon Kennedy-2 points and Kara Schnier- 12 points.

Congratulations to all of the 2008 15 U Bulls Academy Elite girls and Coach Erin Babarskis for their hard work over the spring and summer! Tryouts are Sunday,March 1st and Monday, March 2nd here at the Chicago Bulls/Sox Training Academy. Check our website at www.bullssoxacademy.com for more details.

I mandate to our travel basketball coaches at the Chicago Bulls Training Academy to focus on the fundamentals of basketball in their practices here. We also have the same focus in our private lessons, holiday, specialty and summer camps as well. Basketball players must be able to pass, dribble, shoot and use the proper footwork on every level. Lewis University, a division II college in Romeoville, Illinois, practiced at the Chicago Bulls Training Academy on Thursday and Friday of last week. Lewis University is always competitive in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. They also played Bradley, De Paul, Illinois and UIC prior to their conference schedule.

I observed Lewis's Thursday practice here at the Academy. Scott Trost, the head men's basketball coach at Lewis University, had his players executing many of the drills that we use here at the Academy. Chris Mc Clellan, former Wheeling High School and Chicago Bulls Training Academy player, is a the freshman point guard for the Lewis Flyers. They were doing ball handling, shooting, defensive footwork drills, then transitioned in to more advanced work as the practice progressed. It reinforced my stance on making sure that players receive at least 30-45 minutes of fundamental skill work in our hour and a half practices. I spoke with Coach Trost after practice in regard to the drill work he had his players executing. Coach Trost said, "a grade school, high school or college basketball player has to work to improve his or her fundamentals. At the college level, players have to remember to execute the fundamentals and at the younger levels they have to learn to master them."

There is no substitute for players learning the game the correct way. There are a lot of club and travel basketball teams and many of the coaches are doing a great job teaching the game. There is still a good percentage of these teams that focusing on winning and not teaching. A youth basketball player will not remember how many games he or she won in the 4th-8th grade. They will remember when they learned how to make a left or right handed lay up or when they mastered the concept of help defense, how to back door cut, etc.

The coaching staff at the Chicago Bulls Training Academy basketball players are dedicated and will continue to teach the game correctly. It is vital for players to learn the game correctly in order to survive in a competitive basketball world!

Have a great weekend!

It was announced today that Chicago Public School CEO Arne Duncan was officially appointed the position as Secretary of Education of the United States. He has been a model public servant for the Chicago Public School system and will do a great job serving the nation.

Arne and I have played basketball together for the past 12 years. He and I have competed together in many men's league tournaments in Chicago. He has become a good friend over the years. We also play pickup basketball together at the Labratory High School where I played with President-elect Barack Obama last week.

Barack has not only appointed a great person for the job but a very good basketball player. Arne played collegiate basketball at Harvard University and then played professionally in Australia for 5 years. Arne is the true definition of a "gym rat." He may be one of the best shooters I have ever played with and he can pass with the best as well. Arne will hit you in the face if you cut to the basket and your hands are not up to catch! He is as fundamentally sound as a basketball player can be. Arne also is 6"5!

I am going to miss Arne but I am happy for him and his family. I look forward to playing with he and Barack at Camp David!

"Shooting the Rock with Barack"

Above is a picture of me, Larry Stewart, General Manager of Basketball Operations at the Chicago Bulls/White Sox Training Academy (far left black Bulls shirt). We took a group photo after playing basketball on Tuesday, December 9th at University of Chicago Labratory High School in Hyde Park on the south side of Chicago. It happens to be the neighborhood that President-elect Barack Obama lives in as well. It is a known fact that Barack is a basketball fanatic and even played on the day he was elected as our 44th president!

I was on my way to Lab School (the nickname for University of Chicago Labratory High School) to get my weekly basketball run with the Lab coaching staff and arrived early. I had planned to watch practice and stretch before I played. Upon my arrival, I was met by a secret service agent who was thoroughly patroling the gym. I thought it was odd but didn't ask any questions at the time. One of the secret service agents informed me that President-elect Obama was joining us to play basketball. I could not believe what was happening! They continued to secure the gym as the other players arrived. Fifteen minutes later, in walks Barack! He glided in with a Chicago White Sox cap on his head an spoke to each and every person that was in the gym. The group was in awe as Barack shot around and stretched. He immediately made us forget that he had just been elected President of the United States by cracking a joke. We all laughed because the joke was funny! He immediately showed his ability to connect with people and that something I have seen consistantly throughout his campaign.

We picked our teams and I ended playing on the same team with Barack Obama. This could be a good or bad situation depending on what the outcome of our games are. I assured Barack that he was playing with the correct team and he would leave the gym as a winner! We began playing and things began to fall in place. We won the first game 21-11!

In the second game, Barack began to settle in. He hit 2 three pointers from the right wing and had a beautiful drive to the basket and finished it with a left-handed fingeroll layup. As he drove the lane, it parted like the red sea! No one would want to be responsible for injuring the next President of the United States! Barack's response after driving the lane and scoring the layup was, "Is anyone going to guard me!" We all laughed but he continued to play aggresively with the team. He was encouraging, positive and vocal. He defended well and knew where to be on the floor. Barack's overall game was extremely smooth and he is fundamentally sound. He is a good shooter and makes shots when he is open. He is a very good passer as well.

When the 4th game had finished, Barack's team had won its 4th game. We did not lose a game! It was a great experience to have to the opportunity to play basketball with Barack Obama. It is one of those surreal moments that you cannot prepare for. This man is going to be our next president! The beautiful thing about the experience is we were playing basketball together. The game we both love and respect!

My president, Tim Rappe, here at the Chicago Bulls/White Sox Training Academy shared three articles from the Friday, December 4th Daily Herald with me today. The articles are in the "Talking Points" section and the articles are headed: "Rule gives freshmen the opportunity for smooth transition,"by Michael Meissen. The other two are: "It just makes sense," written by Josh Weige and "A good idea in theory, not practice," by Orrin Schwarz. Michael and Josh is in favor of the rule and Orrin is not. The articles are highlighting the no-cut rule for freshman in Glenbard District 87. All three articles are interesting and I encourage you to read them. You can go to www.dailyherald.com if you do not have the newspaper.

Even though Orrin Schwarz is not in favor of the "freshman participation rule", he explains that there are other alternatives for high school students to play sports. Orrin mentions the Bulls/Sox Training Academy where we do have programs designed for high school players that have been cut from their respective basketball teams. We have designed a High School Draft League that begins January 7, 2009 and ends on February 11, 2009. The program meets on Wednesday nights for six weeks from 8:00pm-9:30pm at the Bulls/Sox Training Academy. Our goal is to improve the player's confidence and skill level in efforts to help them prepare to make their respective high school team next season.

The Bulls/Sox Training Academy also provides individual and semi-private Private Instruction and Specialty Camps. (Guard/Post Play, Power Moves, Shooting and Ball Handling Camps) You can register your child on-line at www.bullssoxacademy.com or call Kate Mc Govern at (630) 324-8237 for more information.

Our High School Draft League is designed for players that have been cut from their respective high school team. The individual and semi-private instruction and specialty camps are for all players. You can take private instruction or participate in specialty camps while playing on your high school team. It is important for you as a high school player to work on your game individually to excel. High School Coaches rarely have time to help players with their individual weaknesses, but to expect their players to be prepared when called on. Remember, you MUST be ready when your number is called!

Basketball players that did not make their high school team, you can do it! Don't give up! There is no substitute for hard work and the basketball staff at the Bulls Academy is here to help you.

We look forward to seeing you on the court this winter!

Yours in Basketball,

Coach Stewart

Have a great weekend.

I attended the Sixers vs. Bulls game on Tuesday night at the United Center. I was down on the floor during pre-game shoot around and had the opportunity to speak with Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls young phenom point guard. Derrick had appeared at our Chicago Bulls Players Camp at the Chicago Bulls Training Academy this summer 2008. It was his first appearance and he did a great job. We look forward to having him appear at our players camp in summer 2009 as well.

I spoke with Derrick about his first season and the last game the played on their road trip against the Sixers in Philly. Derrick had an outstanding block on a fastbreak layup attempt by Sixers Andre Miller and a wicked cross over in which he almost broke Miller's ankles! I was all over EPSN the next day. Derrick's response was: "I was just playing basketball" and he smiled respectfully.

My first encounter with Derrick Rose was when he was a 7th grader playing at Lindblom Park on the south side of Chicago in the Englewood neighborhood. I knew he was a "special" basketball player that day. He was playing with grown men and holding his own. He never said a word to anyone in a disresptectful manner during the games. I followed his high school career at Simeon and his former assistant coach, James Farr, current assistant men's basketball coach at Chicago State University and my childhood friend raved about Derrick's basketball skills. Coach Farr raved more about Derrick's attitude and what an outstanding person he was as well. They won two state championships during Derrick's high school career at Simeon. He proved to be one of the best high school players in the country. I was privilaged to watch Derrick and Eric Gordon (Indiana University, L.A. Clippers) team up for a National AAU tournament in Las Vegas. They played against O.J. Mayo (USC, Memphis Grizzlies) and Bill Walker (Kansas St. University, Boston Celtics) in one of the best high school games I have ever seen in person. Derrick's team won the batlle and he was under control before, during and after the game.

Derrick moved on to college and played at University of Memphis. Rod Strickland, former NBA point guard is on the staff at Memphis. Rod's comment about Derrick was: "He can be one of point guards to ever play the game. He has a tremendous upside skill wise but his attitude will be the key to his success." Derrick played in the NCAA championship game against Kansas and Memphis lost. Derrick played competed and played hard but never lost his composure. Even in a defeat he was a gentleman.

Derrick Rose is the example of what an young basketball player should be. His attitude is the same when he makes a spectacular play, wins a game or makes a mistake and loses a game. As a player, you should always play the game with emotion and intensity. It is important to be humble and act you have been there before. Your attitude will determine your altitude!

Good morning. I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving!

I have to give a shout out to my main man Rob Brost, head boys basketball coach at Bolingbrook High School. His team won the Decatur Thanksgiving Tournament and Diamond Taylor, Bulls Academy player was named MVP of the tourney. Rob is the former Supervisor of Basketball at the Bulls Academy. Kimrossi Taylor is Rob's head assistant and father of Diamond Taylor! Coach Taylor may be one of the best basketball instructors in the country! A solid Bulls Academy connection!

Crystal Bell, Bulls Academy player, is a standout at Argo High School. In the Argo Thanksgiving tournament, Crystal scored 13 points and had 6 assists in her first game along with 19 points and 7 rebounds in the next.

Check in tomorrow. Yours in Hoops.