Words. Bryan Horowitz

Watching Jay Williams address the completely enrapt New Hampton Prep basketball team late Sunday night at the Hoophall Classic, it was clear he was firmly in his element. Basketball has obviously always been a big part of Williams’ life, but you could make a case he’s never been quite as immersed as he is now.

As an ESPN college basketball analyst, Williams splits his time between calling games and working on studio shows, while also commentating for the network’s rapidly expanding interest in high school ball. The latter assignment gives him the opportunity to take part in one of his favorite pastimes: mentoring young athletes. There isn’t a player on any level that doesn’t have the utmost respect for the former No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, and he commonly takes time to pull players aside and offer a few words of wisdom. MORE >

Words. High School Hoop

Ever since we dropped Dime #66 with John Wall on the cover, people have been telling us how much they love the issue. So after reading his story, we want to take you behind the scenes of his cover shoot. We shot Wall at 360 Health Club in Reseda, Calif., and had the cameras there to capture what went down.

A major part of John Wall’s story is his “discovery” at the Reebok Breakout Challenge years ago. He talked about that breakout moment in the behind-the-scenes video of his cover shoot for Dime Magazine: MORE >

Words. dimemag

Words. Andrew Greif

Jordan Tebbutt arrived early, so the first time Brad and Jennifer Tebbutt saw their adopted son was four days after his birth, in a Little Rock, Ark., hospital on an August day.

Two years before, the Tebbutts adopted at birth a daughter, Chelsey, in Portland. Wanting to adopt again brought them to Arkansas, where they considered gifts for their new son. For parents who admit to “not being involved in athletic things at all” growing up themselves, they came up with quite the prescient idea.

“We named him Jordan and thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if we went out and got him Air Jordans for his first shoe?’” says Brad Tebbutt, a chaplain and teacher. MORE >

Words. Dylan Murphy

Jamel Sanders III, a rising sophomore at Besant Hill High School (Ojai, Calif.) probably isn’t on your radar. One of the best-kept freshman secrets in the nation, Sanders averaged 7.0 assists and 3.6 steals per game last year, good for second and 11th respectively among freshmen in the entire nation. This all came while he led his team to a 12-0 league record. This upcoming year, Sanders will make the switch to Malibu High School, a school he believes will allow him to take his game to the next level. We had the chance to speak with the passing sensation about his basketball upbringing, his outstanding passing ability and his future hoop plans. MORE >

Words. Sean Sweeney

They call it the “John Wall Blueprint”. People forget, Wall was a late bloomer. For a while, he was virtually unknown. Then he blew up at the Reebok Breakout Challenge and the rest is history. Jonathan Milligan is another cat trying to follow that blueprint. As Dallas’ Jason Terry said upon introducing him to the crowd, Milligan was unknown even in his own state of Arizona before putting in work at the Breakout Challenge. Now, the 6-1 point guard from Casa Grande Union High School is fielding offers from Pac-10 schools. MORE >

Words. Sean Sweeney

He wasn’t afraid, wasn’t shy. He went right at the NBA guys, and had his own little game-within-the-game going on against John Wall. Darrick Wood held his own, and did a few things to stand out. At one point, Wood put down a sideways windmill where it seemed like he jumped, met the rim, then chilled for a split second, before bringing the ball all the way around for a finish. MORE >