A Winning Attitude
By Colin Rajala
Trove reporter for Piratecrew
James Barrett, associated head coach at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. is not surprised at Seton Hall's 6-0 start to the 2014-2015 basketball season as Seton Hall Assistant Head Coach Dwayne "Tiny" Morton and incoming freshmen Isaiah Whitehead and Desi Rodriguez have brought Lincoln's winning mentality to the Pirates.
"Coach Morton is a winner in every sense of the word - he has always won," Barrett said. "He is a hall of fame coach, one of the best in New York City history and there is nothing like that winning attitude. He had that mentality at Lincoln and now he's bringing it to Seton Hall. It spreads to everyone, it's contagious."
Tiny Morton has won the New York Public School Athletic League championship 10 times, winning in 2002-04, 2006-09 and 2013 as a head coach. He also won the New York State Federation title in 2003, 2008 and 2009.
Playing under Coach Morton, Barrett won a PSAL championship and a New York State Federation title alongside future NBA player Sebastian Telfair in 2003 and has seen Morton create a family atmosphere at the Brooklyn school.
Dwayne Tiny Morton
"After playing for Lincoln, you always check back in and keep up with how the program is doing," Barrett said. "A lot of the players come back and watch the games which pushes the younger guys and it keeps the camaraderie going. Lincoln really is a family."
The hustle and work ethic the younger Lincoln High players show to prove themselves to their older Lincoln peers and predecessors has made its way to the Seton Hall locker room as Isaiah Whitehead and Desi Rodriquez alongside fellow freshmen Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado, and Ismael Sanogo want to prove they are ready to play at the highest level of collegiate basketball.
"Brandon, Sterling, Jaren, Steph and Haralds did a great job laying the foundation and then showing the incoming freshman how to play Seton Hall basketball. They really took the young guys under their wings."
Barrett is familiar with Seton Hall and its basketball history, having played against the likes of Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter.
"Brian is still a good friend of mine, he was always a tough competitor when he played. Same with Jamar. I always try to keep up with what they are doing."
Barrett now coaches the Juice All Stars AAU squad, which was previously led by Morton, and has seen the Pirate's freshmen class play both as teammates and as opponents.
"These guys are friends, they are familiar with each other's play and as long as they stick together they will win games."
Barrett said that with all of the talented freshmen coming in and all of them being top players at their respective high schools, the biggest thing for them is to stay humble, work hard and be good citizens off the court.
"They are doing that - they are transferring their work ethic and humble nature onto the court which has really helped them transition well from high school to college."
It all starts off the court for Isaiah and Desi who Barrett described as "great people." He said that their attitudes off the court make it that much easier for other guys to get along with them on the court.
Barrett believes bringing a team together is Isaiah's biggest strength calling him a "glue guy" and noting that Isaiah helps the squad get along as teammates and as friends.
"Ive heard that the team's chemistry this year is great and I think a lot of credit has to be given to Isaiah and Desi for coming in with the right attitudes, working hard to set examples on and off the court."
Barrett said that Isaiah is playing good basketball early on in the season but knows that he can perform much better than he has shown to date.
Isaiah Whitehead
"Right now he is getting comfortable playing with other players around him who know how to play and are excellent players in their own right. He is getting used to playing in Coach Willard's system. The system is going to be perfect for Isaiah because Coach Willard will allow him to grow on the court, letting him learn from his mistakes."
In high school Isaiah Whitehead was often listed on recruiting sites as a shooting guard but Barrett sees the young star as a point guard at the collegiate level and beyond. Barrett notes simply "he has what it takes to make it in the NBA," similar to Lincoln alums Telfair, Stephon Marbury and Lance Stephenson.
He sees Whitehead in the mold of a pass first point guard who looks to get other players involved early comparing him to NBA stars like Jason Kidd, Andre Miller, Chauncey Billups or Damian Lillard.
"Every high school guard scores a lot because the ball is in their hands but Isaiah is not about going out and getting 30; he fills up the stat sheet and does what his team needs to get the win. He's a point guard who can score when you need it. Isaiah was recognized in high school for his points and ability to create his own shot but he is a pass first point guard, he just makes others better."
Whitehead's ability to boost the level of play around him helped his good friend Desi Rodriquez develop into the basketball player he is today according to Barrett.
"I don't think that Desi makes it to Seton Hall without playing with Isaiah, he made him that much better."
Barrett does not want to take anything away from the 6-5 forward saying, "I am extremely proud of Desi for the commitment he made to make himself better. He has come a long way in two years and all the credit goes to him for moving to Brooklyn from the Bronx and adapting to such a big change as well as putting in the necessary work."
Desi Rodriquez
Barrett said Rodriquez's coming out party at the City of Palms Basketball Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. is a testament to the hard work he put in under Coach Morton's direction.
"Desi went from being unranked to shooting up the charts, it was an unbelievable performances by him. I can't say that I was shocked, I knew he had it in him."
And Barrett certainly knows how hard you have to work to make it to the Division 1 level. After playing at Lincoln he moved on to Howard College in Big Springs, Texas before transferring and playing two seasons at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas.
James Barrett (R) associate head coach Lincoln HS
Barrett described the now freshmen forward as a true match-up nightmare. "Larger guys can't keep up with him and the smaller guys can't handle his physicality."
Barrett believes Desi's strengths are his overall athletic ability, knack for crashing the boards and his play above the rim adding that he has a quality jumper and a very good handle that most fans have not seen yet because he is playing as more a power forward than a small forward early in his Seton Hall career.
"Desi is in a position right now where he is doing whatever he can to help the team win. He is doing whatever Coach Willard is asking of him and he is not stepping outside of what the team needs - he is playing a role," Barrett said.
Barrett, in his fourth year as an assistant coach at Lincoln believes that Willard is putting Rodriquez in a position to be successful, something that Morton did for him at Lincoln.
"It was an honor and a privilege to play and coach under Coach Morton. He knows what it takes to get the job done and I am glad he is getting an opportunity to showcase his abilities now at the next level."
Barrett said that as long as Morton is at Seton Hall there will be a direct pipeline for players from Lincoln and the Juice All Stars to play at the Big East school.
"Area kids now have the opportunity to watch a lot of Seton Hall games and when they see all of the local guys, Isaiah, Desi, Khadeen, Angel, and Ish together winning and getting publicity, they look up to them. They are familiar with the local guys and their success makes the area kids want to stay closer to home."
Morton and the freshmen class stayed local to put Seton Hall back in the spotlight in the New Big East and they are doing just that as they look to continue the season unblemished at 7-0 with a victory Saturday over in-state rival Rutgers.
If that success continues a strong reason will be the winning attitude brought from Brooklyn NY to South Orange NJ.
This post was edited on 12/5 8:09 AM by Halldan1
By Colin Rajala
Trove reporter for Piratecrew
James Barrett, associated head coach at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. is not surprised at Seton Hall's 6-0 start to the 2014-2015 basketball season as Seton Hall Assistant Head Coach Dwayne "Tiny" Morton and incoming freshmen Isaiah Whitehead and Desi Rodriguez have brought Lincoln's winning mentality to the Pirates.
"Coach Morton is a winner in every sense of the word - he has always won," Barrett said. "He is a hall of fame coach, one of the best in New York City history and there is nothing like that winning attitude. He had that mentality at Lincoln and now he's bringing it to Seton Hall. It spreads to everyone, it's contagious."
Tiny Morton has won the New York Public School Athletic League championship 10 times, winning in 2002-04, 2006-09 and 2013 as a head coach. He also won the New York State Federation title in 2003, 2008 and 2009.
Playing under Coach Morton, Barrett won a PSAL championship and a New York State Federation title alongside future NBA player Sebastian Telfair in 2003 and has seen Morton create a family atmosphere at the Brooklyn school.
Dwayne Tiny Morton
"After playing for Lincoln, you always check back in and keep up with how the program is doing," Barrett said. "A lot of the players come back and watch the games which pushes the younger guys and it keeps the camaraderie going. Lincoln really is a family."
The hustle and work ethic the younger Lincoln High players show to prove themselves to their older Lincoln peers and predecessors has made its way to the Seton Hall locker room as Isaiah Whitehead and Desi Rodriquez alongside fellow freshmen Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado, and Ismael Sanogo want to prove they are ready to play at the highest level of collegiate basketball.
"Brandon, Sterling, Jaren, Steph and Haralds did a great job laying the foundation and then showing the incoming freshman how to play Seton Hall basketball. They really took the young guys under their wings."
Barrett is familiar with Seton Hall and its basketball history, having played against the likes of Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter.
"Brian is still a good friend of mine, he was always a tough competitor when he played. Same with Jamar. I always try to keep up with what they are doing."
Barrett now coaches the Juice All Stars AAU squad, which was previously led by Morton, and has seen the Pirate's freshmen class play both as teammates and as opponents.
"These guys are friends, they are familiar with each other's play and as long as they stick together they will win games."
Barrett said that with all of the talented freshmen coming in and all of them being top players at their respective high schools, the biggest thing for them is to stay humble, work hard and be good citizens off the court.
"They are doing that - they are transferring their work ethic and humble nature onto the court which has really helped them transition well from high school to college."
It all starts off the court for Isaiah and Desi who Barrett described as "great people." He said that their attitudes off the court make it that much easier for other guys to get along with them on the court.
Barrett believes bringing a team together is Isaiah's biggest strength calling him a "glue guy" and noting that Isaiah helps the squad get along as teammates and as friends.
"Ive heard that the team's chemistry this year is great and I think a lot of credit has to be given to Isaiah and Desi for coming in with the right attitudes, working hard to set examples on and off the court."
Barrett said that Isaiah is playing good basketball early on in the season but knows that he can perform much better than he has shown to date.
Isaiah Whitehead
"Right now he is getting comfortable playing with other players around him who know how to play and are excellent players in their own right. He is getting used to playing in Coach Willard's system. The system is going to be perfect for Isaiah because Coach Willard will allow him to grow on the court, letting him learn from his mistakes."
In high school Isaiah Whitehead was often listed on recruiting sites as a shooting guard but Barrett sees the young star as a point guard at the collegiate level and beyond. Barrett notes simply "he has what it takes to make it in the NBA," similar to Lincoln alums Telfair, Stephon Marbury and Lance Stephenson.
He sees Whitehead in the mold of a pass first point guard who looks to get other players involved early comparing him to NBA stars like Jason Kidd, Andre Miller, Chauncey Billups or Damian Lillard.
"Every high school guard scores a lot because the ball is in their hands but Isaiah is not about going out and getting 30; he fills up the stat sheet and does what his team needs to get the win. He's a point guard who can score when you need it. Isaiah was recognized in high school for his points and ability to create his own shot but he is a pass first point guard, he just makes others better."
Whitehead's ability to boost the level of play around him helped his good friend Desi Rodriquez develop into the basketball player he is today according to Barrett.
"I don't think that Desi makes it to Seton Hall without playing with Isaiah, he made him that much better."
Barrett does not want to take anything away from the 6-5 forward saying, "I am extremely proud of Desi for the commitment he made to make himself better. He has come a long way in two years and all the credit goes to him for moving to Brooklyn from the Bronx and adapting to such a big change as well as putting in the necessary work."
Desi Rodriquez
Barrett said Rodriquez's coming out party at the City of Palms Basketball Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. is a testament to the hard work he put in under Coach Morton's direction.
"Desi went from being unranked to shooting up the charts, it was an unbelievable performances by him. I can't say that I was shocked, I knew he had it in him."
And Barrett certainly knows how hard you have to work to make it to the Division 1 level. After playing at Lincoln he moved on to Howard College in Big Springs, Texas before transferring and playing two seasons at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas.
James Barrett (R) associate head coach Lincoln HS
Barrett described the now freshmen forward as a true match-up nightmare. "Larger guys can't keep up with him and the smaller guys can't handle his physicality."
Barrett believes Desi's strengths are his overall athletic ability, knack for crashing the boards and his play above the rim adding that he has a quality jumper and a very good handle that most fans have not seen yet because he is playing as more a power forward than a small forward early in his Seton Hall career.
"Desi is in a position right now where he is doing whatever he can to help the team win. He is doing whatever Coach Willard is asking of him and he is not stepping outside of what the team needs - he is playing a role," Barrett said.
Barrett, in his fourth year as an assistant coach at Lincoln believes that Willard is putting Rodriquez in a position to be successful, something that Morton did for him at Lincoln.
"It was an honor and a privilege to play and coach under Coach Morton. He knows what it takes to get the job done and I am glad he is getting an opportunity to showcase his abilities now at the next level."
Barrett said that as long as Morton is at Seton Hall there will be a direct pipeline for players from Lincoln and the Juice All Stars to play at the Big East school.
"Area kids now have the opportunity to watch a lot of Seton Hall games and when they see all of the local guys, Isaiah, Desi, Khadeen, Angel, and Ish together winning and getting publicity, they look up to them. They are familiar with the local guys and their success makes the area kids want to stay closer to home."
Morton and the freshmen class stayed local to put Seton Hall back in the spotlight in the New Big East and they are doing just that as they look to continue the season unblemished at 7-0 with a victory Saturday over in-state rival Rutgers.
If that success continues a strong reason will be the winning attitude brought from Brooklyn NY to South Orange NJ.
This post was edited on 12/5 8:09 AM by Halldan1
