The Shock Exchange officially got started the second week of June where it began practice at PS 282 in Brooklyn. The team started with eight players – five 12 year olds and three 11 year olds. The team participated in two practices a week where the coaches focused on the fundamentals of the game – passing, dribbling, proper defensive technique, and rebounding. The coaches also focused on (i) introducing structured offensive and defensive sets and (ii) the conditioning necessary to compete at the AAU level.
The two hours work out sessions were nothing short of "unreal" as the team ran through a catechism of individual and competitive drills, many of which Mr. Baker himself ran through during his college days. We understand from many of the parents that the kids fell straight into the bed after practice. After all, a diamond is made after a piece of coal goes through centuries of heat, light, darkness, pressure, heat, light, darkness, pressure, etc. Coach Erik, Coach Fitz and I were more than happy to apply the heat, light, pressure and pain during the summer.
During June, Shock Exchange competed in the 12U division at AAU tournaments in NYC, New Jersey and Philadelphia. As expected, the team took its lumps early as a few of the kids were "playing up" against bigger and older competition. In July the Shock Exchange entered the Cassandra Roland outdoor tournament sponsored by Hoop Connection in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. As the word quickly spread through Brooklyn, we were able to add some additional local talent to the team as we competed in the very competitive 13U division.
As the summer wore on and the team acquired much needed game experience, the Shock Exchange began hitting on all cylinders and walked through the field to face a very determined and deep Brooklyn United squad who saw the first place trophy as its manifest destiny. The Shock Exchange entered the game without four of its players due to injury (Alexander Williams) and prior commitments (Stanley Peacock, Jr.,Ralphie Baker III). Though undermanned, the Shock Exchange gave Brooklyn United an early scare but eventually had to settle for second place.
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