Welcome to a different installment of Hoops, Rap and The whole lot Black, a weekly column that zeroes in on the 2 basic elements of SLAM—hoops and rap—whereas threading in different facets of the colourful tapestry of Black tradition. Let’s get it.
Quiet because it’s stored, Osman Bangura’s fingerprints are all around the recreation at each stage—highschool, faculty and even the NBA. At completely different factors over the previous 20 years, he coached one of many nation’s greatest basketball packages in Virginia’s Paul VI Excessive College, and at Howard College for a stint. He’s additionally helped construct Staff Durant and Staff Takeover, respectively, to grow to be two of the premier Nike EYBL packages within the nation. With regards to teaching and basketball, you title it and Osman has finished it. He’s performed many roles, each massive and small, in serving to a large number of hoopers obtain their dream of taking part in Division I basketball and a few to the league. He has unequivocally grow to be THE man within the DMV grassroots basketball panorama.
“I’ve been teaching for a really very long time,” says Osman. “However folks don’t actually know that as a result of I don’t boast. Folks do the speaking.”
Osman, 46, who was born in Sierra Leone and moved to Prince George’s County, Maryland when he was eight, has no qualms about taking part in the background whereas others get the shine. His soft-spoken confidence units him other than a lot of his friends. He’s not in it for his ego. He is aware of his position—whichever one the second requires—and he performs it about in addition to anybody within the nation in his discipline. He merely needs to assist put youngsters able to get scholarships and assist youngsters enhance their high quality of life by means of the sport, and he’s finished each ten instances over. It’s not that he shies away from the notoriety and a focus, however he’s not looking for it both.
“I’ve finished a lot for teenagers and I don’t count on nothing again,” he tells me. “The way in which I used to be raised, you do proper and the blessings are gonna come.”
Osman bought into basketball late, and although he developed to be a fairly good participant, admits he was by no means fairly the prospect like his brother, Alpha Bangura, who went on to play for St. John’s College earlier than carving out a stable profession abroad. “I’ve all the time been a stable participant. I used to be extra of a defensive man, I wasn’t a stud or all-American,” says Osman describing his recreation. And whereas he earned some alternatives on the subsequent stage, his faculty taking part in profession was stuffed with forks within the street.
Sadly for Osman, he suffered a handful of accidents together with a ruptured Achilles and indifferent retina, which might finally get one of the best of him and stop him from having the taking part in profession he envisioned for himself. He final performed for Division III powerhouse Virginia Wesleyan in Virginia Seaside earlier than hanging up his jersey for good. “I used to be so beat, I assumed basketball simply wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get by means of it,” he says.
However Osman knew he nonetheless had extra to offer to the sport, even when it was now not predicated on his athletic skills. Osman returned to Maryland and one of many first folks he reached out to was Glenn Farello, then-head coach at Eleanor Roosevelt Excessive College, the most effective public highschool basketball packages within the space on the time.
Farello has since moved on to educate Paul VI, the place he’s been for the previous 16 seasons. Farello has been named Coach of the Yr 13 instances. He’s coached greater than 80 faculty basketball gamers and counting, with 22 who’ve performed professionally 5 who’ve performed within the NBA. And Osman was there for a piece of that. “I advised Farello, ‘Man, pay attention, I’m again dwelling [from school]. I been by means of a lot and I wish to give again. I’ve quite a bit to share,’” Osman recollects. It was a no brainer for Farello who coached Osman’s brother, Alpha, years prior.
The 12 months was 2003 when Osman made that cellphone name and jumped into teaching, and he hasn’t appeared again since.
“I felt [coaching] is what I needed to do, I felt like I offered myself quick as a participant. I do know I might’ve finished a lot extra however I simply coasted by means of it,” says Osman. “I needed to give again, even when only one individual bought one thing out of it.” Properly, in the event you contemplate all the present faculty coaches, Division I hoopers and NBA gamers who Osman coached alongside his journey, it’s protected to say that quite a bit of individuals bought one thing out of it. Brooklyn Nets’ Dariq Whitehead, New Orleans Pelicans’ Jordan Hawkins, Syracuse’s Judah Mintz, Oregon’s Kwame Evans and Florida State’s Jalen Warley are only a tremendous tiny pattern dimension of Osman’s former gamers.
This listing of basketball success tales that Osman is connected to is barely going to continue to grow, too. Right this moment, he’s the pinnacle coach at Thomas Pullen, which Osman says is likely one of the greatest center faculty basketball packages in Maryland. He additionally just lately determined to half methods with Staff Durant as their program director and head coach, and rejoin crosstown rival Staff Takeover, the place he bought his first style of teaching AAU hoops within the early 2010s. Even with Osman leaving Staff Durant and becoming a member of forces with a rival squad, you’d be hard-pressed to seek out somebody badmouth him or query his integrity. And that’s as a result of Osman’s intentions are made very clear; it’s all the time all concerning the youngsters.
Many individuals contemplate the DMV to be the promise land for school basketball recruiting, and Osman is on the middle of it. He’s not the one main determine on this area, however he’s on the high of a shortlist of probably the most impactful. And whereas Osman might justifiably stroll round together with his chest out, he prefers to play it cool. He provides the credit score again to his student-athletes and his employees each likelihood he will get.
“With out the children, there’s no teaching,” says Osman. “And the most important factor I’d say is that there’s means you may do all of this by your self. I’d completely not achieve success if I didn’t have my employees. I’ve it straightforward as a result of I rise up [and coach], however these guys take quite a bit off my shoulders from scouting, recruiting, washing uniforms and driving vans.”
There aren’t many youth coaches on the market with a monitor file that’s corresponding to Osman’s. He’s finished nearly every thing this recreation has to supply. However he’s nonetheless decided to continue to grow and evolving. He says he nonetheless has feats to perform and targets to verify off. He’s labored at each stage besides the NBA, and that’s the place he has his eyes set when eager about the distant future. “I’ve finished a lot on this [youth basketball] area and I believe I’m wanted on this area. However long-term I’d like to be an NBA scout or GM sooner or later,” says Osman. “I couldn’t play on the highest stage however perhaps I can coach, be a scout or within the entrance workplace on the highest stage and impression the sport that means.”
Positive, his targets are lofty however I wouldn’t wager in opposition to Osman. And it goes again to one thing he stated early on, “you do proper and the blessings are gonna come.” He’s not excellent, no one is. However Osman has finished quite a lot of proper over time. It’s protected to imagine the blessings are going to proceed coming tenfold.
Curtis’ Nook
Hoops: One other week of school hoops and one other freshman placing the world on discover for what to anticipate for years to return. This time it was LSU WBB freshman Mikaylah Williams who dropped 42 factors in a win in opposition to Kent State. LSU is loaded with expertise and a championship pedigree made obvious by final 12 months’s nationwide championship. Including proficient freshmen like Mikaylah to the fold simply means LSU shall be a drive to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.
Rap: If you happen to’re on the hunt for a refreshing pay attention full of elegant manufacturing, easy flows and high quality substance, take a look at Oddisee’s album “To What Finish,” which dropped early this 12 months. I only recently got here throughout it and have been operating it constantly.
The whole lot Black: This week Brandon Jennings penned a visitor story for SLAM about his Tuff Crowd collaboration with Stephen Curry’s Curry Model. Brandon referred to as it “probably the most impactful collaboration the league has ever seen” and he made some legitimate factors to help his declare. Remember to give {that a} learn and take a look at the gathering right here.
As all the time, right here’s the official Hoops, Rap and The whole lot Black playlist. It’ll be up to date weekly with every column. Add the playlist to your library to remain within the know, and be sure you comply with SLAM on Spotify.