Miami basketball

Deveroes hoop league laced with RedHawks

Miami coach Charlie Coles congratulates league on longevity, likes level of competition.

Photos: Summer ball boasts area talent

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 12:26 PM Sunday, July 4, 2010

OXFORD — Miami University basketball coach Charlie Coles said he likes almost everything about the Deveroes Summer Basketball League.

Eight players on the 2010-11 Miami roster, including returning starters Antonio Ballard and Allen Roberts and incoming freshmen Jon Harris, Quinten Rollins and Josh Sewell, play for the Goodies Barbecue team in the high-skills league that holds its games at Woodward High School in Cincinnati.

“I applaud the people who are running this league. To continue to do this for this long is outstanding. It’s a positive, positive thing,” Coles said, referring to the fact that the Deveroes League is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The league is filled with players who either are playing, will play or have played at the college level.

But it is not college basketball. That is one thing Coles cautions his players about.

For instance, a player out of high school who erupts for 25 points and blocks multiple shots in a Deveroes League game absolutely has talent. But his future as a college standout is not assured.

“The thing I would question any player about is, that is not a typical college-type game,” he said. “I’ve had players do pretty good in that league and then come to school and not play very good. But I’ve also had it the other way around.”

Coles said he also would caution players “to play defense like you would play in college.”

There are moments of defensive brilliance in this league — a lot of steals and blocked shots — but for the most part the kind of steady, unspectacular defense that Coles preaches is not the No. 1 priority.

Still, Coles gives the league high marks.

“There are some good things about it for our kids,” he said. “One is the level of competition. You need that. It’s not the whole (Miami) team, but it’s good that our freshmen are beginning to play with some of our veterans and a couple other freshmen.

“Another good thing is, our fans can go take a look at what we’ve got coming in,” Coles added.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

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