The Deaflympics are just six months away and our US teams are busy practicing and preparing for the upcoming games. Many training camps for team sports are being hosted across the country and these camps are a way for players to develop the cohesion necessary to succeed in international play. One of America’s favorite sports and one of the more popular sports in the Deaflympic Games (second only to handball), is none other than basketball. Other countries have caught up with America’s talent in the sport that was originated here in the states. After years of guaranteed gold, the gap has been closed and we are working harder than ever to actually earn the gold, rather than showing up and finding out who will be playing for silver. This year’s training camp is being held in none other than Indianapolis, the heart of the basketball state. Since we were driving from Michigan to Kentucky, we would drive right through Indianapolis during their training camp and decided to stop off and get a sneak preview of our upcoming team in Melbourne.

Fourteen of some of the best Deaf basketball players in the nation gathered at the Indiana School for the Deaf under the direction of first time coach David Hamilton and assistant Keith Westhoelter. Both have nine combined Olympic gold medals as players and obviously have the experience and resume to lead our team to gold. The training camp consisted not only of inter-squad scrimmages, but also of scrimmages against local division 1 players who came to ISD throughout the weekend to scrimmage against the Olympic players. Today they were slated to scrimmage nearby Butler University’s squad. The squad they were bringing included former players from their recent Cinderella trip into the NCAA tournament where they advanced to the sweet 16.

During the scrimmage, I was able to a glimpse of the squad that David Hamilton says is an extremely deep and talented one. They are lead by Gallaudet University basketball team MVP and Indiana native Robert Haney. Haney brings to the floor his experience from competing in the Rome games as well as his extreme athleticism and presence in the air. Former University of South Carolina standout Jamel Bradley contributes not only his big game experience, but his torrid shooting from beyond the arc which netted him 30 points in Friday night’s scrimmage. Multi-sport athlete Brian Bippus, legendary from his days at Gallaudet, makes his return in basketball after winning gold in the 1988 Deaf Olympics. With his 6′6″ height and what looks like at least a nine foot wingspan, Bippus should be starting and shutting down opposing players with his choking defense and aggressive style of play. Brendan Stern and Jeremias Valencia, both with fast and unselfish games, should duke it out for starting point guard honors. They will look to pass inside to Henry Dorsey, Bradley Miller, and Frank Jackson, all of whom held their own against the Butler players who clearly had the size advantage. The team is rounded out with Daryl Thomas, Darnell Woods, Jon Mowl, Rob Roth, and Sekoe White.

More than 125 strong showed to see the scrimmage which was officiated by three actual referees and followed international rules. It was an exciting and high scoring game which certainly wasn’t short on dunks. Even the opening basket of the game was scored on a thunderous dunk by Robert Haney which brought the crowd to its feet and angered those who missed the dunk. Who would’ve thought a highlight play would’ve come :06 seconds into the game?

There is no question that come Melbourne, the basketball team represented here will be a tight, well disciplined squad capable of bringing down the rim and dropping threes all over the place. They’re definitely going to dish out wicked assists and be a force in the games.

If you are going to be in Australia, be sure to watch the men’s basketball team because like David Hamilton says, “We want gold and nothing else.”

2005 Deaflympics Men’s Basketball Team

Visit www.usadb.org to learn more about the team that is travelling to Melbourne.