Friday Flakes: Nebraska High School Basketball Has It’s First Five-Star Recruit

The state of Nebraska appears to have the most basketball talent playing within it’s borders since the invention of the light bulb.

Donovan Williams. Max Murrell. Chucky Hepburn. Jasen Green. Frankie Fidler. Jardin Booth. Hunter Sallis.

That is a lot of talent. However, the last one on the list, Hunter Sallis, recently received a fifth star and is considered the 20th ranked player in the entire country. In the history of the Rivals Star Ratings there has never been a five star basketball player playing Nebraska high school basketball.

Now there has. Nebraska is recruiting him hard. Unfortunately, they are not alone as Kansas, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Oregon and Ohio State have also offered Sallis.

Some of the lower caliber schools which have offered Sallis include Arkansas, Alabama, Creighton, Iowa and Cal.

As a Nebraska basketball fan, we have complained about how so many good players have gotten away from Nebraska and played very well at other places. If Hunter Sallis decides to go elsewhere, it will not be from a lack of effort on behalf of Nebraska.

If he does choose Nebraska he could end up being a legend.

Kobe Bryant - A Girl Dad

I rooted against Kobe Bryant his entire career. As a result I probably missed out on enjoying and appreciating one of the all-time great NBA players. Actions off the court are not as black and white as we all know. Multiple shades of gray. The sexual assault case in Colorado is the first thing that should come to mind.

I was not a Kobe fan so I had no motivation to defend him in that arena. Well, regardless if you were a fan there was no reason to defend what may or may not have happened. He didn’t even defend them.

This was his statement after the sexual assault charges were dropped in 2004:

“First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure. I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colo.

”I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case. Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.

”I issue this statement today fully aware that while one part of this case ends today, another remains. I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado.”

Again, I am not defending what may or may not have happened that night.

What I am interested in though is what happened in the years following that incident in Colorado. As a Catholic it is nice to be reminded that many of the greatest Saints did horrible things during their life. It is where they were at the end of their life that mattered.

Saint Paul, for example, literally hunted down and persecuted Christians. He changed and ended up being one of the most influential Christians in the history of the Church.

I am not saying that Kobe was/is a Saint. Only he and God would know that. However, all of the stories that have come out since he and his daughter died in the helicopter crash seem to give me the indication that he may have turned things around. Or at least in the process of doing so.

There are many more like the above story.

This last one below has appeared to be the story which may have left the largest impact.

The #girldad trend went viral. This story, and wonderfully told by Elle Duncan, inspired thousands of dad’s with daughters to post pictures of themselves with their daughters.

I have a personal rule that I don’t want to post pictures of my kids on social media. I don’t know whether that’s a good rule but it is a rule I have.

After hearing the #girldad story from Elle Duncan, I was close to breaking that rule. I didn’t do it. However, I remembered that I do have a weekly Friday Flakes.

I have two daughters and one son. I love having daughters. I love having a son.

Over the past couple of years, most of my guy friends were expecting their first child. I told every one of them that I hope it is a girl.

“Why?” Was the usual response from the friend.

“Because it is just different.”

It is different the way a daughter says “Daddy.” It is different the way they grab your hand and pull you to wherever they want you to go. There are many things that are different, but it really is the way they say “Daddy.”

It’s a killer. In a good way.

I am a high school boys basketball coach. My interest level in coaching girls was at zero. That likely says more about me than it says anything about girls.

However, after listening to the way Kobe spoke about his daughters and his level of pride in doing so — it truly changed my perspective. If I have the opportunity to coach either of my daughters in the future, I might just have to jump at it.

From the outside it is apparent that Kobe Bryant was continuing to evolve as a person up and until the end. His actions and words about the love and pride of his daughters might have been his most significant accomplishment of his lifetime.

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SPORTS! SPORTS! SPORTS!

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