6-12-05
I was wondering why Top 10-in-the-nation rising senior 6-9 220 forward Vernon “Big Ticket” Macklin of Portmouth, Virginia I. C. Norcom High School, and outstanding rising senior combination 6-3 guard Stefan Welsh of two-time Group AAA basketball state champion Woodside High of Newport News, Virginia would both “break the mold” and head to Hargrave Military Academy of Chatham, Virginia instead of the nation’s top basketball program, Oak Hill Academy of Mouth-Of-Wilson, Virginia, for their senior years, so I emailed Stefan Welsh to ask him. Was it because he was going to play football for Hargrave in addition to basketball? After all, Oak Hill has no football team. He responded:
“Hello Mr. Kane , I have decided to transfer to Hargrave (I will be playing with the post-grad team under Coach Kevin Keats ) over Oak Hill for many reasons. They offered me a partial scholarship and Hargrave offered me a full. Coach Keats is a very good coach and we developed a good relationship. I think that I will be in a a more impact role at Hargrave. I took visits to both schools and then I felt Hargrave would a better situation for the both of us. I think that Hargrave will prepare me better to go be an impact player my freshman year of the college I choose. I will be surrounded with about 9 division 1 players. Will be one of the top teams in the country. I hope I answered all of your questions: feel free to drop an email anytime.”
