6 things to know about Terryn Patterson 

Who has the biggest impact on your life and why?

Everyone has had at least some type of impact on my life because I take everyone’s feedback. But I will definitely say my mother; pushing me way beyond limits. Always the small things that better a person.

How did it feel when you received your first D1 offer?

It felt good receiving my first D1 offer. Growing up that’s one of the things as a young athlete I wished for. It was a great feeling.

What are some things that your friends don’t know about you? 

One thing my friends don’t know about me is that I like to listen to that R&B type of music.   That Jeremih, Trey Songz, and Jacquees side of music.

What motivates you to be great in the classroom and on the field?

The thing that motivates me to be great in the classroom and on the field is that I never want to fail at anything. That’s a bad feeling knowing you didn’t achieve your goal.

When you go to college, what are some things you are going to miss about high school?

The things I will miss about high school are just being around people you knew since you were a little kid and having that bond broken when it’s time to leave for school. Also having those funny gym classes.

How you describe yourself?

I describe myself as a soft-spoken, determined, competitive, confident but humble human being.   I also wish for all people in the city of Savannah to do bigger and better things.

6 Things to Know About IProvide Fitness

RDP: How would you describe your company and your training philosophy?

IProvide: My company is unique and has a creative style of training that specializes in all sports training, strength and conditioning, and weight loss. My philosophy as a performance trainer is to express my passion for fitness, health and self-discipline. 

RDP: What influenced you to become a fitness trainer?

IProvide: God had a plan for me.  I’ve always been around or involved in fitness.  The right people were placed in my life to help guide me in the right direction.  So, I found my purpose in life and took a chance.

RDP: Where do you see your company in the next 1-5 years?

IProvide: In the next 1-5 years, I see my company growing in many areas. For one, a training facility is definitely in my plans.

RDP: What has the biggest impact in your life?

IProvide: Training has definitely had an impact on my life.  However, my 14-year-old son Jaylen Willingham has the biggest impact because he changed my life forever.   

RDP: Besides training what is something that people don’t know about you?

IProvide: In addition to being a great father, I’m a cook and a barber.

RDP: How would you describe yourself?

IProvide: I would describe myself as a God-fearing and determined individual. 

6 Things to Know About Robert Deloach

Robert Deloach is a well-respected man in the Savannah community.  Deloach is instrumental in helping young athletes achieve their goal of playing collegiate sports.  Deloach, who is a dedicated husband and father, somehow finds the time to help mentor those who need some advice or training.  This is a man who is always working no matter the place or time because for him it is all about helping the younger generation.  So, check out 6 things you should know about Robert Deloach.  

RDP Sports:  What gives you that drive or passion for helping the younger generation?

Rob Deloach:Our kids in our community are very smart, talented, and intelligent, which gives me the energy, passion and love to open up doors that may not have been available in the past few decades.

RDP:  How do you plan to change the sports culture in Savannah?

Rob Deloach:First of all, I would like a have a multipurpose facility that would allow our kids to train in the off-season with certified staffers.  This training would prepare them for the next level both mentally and physically.

RDP:Until recently, why do you feel that Savannah gets overlooked by the Power 5 schools?

Rob Deloach: Basketball has always been king in Savannah. Football is growing and not many of the High-Schools Coaches have established relationship with some of the major Power 5 schools or G 5 schools for football around the country.

RDP: Why do you feel it’s important to build relationships? 

Rob Deloach: This is probably the most important part of the game. While I was traveling around the country with my kids, I’ve established and met some wonderful people who help me with recruiting and training.  For example, I met Coach Kim Wilson and Coach Rapheal Martin at SSU on the track. When we would compete in Atlanta, I met Coach Crystal Braddock (former University of Texas woman sprinter), and that relationship lead to meeting Coach Derek Walker (former jumper at FSU). This team of former athletes helped us when it came to selecting a school for track and field.  It was the same with football and basketball for the boys.  The following list includes the  relationships that I have built throughout the years:

- Savannah’s own Coach Chaz Sutton (former DE USC and NFL player)

- Coach Carlos Blake -Tampa, FL

- Coach Lemond Johnson - Clayton, NC

- Coach Johnny Floyd (AAU basketball) - Atlanta, GA 

- Vance Jenkins (Trainer) - New York City, NY

- Romaine Coleman (Talent Advisor) - Los Angeles, CA 

- OJ Hill (Mentor) – Tallahassee, FL

- James Coleman (former FSU fullback) – Jacksonville, FL

- Keith Fulton (Operations) – New Orleans, LA

RDP: Do the kids look to you for advice?

Rob Deloach: Most kids who I’ve had the opportunity to coach or coach against often ask questions about recruiting and how they can join The Factory. 

RDP: How do you encourage students/ players to excel in academics?

Rob Deloach: It’s pretty simple.  If you don’t have the grades, then you can’t play on any level. I give them examples of former players, including myself, who didn’t totally understand the importance of preparing for the classroom. Most kids focus on the field and the court more so than in the classroom. If kids are struggling in the classroom, I recommend tutoring to them along with their parents.  

“I just be myself, nobody is going to stop my shine.”
- Olivia Brown

RDP Sports was honored to sit down and speak with former Effingham County High School Track and Field Star, Olivia Brown.  This young lady’s personality is one-of-a-kind, and the respect level that she shows is remarkable. 

Oliva Brown is focused and is on the path to success.  No matter what adversity she faced in life, she managed to cross every hurdle that was in front of her. She started running track when she was in sixth grade and her brother was excelling in basketball:  “My brother was playing basketball, and he was getting all the attention so I said I’m going to do track it can’t be that hard to run.” said Olivia. 

Little did she know that track would lead her down a different path. She began competing in AAU track and that is when she started to notice that she could be good at track and field if she was willing to work extra hard.  AAU allowed her to compete against girls from different parts of the region. 

She competed in the 100-meter dash and the high jump until high school.  However, during her ninth grade year her coach, Michael Ward, recognized her talent in the hurdles: “I was outside one day playing around with some guys jumping hurdles after practice and Coach Ward said that’s your next event.  After that day, he began to train me on the hurdles.” The following year Olivia was looking to take her talent to the next level.  So, she and her parents reached out to Coach Guater of USCB track and field. He was a great influence in Olivia’s track career: “He taught me the ends and out of the hurdle game,” explained Olivia.

Even with all the success, Olivia is very humble and quick to point out the she did not get here by herself: “It was a village that included my mom, brother, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and all her track coaches. My village has always pushed me to be better.  My dad was backbone of my village; however, he died when I was in eighth grade so that’s a reason why I still run track. I know that my dad would be proud of me. So from that point, my motivation was trying to get a scholarship so that my mom would not have to worry about trying to pay for college.”    

Olivia’s quest to be the best at her high school came true as she ended her high school career as a champion.  She won 1st place in the 100 hurdles in the state of Georgia. Even as a champion, the recruitment process was still stressful for her and her family.  However, she managed to stay focused and kept her eyes on the bigger picture. Eventually, her patience paid off. She was awarded a full track scholarship to Kennesaw State University.  Her hard work paid off and she was able to fulfill her dream by receiving a scholarship so that her mom would not have to worry about paying for college. 

Olivia is grateful for her opportunity for compete on the next level and she likes to share her testimony with the next generation:  “I would tell young athletes to put in some work even on your off days. Even if your workouts are good just tell yourself that you can do better.  You may not see your improvement while you push yourself for days or even weeks, but it will show in the long haul. So just practice nonstop.” 

When Olivia is not practice or running track, you may find her at her church St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Savannah. She is part of the youth ministry and a group called AGES which means Academic Girls Empowerment for Success.  This group allows for her and her peers to go in the community and make difference. “We go out and feed the homeless, we go into nursing homes, we do Christmas cards and pass them out in malls during Christmas,” said Olivia.

How do you want your peers to view you?
I’m very outgoing. I’m also that type of person who asked myself will this affect me in five years. So, I like to think ahead.  “I just be myself; nobody is going to stop my shine.”

“Don't give up. Don't ever give up.” 
Jim Valvano

Cancer was something that I would hear a lot of people talk about, and I would try to empathize with those people who had it.  However, the truth is it doesn’t matter how much you try to sympathize with them, you really don’t know what that person is going through because that’s one of those diseases that drains the life out of you.   

My first encounter with cancer started when I went to have a health screening, and the nurse who was doing my screening was concerned after checking my blood. She directed me to go to another doctor so that she could run a series of tests.  The main thing she wanted to check for was my PSA level.  So, me being ignorant to the fact, I didn’t know what to expect.   After the doctor ran a series of tests, he told me he would contact me in about three weeks. During the time I was waiting, my heart was pumping very fast because I wanted to know what was going on with me.  For the first time in my life I was afraid! I would have to say those three weeks were probably the longest three weeks in my life, and I’ve dealt with a lot of things.  I’ve had so many ups and downs and close calls, but when you’re dealing with a silent killer like cancer it’s different because I didn’t see this coming.  I just thank God that I went to work that day. 

After three weeks I received a call from my doctor that the results were back.  When the doctor entered the room he said, “Hello Mr. Hamilton, how are you doing?”  I replied, “I’m doing all right. I guess it depends on what you got to say.” 

The doctor went ahead and started to explain my results to me, and from that moment my life changed. I clearly remember him saying that my PSA level was a 28 and that was the highest you can get. Still being ignorant to everything it didn’t hit me until he said, “Your whole prostate is infested with cancer, and your condition is the worst it could be.” Once I heard those words everything seemed like it stopped. I started thinking that it was a hard pill to swallow. I was sitting and  hurting with my heart on the floor.  The one question I kept saying in my head was “You mean to tell me I have prostate cancer?”

The doctor gave me a few options about getting the cancer out of my body.  He gave me the options of radiation, chemotherapy, or removal of my prostate.  However, he wanted me to take a few days to make my decision. 
 
After I left his office, I sat in the parking lot for almost 40 minutes trying to digest all of this.  I kept saying to myself, “What’s going on!?  I got cancer!!  Man that’s a hard pill to swallow!!  People die from cancer!!”  So, my girlfriend at the time had cancer as well, and before she died she was going to the Atlanta Cancer Center.  She recommended I go up there for my treatment. 

However, the cancer treatment center in Atlanta only takes a certain amount of people from Georgia.   So she called there and spoke with some people about my situation and gave them my number so that they could talk with me. 

To my surprise, they called me the next day and said, “Mr. Hamilton, we have a spot for you if you want to come.”  All I could do is thank God at that moment, and then I told him,  “Yes, I will be there.”   

Once I arrived at the Atlanta Cancer Center, the doctor wanted to do a series of tests.  The results came back the same as in Savannah.  He said that he didn’t know how I survived that long because people normally die from having that much cancer in their body.  So, he explained that I would need to immediately start the treatments.

So once again, I had the option of doing chemo, radiation, or prostate removal.  I asked them what’s the best option for me, but they said they couldn’t make the choice for me.  The doctors did tell me that the radiation or chemo would make me weak.  On the other hand, if they remove it there wasn’t a guarantee that all the cancer will be gone.  Then one doctor said that the radiation would basically kill it or whatever is in that area if it hasn’t spread.

With radiation, I had to go through 30 treatments of radiation every day Monday through Friday and hopefully the radiation would kill it all before it tried to spread.  Once you do the radiation, the cancer may try to leave and go to another area of your body because the radiation is stirring it up.  So you really don’t know the outcome, but in the end I decided to do the radiation. 

While I was sitting in the waiting room I would see all of these people who had cancer.  Most of their bodies looked drained from all the radiation and chemo.  So when I started my radiation, I would alway say that “nothing can keep me down.” I was determined that nothing was going to stop me, not even cancer!!

One of hardest part was accepting the fact that I had cancer, but letting my kids know was even harder.  My kids were just as worried as I was.  I also didn’t let a lot of my family members know because I was trying to keep things to myself.   Looking back at things, I would recommend people dealing with cancer to reach out to others because some people are not as strong as others.   You need to have people around you who will encourage you because it really helps.  I feel like when you are sick you can make yourself sicker.  

I give my girlfriend credit for the way that she pushed me.  She pushed me and kept up my morale and spirits.  Even with her suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer, she would find the energy to encourage other patients in the center.   She wanted everybody to have a good spirit while going through the treatments.  She would walk in the room and always say, “You living.  If you still living you go ahead and fight.”   My girlfriend was a big inspiration to others including myself at the cancer center.

You need someone by your side to help you overcome your fears.  I’m a man but hell I had fears.  Actually, I was frightened and some nights I didn’t even sleep well because I was thinking about it.  Cancer took me through a period in my life that I had never been through.  Even when I had  pneumonia and I thought I was going to die, it didn’t frighten me the way that cancer did.  

Now that I am a cancer survivor, I’ve learned to appreciate life even more. A lot of people in that cancer center didn’t survive including my girlfriend.  Now that she is gone, I made a vow to to encourage as many people as possible who is suffering from this deadly disease.  I just want to let them know that I will help them fight their battle and share my motto “nothing can keep me down.” 

“To fear is one thing.  To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another.”  

                                      - Katherine Paterson

Growing up as a young man, I always had dreams of being successful in life.  I wanted to be that kid who was going to make my parents proud.  My parents expected nothing but the best from their children, and we were met with certain expectations.  So, with expectations came a lot of pressure as well as a lot of fear.  As for me, fear was the thing that grabbed me by the tail and it controlled almost every aspect of my life.  So once fear entered into my life, I started to worry about how I would be viewed by my family and friends if I failed at achieving my goals.  However, my family and friends would always encourage me to chase my dreams, but I allowed fear to make me perceive their advice as negative.  They would tell me nine good things to do, but if that tenth comment was negative, I would always grab onto that and it would cause me not move forward.  Like most people, I believed that once you get to a certain level of success,  you start to feel safe and it causes you to be stagnant. So, lately I’ve been asking myself, why do I let fear keep me from pursuing my dreams?  Why do I let fear stop me from living my best life?       

In my mind, I thought because of the length of time I was a barber, I should have been in a different place or further along by now. So back to fear, I was afraid to reach out to other barbers or find a mentor and ask how do I get from this place to that place.  I was thinking that I should have the answers even though I didn’t have the answers.  I came to realize that it was not only fear, but it was also a pride thing that was keeping me from reaching out to others. I was afraid to reach out because I wanted to be seen in a certain way.  I recently read a book titled Ego is the Enemy, and the premise of the book is that your ego can be your worst enemy.  You can either think you’re better than what you are, or you can let pride keep you from obtaining what you should get.  So, fear combined with pride is a bad combination.  

Now what I’m learning to do is make an effort to do whatever I’m afraid to do.  I read an article the other day that stated “flight and fight are seeded in the same place you can either choose to fight fear or take flight and run from fear.”  At this point in my life, I’ve decided to take control of fear and stop letting it control almost every aspect of my life.  It’s a work in progress and I still have a long way to go.  I now understand that there is nothing wrong with failing or having somebody give me constructive criticism. In the past, criticism was something that I hated, and I always viewed it as negative. 

I can see where I can be successful now, but I have to continue doing what I’m doing and keep pushing myself to face anything that comes my way.  In the next five years, I definitely see my shop being filled with barbers. I see myself branching out and taking The Razor Edge to another city.  Also, in the next ten years I want to have my barber instruction license and open up a barbering school.  I want to help up-and-coming barbers by showing them how to build their clientele and share what not to do in the barber business.  This business can be cut-throat at certain times because people care about the dollar instead of the customer.  What I’ve learned is that you have to take an interest in your customers more than anything else.  I would also say know your limitations but have realistic expectations.  Also, try to push yourself past your limitations,yet don’t be too hard on yourself when things don’t go as planned. 

Now that I’m learning how to deal with fear, I’ve started telling my kids the same thing that I tell myself: just follow through with your dreams or goals.  Always remember that you have to fail sometimes  in order to become successful. 

“I live in America, I'm an African-American male.  They don't treat us the same. It's something called racism. I ain't gonna cry about it. It's probably going to be racism ‘til the day I die. But I'm not going to cry about it. I'm still going to get to where they are. Why?  Cause I owe it to myself, and can't nobody stop me but me.”    - Dr. Eric Thomas. 

What is stopping you from living your best life?  Those who really know me know that my life could easily have gone in the wrong direction.  I struggled dealing with having a mother on drugs and not knowing my father.   So I was a statistic - apart of the population of kids in the 1980’s being raised by their grandparents because of the crack epidemic.  For me, I was embarrassed because I hated to see my mother become a victim of her environment.  The sad part is that I was at peace when she was incarcerated because I knew she was safe and alive.  However, I’m grateful that my grandmother stepped in and became my guardian and raised me.  My grandmother was my hero and made sure that I felt loved regardless of the situation.  Even though my mom didn't raise me, we still developed a close relationship as mother and son.  

Before I met my biological father, I carried a lot of anger in my heart for years towards a man I never knew.  So, when I finally met my father for the first time, surprisingly it was more joy than anger.  Our relationship started on the right foot.  We decided that we couldn’t change the past, but we could create memories for the future and our relationship is great.  On the other hand, I was always mad at the man who my mother claimed was my father.  He wasn’t around as much because he was in and out of jail and constantly breaking promises.  However, when I got older and started to understand things better, I realized that he was doing the best he could do.  So I learned how to forgive and take the bad with the good.  Therefore, our relationship is also great, and I love both of those men.    

Even though my childhood years was surrounded with negative situations,  I  refused to let my family’s generational curse have a negative effect on my life.  I could have felt sorry for myself and became a victim of my environment, or I could have turned my negative situation into a positive one.  For me, I decided to take the positive route.  So as a young man, I was always on a mission to break free of the chains that were holding and preventing me and my family from reaching our full potential.  I was not going to let those chains stop me from being successful.  I was determined to make something out of my life, and I wasn’t going to let anyone discourage me from reaching my  goals. 

We all have something that is holding us down from being successful, but it is up to us to break free of all the stereotypes and move forward in the right direction.  As stated in Romans 12:2, “Don't be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God's will is—what is good and pleasing and mature.”   I learned very quickly that life doesn’t care about your issues.  You either let your situation chain you down and become of the world, or you can fight to break free and live a more pleasing life.  

So, I started with surrounding myself with people who were looking to be successful in life.  During the journey, I found out that this path was not meant for some of my family members or my closest friends.  During my journey I felt I had to distance myself from the people who I loved the most.  However, I had to make that choice because I was simply trying to make a better life for myself.  My goal was to make a better situation for myself so that I could come back and help my loved ones by sharing the knowledge and wisdom that I gained along the way.

During my journey, one of the most important things I’ve learned was “You must believe in yourself when no one else does.” 

So as Bishop Odum would say, “Don’t miss your opportunity because you let some folks upset you.” So, that’s why I’m always preparing myself for the next opportunity by remembering the following:

Keep God first in everything that you do. Believe and trust in the Word and it will guide you.

Encourage those around you to do better in life.

Eliminate negative things and people from your space. 

Pursue your dreams and don’t let anyone stop you from being successful. 

Give your tithes and offerings and help those who are less fortunate. 

Remember that all things can be achieved through our Lord and Savior.

Inspire the the next generation to be better. 

Never focus on the odds against you but focus on beating those odds.

Don't live your life based on someone else’s agenda.  Go out and start creating your own agenda.  

Identify your unique qualities and implement your plan.

Navigate towards success.

Get in your lane and start your journey towards reaching your dreams.

Let’s KEEP GRINDING in 2019 and continue our journey to a successful life!

“One of the most important keys to success is having the discipline to do what you know you

should do, even when you don’t feel like doing it.”    

                                                                            - Anonymous 

K’lya Hankerson, a freshmen at Johnson High School, is a young lady who has all the potential skills to become a star.   K’lya is very humble and grateful for every opportunity that comes her way; however, don’t take her humbleness as weakness because she is a force on the basketball court.  K’lya became interested in playing basketball around sixth grade.  From that point, K’lya started learning how to play basketball with the Fernwood Falcons under the guidance of her AAU coach, J’maun Cutter.  “I enjoyed playing AAU basketball because it was really competitive and it allows college coaches to look at you” said K’lya.  She would go on to play middle school basketball at DeRenne Middle School and develop her skills as a player.

Now as a freshman at Johnson, she quickly recognizes the difference between high school and middle school basketball. K’lya stated that “The coaches are harder on the players, there’s more information that you have to learn, and the speed of the game is a lot faster than middle school basketball.”  K’lya who stands at 5’11” is averaging 5.2 ppg, 9.8 reb, 3.7 blks so far this season.  She’s been working really hard as a freshman and has recently became a starter on the girls varsity team.  Even as a starter, she knows that she needs to get better as a player:  “When I need help on the basketball court,  I look to our senior captain J'mya Cutter for advice” said K’lya.    

 

As a young lady, K’lya is very humble and grateful for every opportunity that comes her way:  “My goal is to play college basketball for the University of Alabama,” said K’lya.  So, she knows that she has to be focus on her academics.  “Academics are very important to me and my family, and it’s the main thing college coaches look at.  I plan on taking the SAT and ACT my sophomore year.  I’m looking to score high early instead of waiting my junior or senior year to take them.  So, my family supports me and they make sure that I’m on the right track.  My mother is my biggest supporter and she pushing me to be the best that I can be and I’m very thankful for her,” said K’lya. 

After the season is over, K’lya mentioned training for the next season to become stronger and faster.  In addition, she is seeking to attend some basketball camps.  I have no doubt that if K’lya stays focused, continue to improve her skills, and attack her school work like she attacks basketball, she will be a star. 

“Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there.”
                  - Bo Jackson 

"I think a role model is a mentor - someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them."  

          - Denzel Washington

I’ve always heard the saying,“Be careful what you do or say in front of your kids because you never know what they will pick up from you.”  I’m glad that my kids are picking up some of the positive things that I’m doing in life.  So, I believe it’s very important for me to lead by an example so that my kids will grow up being assets, not liabilities. 

As a photographer, I’m always taking random photos of my kids and shooting photo sessions with them.  However, after doing one particular photo shoot, my kids said, “Daddy, we want to be on RDP Sports.”  For me, that was a great feeling knowing that my kids wanted to be a part of something that I was doing. At first, I honestly didn’t believe them.  After two or three weeks, they asked again about being highlighted on RDP Sports, and at that moment I knew that they were serious.  So, when I told them yes, the expressions on their faces were priceless.  

My daughter wants to be a gymnast and she has been training since the age of four.  Her favorite gymnast is Simone Biles, and of course she loves Georgia Gym Dogs. My wife and I plan to take her to one of the Gym Dogs meets this season.  Our goal is to let her experience the atmosphere of competing at the collegiate level. 

On the other hand, my son wants to be a star football player at UGA. His favorite players are Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Mecole Hardman, Jr. and DeAndre Swift.  When we are watching the games, I’m always amazed about how much he knows about football.  He attended his first football camp this past summer, and he loved it!  He excels at soccer and basketball as well, but he has a heart for the game of football!
 
My wife and I will continue to encourage them to be the best they can be and put them in the right position to reach their goals and achieve their dreams.  In my wife’s words, “Average is not an option!”

 “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."

   - Dr. Seuss
 

They say that good things come to those that wait.  That is a phrase that Daryl “DJ” Cone, Jr. often hears.  DJ who is a redshirt sophomore at Gardner Webb University is currently getting playing time on special teams.  However, DJ, a former standout player at Islands High School, is patiently waiting to make his mark as a starting linebacker.  DJ knows it's an uphill battle but he is continuously working to get better at the collegiate level.  “When I get frustrated, the older players on the team always remind me that my time is coming.  They always tell me to keep doing what I’m doing and my time will come.” said DJ.  

Coaches tell their players all the time that it only takes one play and you’re the next man up.  So, DJ continues to  grind and prepare as if he was the starter.  Also, DJ feels that he must continue to work hard because he is viewed as a role model by a lot of people back home.  “I feel that some of my family members look up to me and they want to see me succeed.  My goal is to set an example for my younger cousins and show them that it’s possible to be a student/athlete on the college level.  Also, I feel like I’m playing for all my former high school teammates who had dreams of playing college football.  So, I know I have to keep pushing  because life is full of challenges, and I view this as an obstacle that I must overcome.” said DJ.  

DJ also expressed his appreciation for his parents.  "My parents are always supportive in helping me reach my goals.  There is nothing that they would not do for me and I appreciate them for that.  They have traveled to most of my games regardless of the location.  All they want for me is to be successful in life" said DJ.

As a student, DJ is working hard in the classroom and  pursuing a degree in chemistry.  

In the meanwhile, DJ is patiently waiting for his opportunity and the best is yet to come for Daryl “DJ” Cone.  

“Hardship often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny”
- C.S. Lewis 
 

As they say in football, speed kills and that’s the perfect description for Memorial Day School speedster Winston Wright, Jr.  Wright who is call “Jet” by his peers runs a low 4.4 in the forty yard dash.  

He has helped Memorial Day School’s football team win two GISA 2AA state championships and is looking to finish his high school career with another championship.  Earlier this year, Wright committed to West Virginia University to further his education and football career.  Wright, who had many Division One offers, decided that West Virginia was the best fit for him.  “I chose West Virginia because I really liked the coaching staff, the fans, and the love for and embrace of the football team.  Also, it was a place where I could come in as a freshman and contribute.”  Wright also believes this is an opportunity to open the doors for other players in Savannah.  He always encourages the coaches at West Virginia to take a look at other players in the area.    

What I found so impressive about Wright is that he acknowledged the importance of God and knows that he must continue to keep Him first in his life.  Wright also realized that he would not have been in this position today without the support of his parents. “My parents are always supportive in everything that I do, and they always give me great advice for life situations.”  His parents pushed education first and sports second.  His parents wanted him to have the grades and test scores before he attended several football camps.  So unlike most players, Wright did not wait to take his SAT and ACT his junior year, he started taking it during his freshman year and became academically eligible early.  Wright currently holds a 3.7 GPA and scored a 22 on the ACT.     

In addition, to his parents Wright recognized the the impact that his head coach Michael Thompson plays in his life.  “He is the best coach I’ve ever had on and off the field, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Coach Thompson.  He taught me how to handle the recruiting process, how to stay humble, and how to handle life situations.”  

So, as being a senior and a leader on the team, Wright uses his experiences to give advice to the younger players.  “My advice to younger players is to continue to work hard and keep God first.  The coaches will find you.  Also, I encourage the to take the SAT and ACT early as possible.”  

The sky is the limit for this young man named Jet. He is looking forward to pursue his dream at West Virginia as a student athlete. Once he graduates from West Virginia, Wright’s goal is to continue his football career in the NFL or start his own business training athletes.  I don’t think we have heard the last of Winston “Jet” Wright, Jr.  The best is yet to come!

Georgia Southern football team looked like the truth on Thursday night against their rival Appalachian State.  Georgia Southern came out firing on all cylinders and they dominated the game from the beginning.  The win on Thursday gave Georgia Southern its first win against a team ranked in the top 25.  The future is looking very promising for Georgia Southern under the leadership of Head Coach Chad Lunsford.    

As they say in football, defense win games and Georgia Southern defense came out and set the tone for the night.  They held Appalachian State offense to 288 total yards, 149 rushing and 139 passing.  The defense lead up front by Defensive lineman Ian Bush who lead the team in tackles.  Chris Harris held down the middle and lead the linebackers in tackles.  Monquavion Brinson lead the secondary with tackles while  Kindle Vildor and Kenderick Duncan Jr. and Darrell Baker Jr.,  combined for 4 interceptions for the eagles defense.      

On the other side of the ball, the offense was lead by redshirt sophomore quarterback Shai Werts and Senior running back Wesley Fields.  Werts lead the team with 138 yards rushings.  Eventhough Werts only completed one pass but the one completion was a 57 yard TD.  Fields on the other hand ran hard all night and ended the game with 99 rushing and 2 TD’s.  This week the Eagles are looking to continue their winning streak as they prepare for University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM).   It is safe to say that football has returned to Statesboro.  #GATA

Thank you for taking the time to visit our latest blog posting! We at RDP Sports have selected Thomas Lonon, Jr., who is also known as “Coach TJ”. Coach TJ is the founder of the organization Great Day 4 Baseball. After coaching for 15 years with traveling baseball teams, on a middle school level, he knew it was time to start his own organization. Great Day 4 Baseball was founded in 2016. It was something different in the area, and also a way to give back to the community. The name Great Day 4 Baseball originated from Coach TJ quoting to his players, “today is a great day for baseball because EVERY day is a great day for baseball.

“Anytime you have the opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.”  

- Robert Clemente

What motivates you to go out and coach your players? “I enjoy seeing the kids every day.” “I love watching them perform, and also seeing them get better.” “The process that we’re teaching with discipline, teamwork, and the daily grind of baseball can be used on the field and also with their daily life skills, explained Coach TJ.” As a former standout player at South Effingham High School and Savannah State University, Coach TJ is able to share his experience with his players, on how to get to the next level. That is why his organization preaches education. When asked about some of the policies his organization implements, Coach TJ said, “If they’re not getting their grades and not passing their classes, they don’t get to play.” “Also, if they are being disrespectful and acting out with their parents, they don’t get to practice or play.” “We also have Coach Mobley, who has a reading program that the kids participate in.” Coach TJ is also involved in the 100 Black Men Mentorship  Program and volunteers as a mentor in the Chatham and Effingham school systems;  this is another way to help the kids advance in life. 

 “Baseball is great, but education is first.”

- Coach TJ

Great Day 4 Baseball really understands the importance of parent involvement and how it has a huge impact on the kids. Once a kid sees their parents are being supportive, you tend to see improvement with them on and off the field. The organization is also big on communication. The coaches within the organization want their players to feel comfortable about coming to them when they need advice or help with a situation, and they also want them to be able to communicate with their parents as well. Coach TJ and his coaches are focusing on training young men and not just ball players. As long as you are living you’re going to face adversity in life. Coach TJ always expresses to his players, “that failure is going to come in baseball, and also in life.” One of the sayings for this organization is, “when you are dealing with adversity, keep showing up!” Meaning, “keep going to the plate, and keep taking your swings.” “You’re going to miss a swing every now and then, you’re going to miss a pitch, but sooner or later you’re going to connect.” “As young men you have to understand that if you can’t deal with failure, you’re not going to be able to play the game of life very long.” “You have to learn from your mistakes and just keep growing and developing”, says, Coach TJ!

It makes him feel great seeing his players become successful in life. “Nothing else is better than having a kid call and say, “hey coach, I made the middle school team”, or “hey coach, I got all As and Bs.” It really makes us feel like we’re doing the right thing with mentoring the kids, this is what makes the program so successful”, explained Coach TJ.

When asked who inspires you, Coach TJ mentioned his father, Thomas Lonon, Sr. “He’s always taught us to work hard for everything you need and want. “It’s not going to be easy, keep working and sooner or later you will have some success.” “Learn from your failures, grow from your failures, and develop from your failures.” “Nothing is going to happen overnight.” “If you’re not going to do something to effect the community, then what are you here for?” “Life should be based on service, says, Coach TJ.”

So, who is Coach TJ? “I don’t really like talking about myself,  but I’d say im a country boy, I love God, my family and friends, and baseball. “just a country boy trying to survive.”  I’m humble and thankful that God has allowed me the opportunity to mentor these kids.”

Even with all the success and accolades that Coach TJ has received, he remains humble and appreciative.  He ended his interview by acknowledging those who  helped make his program a success. 

"I would like to thank some key mentors who make the program possible: My parents, Thomas and Nellar Lonon: brother and sister-in-law, Raysha and Kendra Lonon: cousins, Terry McCoy and Nathaniel Scott: Great Day 4 Baseball coaches Willie Gardner, Djuan Tinsley, Jason Rockwell, James Mobley, Marlon Cruver, Mike Jones, Tyreik Douse, Jonathan Schwartzfisher, and Kevin Archer.  Also thank you to Herman and Erica Washington for their guidance." 

"Also I would like to thank the local organizations that trust their student-athletes to play for our Great Day 4 Baseball program: Savannah Stars, Savannah Pitbulls, Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club, and the Westside Whippers."    

"Last but definitely not least, a big thank you to all our Great Day parents and players who believe and trust in the process!!" 

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome." 

- Booker T. Washington

Chris Harris, Jr., who is a Savannah native, was a standout linebacker on the Benedictine football team.   Harris, who played mostly on special teams his freshman year, started the season out as a backup linebacker. His playing time was still limited to special teams, but he keep grinding and patiently waited for his turn.  Chris, who showed some flashes in the Clemson game, got his chance to start at linebacker on last Saturday against South Alabama.  As they say in sports, “Next man up!,” and Chris took full advantage of his opportunity.  He was tied for leading tackles with a total of 7 (1 solo and 6 assists).  We are looking forward to see this young man perform next week.  The Eagles are now preparing for a Thursday night game with Texas State.  #GATA 
 

Thank you for taking the time to visit our latest blog posting!  RDP Sports has decided to take on a more serious topic to discuss instead of sports.  Therefore, we decided to focus on the issue of domestic violence. Domestic violence should be everyone’s problem because it has affected those in various cultures, age groups, and people of all economic statuses.  There are far too many people who have suffered from this type of violence, especially women. Many of these victims have been abused physically, emotionally, verbally or even sexually. The question we want answered is what are we doing to help with this type of violence because we all probably know someone that has been a victim to this type of violence.

Recently, we sat down with Karen Cooper, who was a victim of domestic violence, to discuss how she survived while being in an abusive relationship.  Karen, who is a mother of two daughters, is also the author of Healing for the Hurting, which exposes her past hurts that accompany domestic violence and how she overcame them. 

Our first question to Karen was, “Do you feel like society turns a blind eye to domestic violence, especially against women being abused?”  Karen answered, “Yes and no. It's happening all too often. I know we don't have control of anyone's actions, but we do have control over how we react to the crime. They say high blood pressure is a silent killer, well so is domestic violence. That's because the person being abused is too scared or ashamed to say anything. They feel it's too much red tape to deal with to ensure their safety.  When you hear of domestic violence, most people automatically think it’s against the women. However, Karen explains, “There was a situation recently where the man was the one concerned for his life. He took out a restraining order, and the same day the woman shot him then turned around and killed herself,” said Karen. 

So, why do women seem to stay in these toxic relationship where they are being beaten, crying every night, and sometimes wishing they would die?  “Every woman has her own reasons for staying with her accuser. They are in love, and they believe he's not going to do again. Then, there may be children involved. There is also mental abuse, when you've been told no one else would want you.” said Karen.  A lot of times, the victims will blame themselves for the accuser’s violence. For me and most victims, other reasons for staying these horrendous relationships were the following: “I was young. My self esteem was low, and I thought he would change. After all, he said he loved me.” said Karen.   

 “Love is blind, and it will take over your mind. What you think is love, is truly not. You need to elevate and find.” 
                                     - Eve

Karen knew that the pain she was experiencing every day was not worth staying and that she needed to make a change.  So, she decided to focus on life after being in an abusive relationship: “I had to stand strong with a plan, a goal and a way out for my survival. I’m not only surviving for myself but also for my girls,” Karen commented.

After surviving domestic violence, Karen has decided to help others who are involved in abuse relationships and feel hopeless.  When asked what advice she would give to women who are involved in an abusive relationship or marriage, She replied, “First, you learn how to love yourself. Know that God said you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and you are marvelous in his eyesight. Seek his face for truth and guidance. Get involved with helping others or doing something positive. If you feel you need to seek additional help, join a survivors group or seek private counsel. Most importantly, don't shy away from everyday living and forgive yourself and the person who caused you pain.”  

For Karen, life is heading in the right direction.  She said, “I'm stronger, not just from that experience, but from life’s situations and circumstances. Most importantly, I’m stronger from my source and inner strength, who is God.”  

Karen has since been on a mission to help those who are in domestically violent relationships. She has partnered with Evangelist Karen Alston (Domestic Dialogue w/Denise campaigning) to shout out "We stand against Domestic Violence" "No More".   “We will be collecting old cell phones to be delivered to current victims of domestic violence. We want every victim to have access to a phone in order to dial 911 in an emergency situation,” said Karen. 

We ended the interview by asking the following question: “Who is Karen?”  “I am a believer. I am beautiful. I am gifted. I am happy. I am successful . I am safe. I am accepting who I am. I am freedom. I am worthy. I am loved and I'm loving all that I am. I am a survivor!”

Please check out the link below to contact Karen and view the list of her upcoming engagements. 
www.karenstephenscooper.com
karen@karenstephenscooper.com

Thank you for taking the time to visit our latest blog posting!  We, at RDP Sports, have selected D’Quan Douse to be featured for this issue.  D’Quan, who is 6’3 and 245 lbs, is a rising senior at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia.  After a solid junior year where he was the anchor on the defensive line, he is looking to carry that success into his senior year.  He has some big expectations for the team this year.  “We definitely want to have an undefeated season and go for a state ring,” said Douse.  

Douse, who is considered one of the top players in 912 area, is a true student athlete.  He has made the Principal’s List at Calvary for the last 3 semesters.  He currently has a 3.9 GPA while taking all AP and Honor-level classes, and he scored a 1190 on the SAT.  He has maintained a strong GPA while playing football and basketball and volunteering at his school.  He is a young man who really understands the importance of academics.  “Education is definitely a big key in my life; it’s a big part of my life and it’s a big part of who I am,” said D’Quan.  

Douse, who always scores above average on the Stanford Achievement Test, has been recruited by some of the top universities, but it was the offers from four Ivy League schools that proved that all the hard work in the classroom had paid off.  Harvard wanted him and he received offers from Yale, Brown, and Cornell.  However, he decided to commit to Georgia Tech to future his education and football career.  When he was asked his reason for choosing Georgia Tech, he responded: “ With the balance between education and sports, you just can’t beat that down here in Southeast Georgia.  So when they finally gave me an offer, I accepted it the next morning.” 

D’Quan comes from a very supportive family where education is a big deal.  “Academics is definitely big; it’s a big part of my life.  My mom has been preaching it since I was young, so it just stuck with me and it’s what I based my career on,” said D’Quan.

“My parents play a big time role in my life.  I’m thankful to be able to live with both of them.  My dad has been coaching me all of my life, and he’s there to help me and give me criticism when I need it.  My mom is just learning about football so knowing that she is going to help me and she is going to give her love and care really helps me along the way.” 

This is a young man who always relied on his education to get into college.  He looks at academics as the key to success, and he believes that academics will take you far in life.  So, I asked him, where do you see yourself in 5 to 6 years?  “If I don’t make it to the NFL, and it’s possible that I don’t, I’ll be going to medical school most likely.  If so, he would be following in the footsteps of his big brother Dontre’ Douse who is a 3rd year med Student at Mercer School of Medicine. 

D’Quan is a good leader who also likes to play basketball and chess when he is not playing football.  As a leader on the Calvary football team, he takes pride in trying to help and encourage younger players, especially those not getting recruited heavily.  D’Quan would tell them, “My recruitment definitely picked up late so just stay humble, keep your head on straight, and stay focused and even if you do get an offer and someone starts to look at you, just keep grinding”   D’Quan also talked about what he was going to miss about high school: “I’m definitely going to miss the family atmosphere here at Calvary, the seniors I’m graduating with, my fellow teammates, coaches and everybody who helped me along the way.”

When it’s all said and done, what is it that motivates D’Quan?:  “It would be my mom who motivates me.  I want her to have the best.  I also want to make it for her and let her be proud of me,” said D’Quan.

             "Education is the great equalizer."

                                    - Dr. Eric Thomas

Thank you for taking the time to visit our latest blog posting!  We, at RDP Sports, have selected 3-star recruit Jeremy Smith to be featured for this issue.  Jeremy, better known as "Jerm" to his peers, is a rising senior at H.V. Jenkins High School in Savannah, Georgia.  Jeremy, who is 6’0 and 190lbs is taking on a new role as the team leader.  Now he is that guy that younger players  are looking to for leadership.   Also, he will be playing on both sides of the ball at running back and defensive back.  He currently holds four scholarship offers, and he is in the process of choosing where he would like to further his education and football career.  Jeremy is not only getting it done on the field but also getting it done in the classroom.  He is considered one of the top players in 912 area, and he is looking forward to having a great senior year. We had the chance to catch up with Jeremy for his interview.
 

RDP:  What are some goals for you during your senior year?
Jeremy:  I would like to make it to the state championship my last year with the guys, break some records, and remain healthy.

RDP:  What are you going to miss about high school the most?
Jeremy:  I’m going to miss my classmates and football.

RDP:  What’s your favorite subject and why?
Jeremy:  I would say my favorite subject is science because you learn about the body.  When I go to college, I want to study sports medicine to learn that field of study and all of the muscles and everything about science. 

RDP:  You scored a 25 on the ACT.  How did you prepare for the test? 
Jeremy:  Big thanks to Coach Cam and Ms. Wilson in the academic program at Jenkins.  They helped me out with all type of study programs.  Also, I attended ESPN Books and Balls SAT/ACT prep classes. So, I just studied hard and worked hard in the classrooms and results came out big.

RDP:  How is the recruiting process going for you?
Jeremy:  The recruiting process is going pretty well.  I hold four offers now - Marshall, Tulane, Coastal Carolina, and Mercer, and I’ll be making my decision in September.

"It doesn't matter how hard you work,  I'm willing to work harder than you"
                                                                  - Kobe Bryant
 

RDP:  What motivates you to be a good player? 
Jeremy:  What motivates me to be a good player is seeing all the guys in the league making it and  seeing their progress.  Also, I want to make my family proud of me and make it out of Savannah.  

RDP:  Are you doing any volunteer work in the community?  If so, please explain.
Jeremy:  Yes sir, I’m helping the church at homeless shelters by donating food, clothes, toiletries, and  anything else they need at the shelters.
 

RDP:  What advice would you give to to younger players?
Jeremy:  I would tell younger players to take advantage of every opportunity, work hard, stay focused, and watch who you hang around . . . just strive to be the best you can when nobody is watching you.

RDP:  Can explain the impact that your parents have on your life?
Jeremy:  My parents have been pushing me ever since I first touched a football.  They always gave me great energy and motivated me to be the best I can be.  They are the best parents ever; they kept pushing me since I was young.

RDP:  What are some obstacles you had to overcome to get to where you are today?
Jeremy:  One obstacle was finding out what position I was going to play at the collegiate level.  Some people told me I couldn’t do it, so I just had to work hard and put in late nights when nobody was watching, just trying to be the best.  Also, I injured my meniscus the summer before my junior season, so I had to sit out about three games.  I came down on myself a few times getting frustrated, but I knew I had to go to rehab and hit rehab hard to come back powerful and stronger so I could finish out my junior year and that’s what I did.

RDP:  What is something you want people to know about you beside playing sports?
Jeremy:  I want them to know that I am a smart young guy, and I like to have fun.  I’m great to have a conversation with, and I’m just a great young man to be around.  I also provide motivation for the young kids. 

RDP:  What advice would you give seniors that’s not getting recruited heavily?
Jeremy:  I would tell them to keep pushing and trust the process because their time is coming.  My offers came very slow.  When I saw all my friends or other guys receiving offers and I wasn’t getting offers, it just motivated me to keep grinding and the offers came.

RDP:  Where do you see yourself in 5-6 years?
Jeremy:  Hopefully, I see myself at the NFL level or somewhere training and providing help to kids so they can be better people and players.  Also, I want to give back by motivating younger guys in the community.

I didn't get here by making excuses
                                                          - Dr. Eric Thomas
 

Thank you for taking the time to visit our latest blog posting!  We, at RDP Sports, have selected 3-star recruit Jakeen Harris to be featured for this issue.  Jakeen, a rising senior at Benedictine Military High School in Savannah, Georgia, had over 15 college scholarship offers.  He recently decided to further his education and football career at North Carolina State University. Jakeen is one of the best players in the state of Georgia and definfinly one of the top five players in the 912 area.  We had the chance to catch up with Jakeen at our studio for his interview, but first check out what Deion “Primetime” Sanders had to say about this young man on Twitter.

“I had a call with colleges today about you man. They pulled up yo film and u went to work on them. You got real game man. Hit those books, stay disciplined and watch yo company. You got it my brother. #Truth #PrimeSpoke #21reasons”
                           - Deion Sanders

RDP: What are some goals for you during your senior year?
Jakeen: My goals for my senior year are to have 10 plus interceptions, over 1000 rushing yards, more than 120 tackles,  and make All- State again. 

RDP: How do feel about BC moving up to 3-AAA?
Jakeen: I like that! We get to stay in the city and play  so everybody will be out to the games.

RDP: What are somethings that you enjoy about high school and what are you going to miss about it?
Jakeen: I enjoy playing on Fridays, but I’m going to miss playing with and against  my high school friends.

RDP: Can you explain what "Work hard, play hard" means to you?
Jakeen: Work hard play hard means going hard every play, giving it your all.  I also use it in the real world by going hard with everything I do.     

RDP: Can you explain the importance of academic? 
Jakeen: Academics are important to me because without academics you can’t go to college and play football.

RDP: What was your SAT score and how did you prepare for the test? 
Jakeen: I made a 1270 on the SAT and I prepared for the SAT by studying with my English teacher.  We went over SAT prep in school and that helped prepare me for the test

RDP: Can you explain the impact your parents have on your life?
Jakeen: My parents have a big impact on my life.  They are always pushing me to make sure I’m doing the right thing and working hard everyday.  My parents are hard on me about academics.  They started in elementary preaching academic real hard.  

RDP: Can you tell me how much your older brother, Chris Harris, Jr.,  means to you?   
Jakeen: My older brother means everything to me!  He keeps me going because he was there for me when nobody wasn’t.  He’s just a bigger role model for me and I follow everything that he does. 

RDP: What was your reason for committing to N.C. State?
Jakeen: My reason for committing to North Carolina State was the coaching staff had a good relationship with my high school coach.

RDP: What are somethings you want people to know about you besides being a good football player?
Jakeen: I like volunteering around school.  I help out with the football camps, and I help unload and carry items to the school store.  I want people to know that I’m good at basketball and baseball.  I also like to play video games and I like to have fun and go out with my friends.  

RDP: What motivates you to be a good player on and off the field? 
Jakeen: What motivates me to be a good football player on and off field is I want to be great.  So you have to do great things on and off the field.  

RDP: What advice would you give to the next generation?
Jakeen: To the younger players out there playing sports, I would tell them that without grades you can’t play college football. Don’t wait too late to start studying and keep working and just go all out.  The coaches will come find you if you play hard.   

RDP: Were you discouraged when coaches were not noticing you?
Jakeen: No, I wasn’t discouraged because my brother kept telling me that they are going to come.  I had a good sophomore year so he was telling me they will come.  So, it took hard work.  I was just grinding trying to get bigger and faster and it all just fell in place.  

RDP: How did your brother help you on the football field?
Jakeen: My brother kept pushing me everyday in practice.  In games when I got down after a play, he used to come up to me in a game and talk to me and tell me you got the next play.  Now that I’m a leader, I tell the younger players that they have the next play and just kept going hard.

RDP: Where do you see yourself in 5-6 years?
Jakeen: I see myself in the NFL playing for somebody.  If I don’t make it to the NFL, I could see myself doing something in business.

RDP: How did Boys club help you prepare as a player?
Jakeen: The Boys Club had a lot of good talent out there.  We were going against some of the best players in the city and they used to push me hard every day.  The club was also big on academics too.  We had to turn in every report card to our coaches.  

RDP: Do you go back to help at the Boys Club? 
Jakeen: I’m about to start going back to the Boys Club to help out with their football practice because when I was younger, the older kids came back and helped out with me so that’s why I want to go back and help.  

Thank you for taking the time to visit our latest blog posting.   RDP Sports is excited to highlight our first young lady, Machala Raymondville, to appear on our blog posting.  Machala is a Rincon native who attended Armstrong State University and Columbus State University on a basketball scholarship. During her career she averaged 13.1 PPG, passed the 1000-point mark, received Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week.  However, what is impressive is that she was a member of the Presidential Honor Roll multiple times for maintaining a GPA of 3.00 - 3.24.  Now that her college basketball career is over she is on a mission to pursue her dream as a pro basketball player and becoming a successful business woman.  RDP Sports had a chance to sit down with Machala for her interview.

RDP Sports:  How did you feel about the merger of GSU and AASU?
Machala:  As a local of the 912 area, it was exciting to play at home and still be close to my family while still pursuing something that I really enjoy doing.  When the merger happened, it was exciting because it was an opportunity to leave home, but at the same time it felt like I had accomplished so much here, so I had to kind of leave all that behind me and start over new at somewhere else, so that was kind of overwhelming.  I do miss Armstrong.  I wish that the merger didn’t happen because you always think the grass is greener on the other side, but some people don’t realize how good they have it until its gone.

RDP Sports:  How did you end up signing with CSU?
Machala:  We played against Columbus State and this was about two or three weeks after we heard about the merger, and they were at the top of the league.  They had only lost one game throughout the whole season, and I wanted to be a winner and win a championship.  Even with the D1 offers that I had from FAMU and South Carolina State, I still had looks from Georgia State.  I wanted to go and play for Columbus State and also be under the tutelage of Coach Anita Howard, who is a local who went to Beach High School.

RDP Sports:  Who was your biggest motivator during that transition?

Machala:  I didn’t have a how and I had more of a what was my motivation.  My biggest motivation was to get my degree and show kids that yes, it’s fun to play at home and be around family, but it’s also okay to go away and obtain the same success or even better success.

RDP Sports:  How has college help develop you into the person you are today?
Machala:  Before going to college, I was a hot head in high school.  On the court you couldn’t tell me nothing because I thought I was that baller, but going to college humbles you because for one, you are not the only person who can play at that level.  There’s people who are better than you, so it makes you increase your game as well as in the classroom.  It challenges you because high school is very easy compared to college. So, when I got in the classroom it’s more so I had to push myself, or I had to make the decision to go to class rather than my mom or dad making me go to class.  You have to be motivated to keep your GPA up.  Teachers are not going to baby you.

RDP Sports:  What advice would you give young ladies about becoming a successful athlete and in general, a successful woman?
Machala:  To be a successful athlete, I encourage all young women to keep striving because the sports world doesn’t give women enough credit for what we do.  Oh, you’re a girl, you can’t play at the same caliber as a guy, which in some aspects we can’t but we are able to play the same sport with minor details or changes in the game.  So, I encourage them to keep working hard and don’t ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do it or that you’re not good enough.  If you put in the work, in your heart you know you’re good enough so it’s going to show on the court.  Also, to be successful young women, success comes only through adversity; it will make you grow.  There is no way you’re going to be stuck in the same place.

RDP Sports:  What major adversity did you face in college and how did you handle it?
Machala:  My major adversity included two things.  The first was learning how to adapt on the court.  From high school level to college level the game changes.  The speed is a lot different; you’re playing at a high speed in college; whereas, in high school you can walk the ball up, but in college it is different.  You have to be able to keep up.  The other adversity I faced was moving away from home.  I was used to being able to go to my mama’s house when I wanted to cry or was upset, but when you’re four hours away, you can’t drive home and say, “Ma I’m upset.”  You kind of figure out how to get through those issues by yourself. 

RDP Sports:  What is your major and where do you see yourself in five years?
Machala:  My major is sociology.  What I plan to do is finish up school and become a college coach.  Eventually, I want to start my own non-profit organization for children with “invisible disabilities,” like ADD, ADHD, and Bipolar disorder.  It would be something like a Boys and Girls club but would give kids the sports outlook on things.  So, instead of them using stress balls to help them, they would focus on lessons. It would be an afternoon program, so kids could come and get basketball lessons or if they play soccer or baseball, we could give them lessons.  Also, I would have a college or high school player or someone successful or who has been successful at that sport come in each month and give them a lesson that week.  

RDP Sports:  What are your short term plans to help the younger generation?
Machala:  I’m supposed to return to Columbus State in the fall.  Although I won’t be able to play, I will be helping on the coaching staff - kind of giving back my time to my old teammates and helping them grow as players.  Also, I plan to help anywhere around the community where I’m needed.  I enjoy watching young women grow because we don’t see that a lot in this area.    

RDP Sports:  What would you tell young ladies not getting recruited?
Machala:  Well, coming out of high school, I wasn’t recruited heavily my senior year because of the adversity I faced at my previous school.  I had one offer and that was Armstrong State University.  My coach, Mrs. Bullock, had a lot of faith in me.  She took me on as a hot-tempered kid, not knowing if she would get 7-point player or a 16-point player.  So, just keep working; it doesn’t matter who recruits you.  What matters is what you do in the end.  It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.  

RDP Sports:  Do you have a motto?
Machala:  My motto before every game or before I do anything, I quote Jeremiah 29:11.  That’s part of the reason I wear number 11, and I have worn number 11 since I was in middle school.  Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you . . .”  God knows the plans He has for you, whether you win the game or not.  You can pray, “God please let me win this game,” but He already knows what he has in store for you.  That’s my motto!

Thank you for taking the time to visit our latest blog posting!  We, at RDP Sports, have selected Sam Carter to be featured for this issue.  He is on a mission to develop young athletes and prepare them for the future.  When he is training his players, you can't help but notice his excitement and enthusiasm.  The energy he bring to his workouts lets you know that he really enjoys what he is doing.  We had the chance to catch up with Coach Carter at his gym 27:17 for his interview.

RDP: How long have you been training?

Coach Carter: I’ve been training for over 20 years.  I started about 1997/1998.  

RDP:  As a Savannah native, what are you currently doing to give back to the community?

Coach Carter: A lot of what I do is through my church, not just giving my tithes and offerings but my time and talent.  Also, a part of my ministry is that I’ve always reached out to young men or young ladies who were left out.  I put them in a group with parents and athletes who work with me, and I train them for no fee.  These are people who I choose to train because my heart connects with them.

RDP:  What is the overall goal for young people who you train?

Coach Carter:  My overall goal is to create leaders.  My motto at 27:17 is “We create pros in life,” and what I want is for these guys to go off and do well for themselves professionally. Then, I would like for them to go back in the community and give to the community and develop it.  Because when they help the community, the community makes the crowd, and the crowd makes the congregation, and the congregation makes the committed, and the committed makes the core.  Then, the core members go back out into the community.  So that’s what I would want them to do.

RDP:  How does parental involvement impact education and a player’s dedication?

Coach Carter:  We couldn’t do it without them.  It’s a three-headed monster when I’m working with athletes.   It’s the athlete, me, and the parent.  If the parents are not willing to work, then I can’t work.  They only have me for 5-6 hours a week, so I need the parents to be engaged and involved with everything we do.  So, it’s a three-headed approach, and it won’t work if we don’t have some kind of parental involvement or somebody who stands in that parent role.  

RDP:  Tell me what 27:17 means?

Coach Carter: Proverbs 27:17 is iron sharpens irons, so does one man sharpens another. Most of the guys here are not responsible for themselves.  I make them lean on each other for help.  If you want to be sharp, you have to be sharpened by some other sharp people.  So, 27:17 is that we just push each other to be better and we sharpen each other and they sharpen me also. 

RDP: How it makes you feel when you see some of the players or people become successful in life (in sports or just life in general)?

Coach Carter: That’s the ultimate goal.  Success.  All that I am is because of Thee and all that I’m not is because of me.  Success is when they go out and they do successful things and add to society and the community.  So, if you want to pay me back go help somebody else, and that’s what I tell them.  So, that’s the ultimate goal to be successful and help others in their community.

RDP Sports: Why do you play gospel music after each work out?

Coach Carter:  I play gospel music to give them the motivation to understand that we are not here by ourselves.  My strength comes from the Lord, and if I don’t have that I don’t have anything.  If I don’t have something that’s guiding me, that’s keeping my moral compass going forward, then I’m lost.  So it’s the same thing with them, and I get them to understand that. We play gospel because it’s important to me to let them understand that you need the guidance.  These kids are being recruited by the best schools in America, and I want them to know that you’re not here by yourself.  You are blessed to be a blessing to others.  There’s a reason why the Lord gave you this ability. The Lord gave you the ability to run, jump, lift, so I want them to recognize that it isn’t because of you or your parents. It’s because of what God said.  So if God said it, I’m playing it!   

"It doesn't matter how hard you work.  I'm willing to work harder than you!"

                             - Kobe Bryant

Thank you for taking the time to visit our latest blog posting!  We, at RDP Sports, have selected 4-star recruit Kalen DeLoach to be featured for this issue.  Kalen, a rising senior at Islands High School, has 20 offers from the Power 5 Conferences.  However, DeLoach has narrowed his choices down to 9 schools.  As a top athlete, he was selected to participate in the Nike Opening due to his outstanding performance among the best of the best.  This young man is on a mission to pursue his dreams on and off the football field, and the support he receives from his family is amazing!  Even with all the success that is coming his way, he has always remained humble.  A motto that he has embraced from his father, Robert DeLoach is "Humble, don't stumble"  After having a great junior year, Kalen is looking toward his senior year the same way he ended his junior year.   We had the chance to catch up with Kalen after his work out at 27:17 Gym for his interview.

RDP Sports:  What are some things you want people to know about you besides being a football player?

Kalen:   I want people to know that I’m a cool dude, I like to have fun, I laugh a lot, and I make jokes.

RDP Sports:  What was your experience at the Nike Opening?

Kalen: It was a great experience. It was some of the best talent in the Atlanta region I got to compete against.  I showed up and showed out and I got invited to the Nike finals.

RDP Sports::  Are you excited about going to the Nike finals?

Kalen:  Yes, I’m very excited. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, and not many people get that experience.  So I’m very grateful to have the opportunity.  

RDP Sports:  What advice would you give players who feel that they are not being recruited for college?

Kalen:  I just tell players who are not being heavily recruited to keep working hard because their time will come. When the time comes, continue to keep working hard and stay humble. 

RDP Sports:  What gives you that drive to be player you are?

Kalen:  I just want to see myself being successful in the next couple of years.

RDP Sports:  You recently took the SAT.  How did you do?  How did you prepare?  What advice would you give?

Kalen:  I scored an 1140.  I just did a lot of studying with my tutor. She sat down with me and broke it down for me to make it easier and make it less time consuming.

RDP Sports:  What advice would you give to the players who haven't taken the SAT?  

Kalen:  The advice I would give to young players is take it by yourself the first couple of times.  If you don’t like your score, then get a tutor so they can break it down for you to make it easier for you and continue to study.

RDP Sports:  Also, can you explain how important your academics are to you?  

Kalen:  Academics are very important.  You can’t go to college without academics.  A lot of people told me that before because I used to slack off in class, but it has turned around.  Coaches came and told me to focus on your academics before you play football so that’s what I do.

RDP Sports:  Who are some of the people who motive/influence you?

Kalen:  Some people who motivate me are my parents, my coaches, and everybody who's in my circle.  We all push each other to do the best we can, and I use what they tell me as motivation to push myself to get better.

RDP Sports:  Where do you see yourself in 5-6 years?

Kalen:  In 5-6 years I would like to see myself playing in the NFL, but if I don’t go to the NFL I would like to have my own business.   

 I would like to thank Kalen DeLoach and his family for taking the time to do an interview with RDP Sports.  I would like to leave you with a quote that hopefully motivates others:

         "Greatness is upon you.  Work on your gift"

                   - Dr. Eric Thomas

Thank you for taking the time to visit  RDP Sports blog posting!  We, at RDP Sports, have selected Javonte Middleton to be highlighted for this issue.  Javonte is a four-year starting quarterback at Jenkins High School.  He helped lead Jenkins to an undefeated regular season for the first time in school history.  His hard work on the field and in the classroom helped Javonte earn a scholarship to play football at The Citadel this upcoming season.  Also, Javonte is a recipient of numerous awards such as the Ashley Dearing Award and the Savannah Morning News 2017 Football Player of the Year.  Check out our interview with Javonte and get to know more about this driven young man!  (photos by Kyunnie Shuman and James Graham)

RDP: What are some things you are doing to help the younger generation advance?   

Javonte:  When I was too old to play little league, I started coaching.  As soon as I turned 13, I helped coach for the Westside Whippers and Boys Club for baseball and football.  I kind of tried to stay involved as time allowed because my schedule was kind of busy, but I always went out there to not just help to them with what they were doing athletically.  I also tried to talk to them about what was going on in their lives: how to treat their mothers, siblings, and how to choose the company that they keep.

RDP:  Who are some people that inspires you to do great things?

Javonte:  One of my main influences is my mother of course.  She’s bent over backwards for me countless times, and I greatly appreciate everything she is doing for me and what she has done for me up to this point.  I know that she is always going to support me in my journey in life in sports and everything that I do.  Another influence is Derek Jeter.  I try to conduct myself with a "Jeter mindset" just like he did on and off the field.  The city and the state of New York embraced him as well as the rest of the United States, so I want people to look at me as they looked at Derek Jeter.

RDP: How do you deal with adversity?  

Javonte:  When I’m down, I look to the ones around me because I know when others I keep around me are down, I'm the one to help them up.  So I pride myself on if you weren’t with me through my struggles, please don’t come present in my success.  So, I kind of think of that as every time that I go to someone else. I put my pride to the side to ask someone for their help to get me through something.

RDP: Where do you see yourself in in five years?

Javonte:  In 5-6 years, I see myself graduating from the Citadel.  I want to go in and major in political science, so I’ll probably be starting my ground work in public policy and urban development in that 5-6 year range.  I could also go in and want to enter the military being that there is a military background, so there’s a possibility that I may be serving  our wonderful country as a second lieutenant.  Also, I can see myself being a coach somewhere.

RDP: When faced with obstacles, how do you stay focused? 

Javonte:  I always saw the light at the end of the tunnel with everything that I went through and everything I’m going through.  I knew that with struggle there's going to come success. It may not seem like the success may be at that instant or the next day, but I always believed in myself that I would have some success with everything I went through.

RDP:  How would you define a good vs. a great leader?

Javonte: Every leader is going to be a good leader.  Leaders are usually elected by teams or appointed by the coaches.  If your team is going to elect you or if your coach is going to appoint you, you have to show some good leadership qualities. Great leaders go the extra mile.  I like to look at myself as a great leader because I feel like I was placed on this earth to lead.  So that goes with being first in the locker room and last to leave the locker room, encouraging everyone in every situation no matter bad things appear to be going - just going that extra mile and being that guy that when things are going rough people can look at you to make them go smooth again

RDP:  What are you going to miss most about high school?

Javonte:  I’m going to miss the family feeling you get in high school.  You know everybody after your first semester.  Everyone is friends with everyone.  Going off to college into another city you won’t have that same family feeling.  Coming to high school, I didn’t know what to expect.  I saw that everyone was for you and mostly wasn’t going to be against anything that you did because they supported the school, so if you were part of the school they supported you, but you just don’t know what to expect when you go off into the real world.

RDP:  When you think of college, what comes to mind?

Javonte:  Being that I’m going to the Citadel, when I think of college I’m going to think unconventionally.  Right now, I don’t know what to expect when the military aspect kick in, but I know I’m going to be a student first, I know I’m going to be a member of South Carolina Corp Cadets, and I’m going to embrace whatever rank I begin with and I’m going to try and raise that rank as I go on through.  I’m also going to be an athlete, and you know being a student-althlete is alway a hard obligation to put yourself into, but I kind of like pressure on me because I believe pressure is pleasure.  So, I’m just going to embrace everything going in and have an open mind with everything.

Thank you for taking the time to visit RPD Sports' first blog posting!  RDP Sports, which is a division of RDP Productions, means Reaching Dreams is Possible.  RDP Sports plans to highlight local athletes who are making a difference on the field and in the classroom.  Also, we will highlight individuals in the community who are making a positive impact in today's society.  This is something that has been on my mind for some time now.  I think it’s important to recognize people who are doing well in life, especially our youth.  There are so many negative things that some people face in life, so to me it’s important to always encourage them every chance you get.  

As a professional photographer,  I always try to bring my clients ideas to reality.  When clients or potential clients say they love my work, I know I am doing something right.   So, that is why I’m always looking to improve my craft.  Over the years, I’ve seen the growth in my photography.  Stay tuned to my next blog where I’m going to introduce our first person to appear on RDP Sports cover.  Thank you again for taking the time to visit and read our blog.  I will leave you with one of my favorites quotes:

“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress"

                                                                             - President Barack Obama

In other words keep on grinding!