Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / June 23, 2016, edition 1 / Page 11
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A SportsWeek t C Also More Stories, Religion and Classifieds June 23> 2016 QEA point guard chooses Tulane BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE Basketball has been a part of Quality Education Academy's (QEA) Senior point guard Renathan Ona Embo's life since he was 3 years old. He has given his commitment to attend Tulane University in the fall and play basketball for the Green Wave. The 6-foot-5-inch combo guard helped lead QEA to a 20-5 record this season while showcasing his talents on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. His long arms and wide wingspan coupled with his quickness allows him to cover smaller guards. His height and size allow him to match up with stronger guards and forwards as well. Ona Embo was bom in Paris, France, and was raised in Marne-la-Vallee, which is right outside of Paris. He came to the United States three years ago and stated that he has wanted to play college basketball ever since. "QEA has been a learning experience for me," Ona Embo said. "Being here has made me mature and grow as a play er." Ray, as he is affectionately called, said he grew up watching his father and his siblings play basketball and that made him fall in love with the game. He said that ever since he stepped foot on American soil, he has wanted to compete against the best. Ona Embo, who just concluded his first season at QEA, previously played basketball at Balboa City in San Diego, Cajifomia. He said he enjoyed his time at QEA and was most fond of the bond he built with his teammates and time he spent with them. "Ray was a joy to coach and his bas ketball I.Q. is off the charts," said QEA head coach Isaac Pitts. "You don't find many guys 6-foot-5 who have that type of athleticism and can dominate on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. He can shoot, pass and he rarely turns the ball over, so he is a complete player. I expect him to go to Tulane and start right away." Ona Embo stated he is excited about his transition to college and is ready to compete Day One on the court. He said he looks to learn as much as he can as quickly as possible. He said he chose to attend Tulane over schools like Old Dominion because after his visit and speaking with the coaching staif, he felt very comfortable, and the opportunity to start as a freshman was very enticing. Ona Embo has high expectations for his career at Tulane. "I just want to get better and become a very complete player," he said. With his play-making ability and defensive prowess, the sky's the limit for this athlete. SirtwnHtrf photo QEA 's Renathan Ona Embo is a talented point guard eho expects to start immediately this fall as a freshman at Tulane University. Photo by Timothy Ramsey I The runners of Next Level Track Club look to improve reaction time by practicing their start. BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THB CHRONICLE ^ To compete in the sport of track and field, one must possess the physical raw talent to run, jump or throw. To excel in track and field, an athlete must obtain the technique, form and work ethic to take him or her to the next level. The Next Level Track Club of Winston-Salem, head coached by Buddy Hayes, is a track and field club that competes in age group competitions while also providing tuto rial and social skills education for young people. It advocates that they are not a "win at all cost" track club, but instead believe all of its athletes are outstanding and cater to their specific needs. "The greatest satisfaction I get is seeing the kids accomplish and achieve their goals," Hayes said. "When you see them put their heart into things and see them reach that goal, it gives me the greatest satisfaction." Hayes said he retired horn track and field in 2004 because of health reasons and was asked to come and be an adviser to the track club that year. He later became head coach and has remained in that capacity since then, He emphasized the track club does not just focus on athletics, but also mentoring and tutoring, too. See Youth Track on B2 Photo by Timothy Ramiey The girls were lighting it up from three point range during the game. Memory of young basketball player lives; family and friends honor athlete BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE The loss of a loved one can be difficult to overcome, especially if it's your child. The memory of Celeste Burgess continues to live on three years after her death. The Burgess family held the second annual Celeste Burgess Memorial Banquet last Friday at the Enterprise Center, in her honor, along with the Memorial Basketball game Saturday. Celeste Burgess was an up-and-coming basketball star in the Winston-Salem area. At the age of 14 she had already garnered attention from top Division I basketball programs. At 6 feet, she was versatile enough to literally play all * positions on the court. Her untimely death came as she was headed to a basketball camp in Auburn, Alabama, in June 2013. The vehicle she was riding in was hit head on by a car that crossed into the vehicle's lane. Burgess was later pronounced dead. After her death, her family started the Celeste Burgess O.N.E. Foundation to give back to members of the com munity as well as keep her memory alive. The banquet was also a fundraising effort for the foundation to go toward scholarships that it will provide to local teens seeking to further their education. "We always want to remember her life and desires to play the game of basketball," said Allen Burgess, Celeste's father. "We want to help the community come together. See Memory on fcJ t T
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