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Period 9 - Amazing Teens
At the Age of 13 He Already Has a ‘Vice-grip’ on His Future
By: Jeffrey Valfer
TeenNewsNet Editor
It is Saturday evening, April 19, at Madison Square Garden. He looks down at the basketball court and watches high school seniors that are considered among the best in the world participate in the annual Jordan Brand Classic. I never ask him as I already know; he is daydreaming four years into the future. Then again, maybe he is not daydreaming and just thinking of what he expects to become. His confidence is that strong that along with him I add his name in my mind to the 2012 roster.
Those who know him well have given him the tagline ‘vice-grips.’ He
received the name from his cousin Randy for his tenacious ball handling. The young man has a reputation of not giving up turnovers. Besides not letting anyone take the ball from him, at the age of 13 he knows what he wants from life and is willing to make the sacrifices to get it. Graduating this year from DLH Academy [Junior High School] in Milwaukee, WI, the teen we refer to is 5”11 Nicholas Stokes. As summer quickly approaches, Stokes is counting how many days are left until he takes the court playing in his freshman year on Rufus High School’s varsity team. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing against bigger and better players,” he remarks, “I plan [even as a freshman] on getting a lot of time." Like his evening at the Garden, Stokes has already scouted his next venture and knows what to expect. “The coach likes to sub in and out a lot, so I know once I am in I got to get down to biz.”
“Getting down to biz” has been Stokes persona ever since the first time he picked up a basketball. “My Grandpa brought me a court when I was little and I took interest right away. I took the ball and dunked it and my Dad’s eyes lit up. He said I could really play and sees something special in me.” Perhaps his Father Earl, who is an Afternoon on air personality at Milwaukee’s 98.3 WJMR, should quit his job and become a talent scout? His son has already achieved more than he ever expected. This summer Stokes has been invited to All American Camp in Virginia as one of the top 100 freshman in the country. Last season, as a Point Guard, he averaged 12 points per game, 10 assists and 5 steals.
Although, according to his father, he “studies the game on and off the court seeking knowledge of how to get better,” Stokes already has played against the world famous Harlem Globetrotters and is coached by former LA Laker, Tony Smith. Stokes got the opportunity to play against the Globetrotters when they called his father’s station looking for a personality to join their rival’s [Washington Generals] roster. As the right light bulb always seems to go off in Earl’s head he thought, “Why not my son!” On New Years Eve at the Bradley Center Stokes made history by becoming one of the youngest to ever play against the Globetrotters and proved even the ‘prince clown’ of the game couldn’t ruffle his feathers.
Having achieved so much in his short 13 years, what is Stokes focusing on next? If he can not make it to the pro’s he has ambitions of becoming a sports reporter or analyst. Then there is his leadership ability he plans to take with him to the next level. “I was born a natural leader. If I was that all my life then why change now”?
Watch Stokes take on the Globetrotters below:
