By Ryan McAdams
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
LAWTON, Oklahoma — For many student-athletes, playing a college sport and keeping up in the classroom is enough to fill their schedules. This is not the case for Curtis Ison, a senior on the Cameron men’s basketball team.
While many Cameron University students are out on the town enjoying their Friday evenings, Ison can be found in a local junior high school gymnasium coaching the Ballerz, his 5th/ 6th grade basketball team. He has been coaching area youth basketball since he came to Lawton from Compton, CA last Fall.
“I knew I wanted to coach since I was young,” Ison said. “That’s what I feel I’m supposed to do—play and then teach.”
Or both at the same time.
While teaching area youth life lessons and basketball skills a few times per week, Ison is also a valuable member of the Cameron men’s basketball team, who was often times assigned to shut down the opposing team’s best offensive player during the 2006-2007 season.
“He brings us energy at both ends of the floor,” Head Coach Maury Leitzke said. “He has a very strong work ethic and comes to practice and every game ready to play.”
Ison played his first two years of college basketball at Los Angeles Valley College in California where he averaged 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game his sophomore year, earning him honorable mention all-league honors. It is his past and current experience on the floor that set Ison apart from other youth coaches.
“He brings something different (than other coaches) because he’s still playing,” said Rick Young, father of Aaron, a sixth grader on Ison’s team.
Evalina Grimsley has a son, Terrence, in the fifth grade and in his second season with the Ballerz and Ison. She agrees that Ison is the right fit for the position.
“He can relate to the boys trying to learn because he’s still learning himself,” Grimsley said. “He’s real hands on and takes the time to teach them the fundamentals. He’s just really good with kids.”
So what makes Ison so good at what he does?
“I think the fact that I was in their situation not too long ago and I give them different options helps,” Ison said.
Not only does his presence help the kids, but the experience also helps him try to reach his goals.
“I want to try to let basketball take me as far as possible,” Ison said. “I want to keep coaching. I’m gaining good experience and I feel this will help me jump ahead when I’m done with school.”
Despite focusing on basketball as a player and coach, Ison also continues to succeed in the classroom at Cameron. As a Health and Physical Education major, he carried an overall grade point average of 2.5 into the spring semester and has the potential to complete his degree by next fall. This would make him the second member of his family to complete college.
For now, Ison just continues to go about his life, making a difference as only he knows how. “I’m coaching kids and playing at the same time,” he said. “I have the best of both worlds.”