Sapps Journey Just Beginning

Jessie Sapp has come a long way in his basketball travels. After shining on the summer circuit at every event he played in, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard from the Bronx (N.Y.), has emerged as one of the elite players in the country. Scary thing is, his progression has just begun.

Sapp, the No. 55 ranked player in the class of 2005, was one of the staples for the New York Gauchos this summer, showing that he knows how to put in the points as well as spell time at the point guard spot. He is as clutch as they come. Sapp has great ball-handling skills and sees the floor better than most shooting guards. In fact, he said his high school coach will play him at the point guard spot during the regular season.

That wasn’t the case last season. In fact, it’s never been the case. Sapp is still a rookie in the game he loves. The New York native was a street ball player and, to some surprise, never played organized basketball. Not until he moved to the Washington D.C. area to attend National Christian Academy. That is where he began to hone his skills and learn the fundamentals. Sapp said the transition wasn’t what he was expecting.

“It’s been difficult,” Sapp said. “When I first started I just wanted to dribble, dribble, dribble. I’d just get the ball and go. I’d cross someone over even when I wasn’t supposed to but that was my game. I’m learning basic basketball. I still have a lot to learn.”

His time on the summer circuit has allowed him to see the big picture and get a better grasp on what the future holds for him.

“I came real far,” Sapp said. “I used to be one of the best around my block and then I played with the Gauchos in a street tournament. I played pretty good against them so they asked if I’d go on the road with them in the summer. So when I decided to travel with them, I had a chance to play with the best players in the country.

“I never thought I’d be playing with the best players outside of my block. Now I know what it is like to play in college.”

Colleges have taken notice. In fact, the offers are starting to roll in for the rising senior.

“I have offers from Arkansas, Georgetown, South Florida, DePaul, St. John’s and Arizona has been calling and UMass, too,” Sapp said. “More people have been calling. DePaul wants me to visit and they want to come out to my house for a visit. My mom has been doing all of that though. South Florida wants to do the same, too.”

Sapp said he will take the SAT “the first time he can”. The first set of sets will be in October. After completing the exam, Sapp will look to visit some programs officially. He knows what he wants in a program. He wants to keep the momentum that started last season at National Christian.

“I want to go to a place where I can play right away but also play for a coach that will help me get ready for the next level,” Sapp said. “I used to think that anyone could go to college and the NBA but now I know the work that goes into it. I want a school that helps me do that.”

With another year of work, there will be high-majors a plenty to choose from.