July 20, 2000

Fifteen years ago, Hal Pastner decided to start a summer hoops program to ensure that his son and daughter had an opportunity to hone their basketball skills. It has since become one of the most successful summer organizations in the country.

"My son came up to me in the third grade and said he was someday going to be a coach at a major university," says Pastner of his son, Josh, who won a national championship while playing basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. "I figured I needed to do everything possible to help him achieve that dream."

Hal's daughter, Courtney, was also determined to make a name for herself in the sport. Two years ago, she was named the Houston area's high school player of the year. She is now playing for the University of Houston.

"She was my biggest motivation for starting a (summer) girls' program," says Hal.

However, Austin Pastner may be the best of the lot.

"The brains behind the program belong to Josh," says Hal, "but Austin might be smartest in the whole family. He really knows his basketball."

The Pastner family has watched with pride as the Houston Hoops program has gone from a run-of-the-mill summer program to one of the most highly regarded summer organizations in the country.

Says Hal, "Over the last 15 years, we have had more than 90 players earn Division I scholarships and five go on to play professional basketball."

Houston Hoops grads currently in the pros include Rashard Lewis of the Seattle SuperSonics, David Boston of the NFL Arizona Cardinals, Steve Jackson of the Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics first-round pick Desmond Mason and Jake Voskuhl, who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls.

"Those five boys all played with our program for several years," says Pastner.

This year's Houston Hoops varsity team, ranked No. 9 in the SchoolSports.com Top 25 AAU Poll, consists of players entering their junior or senior year in high school and is comprised of Elsik High's Carlos Hurt, Bellaire High's Emeka Okafor, Westbury Christian's Chris Rhodes, Westbury High's Stanley Asumnu and Bryan High's Daryl Mason, to name a few.

All five players are considered Division I prospects, and Hurt has already signed with the University of Louisville.

"Carlos is one of the best point guards I have ever seen come out of Houston," says Pastner. "Chris Rhodes is a sleeper. He is 6-foot-8 with a strong body. He has a strong inside game and really can handle the ball. And Stanley Asumnu is rated No. 1 in the country (at two-guard)."

Pastner says Marcus Spears, who goes to defending state champion Southern Lav High in Baton Rouge, La., could be the next Charles Barkley.

"He is 6-6 and 260 pounds," says Pastner. "He is a two-sport athlete. He is a tremendous football and basketball player."

The varsity Houston Hoops team won the Nike national championship a year ago. The squad is one of 16 teams scheduled to compete in the Global Challenge from Aug. 2-7 in Portland, Ore. Of the eight U.S. teams scheduled to compete, Houston is the only squad from Texas.

The Houston Hoops program features boys' teams at the fourth-, seventh-, ninth-, 10th- and 11th-grade levels. Pastner says his freshman team is ranked No. 5 in the country.

"Our freshman team features a pair of 6-foot-9 players in Kendrick Perkins from Beaumont Ozen and Endi Ebi from Westbury Christian," says Pastner. "They both have tremendous potential."

The freshman team also features Ozen's Kenna Young, Hightower High's Michael Umeh and 6-foot-4 swingman Michael Morris, the son of former Utah Jazz star Chris Morris.

"Our reputation helps attract these kids," says Pastner, whose program boasts some 2,000 kids, from kindergarten to 12th grade. "But we have done it for the kids and we are in it for the kids. We teach them about life and how to do the right things in life. We help them with their ACTs and SATs. We want them to be thankful for the opportunity to play the game."