Webber returns to Detroit
I know I don’t post much about basketball here at BtJ, but I felt that this piece of news was worthy of its own post. I graduated from Detroit Country Day School in 2005. Chris Webber, who signed with the Detroit Pistons today, played his high school basketball at DCDS. Almost every Detroit newspaper article about today’s signing has mentioned Detroit Country Day (and the University of Michigan).
Photo via The Detroit News
I remember in my junior year, I believe, members of the media flocked to DCDS because our headmaster and athletic director were holding a press conference about what we planned to do with the titles we had won with Webber on our team (we weren’t giving anything up because there was no proof he had taken any money in high school). They also came when DCDS retired Webber’s jersey number (44) in November 2005. You can see photos my brother, who also attends DCDS, took at the ceremony.
On November 2, Detroit Country Day School retired NBA star and DCDS alum Chris Webber’s basketball number, 44 during a ceremony in the Seligman Performing Arts Center at the Upper School.
Webber graduated from Detroit Country Day School in 1991 and went on to play basketball for the University of Michigan. He was the number one pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and has played for the Golden State Warriors, Washington Bullets/Wizards, Sacramento Kings, and currently the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Chris is the first graduate of DCDS to play in the NBA. As one of the NBA’s premier players, and for his amazing achievements in high school, we are retiring the #44 jersey to recognize his outstanding career,” said DCDS Headmaster Gerald Hansen.
The ceremony included comments by Varsity Men’s Basketball Coach Kurt Keener, Chris’s advisor while he attended DCDS Mary Ann DeVogel, DCDS Headmaster Gerald Hansen, DCDS Director of Alumni Relations and Webber’s classmate Kira Mann, as well as Webber himself.
I just wanted to say congratulations to Chris Webber for returning home. Coach Keener (our high school bball coach & the guy standing on the left in the brown suit) is mighty glad, I’m sure. Hopefully his addition to the team will help the Pistons make up some lost ground and have a successful postseason.
I also want to congratulate my brother, Josh, for receiving All-State and All-Area honors for his defensive play on the DCDS soccer team. He tore his ACL last month and won’t be able to play competitive soccer again, but he won States twice so that’s not too shabby. 
Go YellowJackets!
Related Posts
4 Responses to “Webber returns to Detroit”
Leave a Reply
January 17th, 2007 at 3:25 am
[…] More:Christy Hammond View blog reactions Detroit Newsvine:Detroit January 16th,2007+Freshness […]
January 17th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
does your brother skate? I played soccer most of my life….and it took its tole on my knees. I started playing hockey in my early 30s and although I get banged up, the low impact excercise of skating actually makes my knees feel better.
January 19th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Does your brother have no college soccer plans? With today’s technology, he should be able to compete after his redshirt year. There are lots of great college soccer programs that I am sure would love to have him!
January 19th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Johnny- My brother doesn’t know how to skate. And he’ll get back to activity once he has his surgery over the summer.
Greatwhitebear- My brother likes playing soccer, but he wants to become a surgeon so he’s got to focus on his education to make sure he gets in the best college. He might play for the rec or club team at school, but that’s all.