Sports Update
Basketball: Former Cowboy takes on USA hoops team
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
Former Coppell basketball coach Brad Chasteen received a "shout-out" on ESPN2 Monday night when the 2012 USA Basketball Men's National Team took on Brazil in an Olympic exhibition game.
While the Americans came out victorious, 80-69, Brazilian point guard, and former Coppell basketball player, Marcelo Huertas had a strong performance and wished Chasteen his best via announcer Fran Fraschilla since moving on from Coppell.
Huertas, who spent his senior season of high school in 2000-01 as a foreign exchange student at Coppell, scored 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go with a game-high 13 assists. Huertas currently plays for Regal FC Barcelona.
"[Huertas] came in as an exchange student and was just a little 5-foot-11, 155-pound kid working out during an open gym," Chasteen said. "About the second trip down the court he threw a 70-foot bounce pass right on the money and we kind of looked at each other and said 'OK. I think we got something here.'"
Chasteen added that Huertas was a very good player at Coppell but has since blossomed. Instead of playing collegiately, Huertas opted to play at the Academy in South America, where he developed his skills and size.
While at Coppell, Huertas led the Cowboys -- who were predicted to finish sixth in district -- to an undefeated run in district. He also faced off against The Colony product and current USA basketball member Deron Williams during a scrimmage in high school.
"It's pretty cool to see what (Huertas) has done and to see those two guys playing in an international game like that," Chasteen said.
While the Americans came out victorious, 80-69, Brazilian point guard, and former Coppell basketball player, Marcelo Huertas had a strong performance and wished Chasteen his best via announcer Fran Fraschilla since moving on from Coppell.
Huertas, who spent his senior season of high school in 2000-01 as a foreign exchange student at Coppell, scored 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go with a game-high 13 assists. Huertas currently plays for Regal FC Barcelona.
"[Huertas] came in as an exchange student and was just a little 5-foot-11, 155-pound kid working out during an open gym," Chasteen said. "About the second trip down the court he threw a 70-foot bounce pass right on the money and we kind of looked at each other and said 'OK. I think we got something here.'"
Chasteen added that Huertas was a very good player at Coppell but has since blossomed. Instead of playing collegiately, Huertas opted to play at the Academy in South America, where he developed his skills and size.
While at Coppell, Huertas led the Cowboys -- who were predicted to finish sixth in district -- to an undefeated run in district. He also faced off against The Colony product and current USA basketball member Deron Williams during a scrimmage in high school.
"It's pretty cool to see what (Huertas) has done and to see those two guys playing in an international game like that," Chasteen said.
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