Gaines Makes Top Five Of Year

Those of you who go on Highschool ot.com may have seen their article of the top five events that happened in North Carolina High school sports in 2014.  Nash Central's Houshun Gaines has made the list. Their top five stories are based on national coverage. Unfortunately it is not for his outstanding play on the high school football field but from  the Catfishing episode that  he endured during the season.

Just to refresh your memory Gaines verbally committed to the University of Florida in mid season only to find out a short time later that Florida said they had no interest in him.  Some where along the way his communications with Florida was with a fake posing as a coach for UF. 

Now in the middle  of a Nash Central losing streak which is for a school just over  ten years old their worse ever comes national exposure on ESPN and other networks of a player being who- dooed.

There is no doubt that Gaines has the body to play college ball.  It is a shame that any player and there is no telling how many more  with his type potential never get the proper coaching needed to get noticed by colleges large or small to play in college. 

This past season I did attend the Rocky Mount -Nash Central game and I saw last year's game in Rocky Mount. so it is my only assessment of Gaines as I watched his play on defense the whole game.  I watch intently since the story was already national by this time and I wanted to see for myself.  What I saw was a player who was great at chasing when the play went away from him but when Rocky Mount went right at him they gained  yardage.

There is good news for Gaines as he is now expected to sign with Virginia Tech on college signing day in February.  Tech is more famous for their defensive football than any other aspect and he should get the training needed.  There is no telling what the potential is for Houshun Gaines .  He already has good college  linebacker size.

Once on campus and he gets in a weight program and then he gets the proper coaching and fundamentals of defensive football  who knows he could be a tight end. 

It is very hard to judge how good coaches are other than to look at their won-loss record.  Coaching is not only what happens on the football field  but  a good coach  should be guiding their players on what is best in the future.  He is a father to them while at school and many cases their coach is their only father.

I find fault  in Gaines' Catfishing experience only in his coach.  He didn't take care of his prize player's future nor did he do a  good job of coaching on the field.  We all learn through mistakes whether they are our own or someone else.

Houshun Gaines just may be the next great athlete that comes  from Nash County.  He is going to a football school regardless of their recent record is a prize place to be.  I hope and think with his experience this year he will be stronger for it.  The next time we hear his name on National TV it will be for his excellent play on the field.  He has the tools in his body all he has ever needed was the proper coaching.