Program Overview

The Style Program was founded by Dan Finkley in 1993 as the Seattle Style Basketball Academy.  Since inception, the program has annually been among the most successful select basketball programs statewide.  Upon the 1997 unification with the Rotary Boys and Girls Club, the program naturally too on the name "Rotary Style".  As a result of this partnership, the program obtained the capabilities and resources to provide children a balance of academics and high-level athletics, utilizing the resources of the Rotary Education Assistance Program (R.E.A.P.), SAT Tutorial Courses and computer training at the Computer Learning Center, all within the Rotary Boys and Girls Club.

The Style program is about more than just learning and improvement of basketball skills.  Academics are stressed as a pre-requisite for participation.  Program participants are required to maintain a "C" grade point average at all times.  Players' grades will be monitored by coaches, team parents and program administrators.  Tutoring may be suggested for players whom are deemed academically at-risk.  Tutoring is provided by the aforementioned R.E.A.P. program.

Team Selection

The Style program will field teams in the 5th thru 8th grade levels.  Teams are selected by the coaches through a try-out process.  The number of teams and the number of players on each team will be dictated by the talent of the athletes at the try-outs.  Style will only field two teams in any particular grade level if there are enough quality players to establish a competitive team for the select level and if there is a committed coach willing to work with this group.  It is possible that full squads may not be selected from the September try-outs and that players will be added to rosters throughout the course of the season to fill specific talent needs.

Coach Duties

The Style coaches will commit a huge time sacrifice in coaching your child for approximately eight months or longer.  Therefore, all the program asks of them is that they coach your kids on the floor!  Coaches are not expected to lead fund-raising duties.  They are not responsible for providing transportation for players to and from games or practice (though this happens regularly, at each coach's discretion).

Complaints, questions and concerns should be directed to your Team Manager, not the coach.  All parent concerns must be communicated to the Team Manager, whose responsibility will include addressing all such issues with the Style administration.  Coaches will communicate directly with the players and the Style administration.

We ask that everyone stick to this policy; coaches deal with players, parents deal with Team Managers and Team Managers deal with the administration and/or coaches.

Team Manager Duties

The Team Manager or Co-Team Managers are selected within the parent group.  These persons shall act as a liaison between the coach and the parents.  Team Managers are also responsible for calling and conducting parent meets and assisting and/or leading fund-raising efforts.

Parent Duties

The Team Manager is not the only parent with an important role.  We ask that all parents volunteer to assist with team needs, including: fund-raising, phone calling and communication, snack schedule and car-pooling etc.  These commitments by parents are not limited to those persons whose kids need the benefit of fund-raised funds.  All parents are expected to commit some time and energy to helping the team accomplish its fund-raising goals.  Please remember; the more everyone works together and communicates, the smoother your team will run and the more your child will benefit from the program.

Playing Time

Style is a select basketball program and it has no mandatory rules about playing time.  Therefore, it is at the discretion of the coach as to how much time your child gets on the floor.  While it is not the program philosophy to "win at all cost", we do expect our teams to be very competitive and winning games is important.  If your child has questions regarding his or her playing time, they can address them directly with the coach, who should be able to give them a straight-forward and honest answer.

Out-of-State Travel & Additional Tournaments

Teams are encouraged to participate in as many additional tournaments and leagues as seen fit by coaches and Parents.  However, a per player fee may be proposed to finance these additional events.  Additional events should be organized by a respective team parent and/or coach, and communicated to the Style administration for liability purposes.

The above trips will be financed by way of either team fundraising efforts or per player fee.  These trips usually cost anywhere from $45 to $65 per player (dependent upon where and how long we stay).  Detailed information will come within program newsletters.

Qualifying to represent the State of Washington and the Pacific NW Region at the annual AAU National Championships is the common goal for all Style teams.  The Nationals are usually held in the Southeastern region of the United States, during the months of June, July & August.  This is usually the highlight of youth summer basketball for age levels 10-17 years.

Q & A with Daryll Hennings (Senior Athletic Director for the Rotary Boys and Girls Club)

The Rotary Style Basketball program is known for having the best teams, best athletes and best coaching in the Northwest.  However, most people never realize how successful Style team members become not only in athletics, but in business and life.

Q.  What is your favorite part about coaching?
A.  Having an impact on young people.  Seeing a group of kids come to me as individuals and grow into a family.  Watching and admiring how friendships are developed amongst youth.  And most of all, observing the joy on kid's and parent's faces when they experience success.

Q.  What is your best Style memory?
A. I can't say I have one memory that is "the best."  However, one that comes to mind is when Dan Finkely and I sat down in 1992 and decided to attempt to build a basketball program for inner city kids.  The theory was that by giving them something positive to feel a part of, they would be less likely to have the time to do something negative.  I'm amazed to see what this has evolved into and how many young people have been touched as a result.  It's a rewarding feeling.

Q.  What is the one takeaway you want your players to have when they leave the team?
A. To feel as though we have made a positive impact on their life and provide them with experiences that will never be forgotten, to have developed friendships that will last a lifetime and to know that they will always be a part of the Rotary Style family.

Q.  What does Style do to promote education?
A. We hold our kids to a high standard with regards to academics.  In an attempt to get our youth level kids (4th thru 8th grade) prepared for high school basketball, wherein they will be required to uphold a 2.0 GPA to participate, we mandate that all kids participating on our teams maintain a 2.5 GPA.  Those that don't are required to attend weekly tutoring sessions at Rotary B&GC REAP center (some opt for other options of tutoring).

Q.  How can more kids get involved in Style?
A. Unfortunately, the Style team is at its capacity at this time.  However, kids can get involved with Style through our in-house Rotary Basketball leagues and by way of our yearly tryout process.  Rotary in-house leagues run on a quarterly basis.

Q.  Who is the best player you have coached?
A.  I can't answer that (if the wrong person were to see this, I could be in a lot of trouble).  We've been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with a lot of talented individuals.  Some examples: Jimmy Haywood, Roydell Smiley Jr., Edward Roy, Brandon Roy, Maurice Murphy, Roderick Stewart, Loderick Stewart, Marvin Williams, Chester Giles, Terrance Williams, Marcus Williams, Aaron Brooks, Marcelus Kemp, Rodney Stuckey, Garrison Carr, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson as well as many other. 

Q.  Several of your players have continued on to star in college and in the pros; are they still involved with the team by volunteering or giving back?
A.  Marvin Williams has had a very demanding schedule over his first two years in the NBA, so he has not had a lot of time to come back and volunteer.  However, he has helped the basketball program and the club financially.  He will be back in town this summer and will do a few camps for the kids and will attend a few youth practices and games just to hang out with the little guys.  He is a very giving person and knows the impact this program has had on his life.

Aaron Brooks is a different story.  Aaron grew up in the club.  Whenever he is back in Seattle, Aaron comes in to Rotary, gets a snack (just like the every day kids), hangs out in the Teen Center and shoots hoops with the little kids.  If you didn't know who he was, you'd think he was just one of the after-school kids.  Aaron has matured into a great and proud young man, as we all knew he would.

Just two weeks ago , our high school team was participating in a tournament in Las Vegas.  Aaron and Marcus Williams (another of our prestigious alum) were in Las Vegas working out to get ready for this year's NBA draft.  They attended every game our team played, and sat on the bench with the players.

Q.  Any new prospects coming up through the ranks?
A.  We have a lot of new talent coming through: Peyton Siva, Aaron Dotson, Joshua Smith, Anthony Wroten Jr., Pierre Wright, Anrio Adams, DJ Fenner, Jaamon Echols, Glen Brooks Jr., LC White, Malik Ball, Arell Hennings, Demario Hall, Alonzo Trier, Philip Winston, Elijah Foster, Anthony Childs, Jordan Kitchen, Jamar Kemp as well as many others. 

Q.  Would you like to say anything else about the style team?
A.  The following list of individuals make the foundation around Style and to them I'm very grateful: Dan Finkely, Adam Sedlik, Jo Jo Rodriguez, Tryone Elliot, Andro Benard, Demario Hall Sr., Stephan Aaron, Lance Westendorf, Kevin Greer, Ryland Brown, Michael Thompson, Kent Hara, Cleveland King, Francis Williams, Jason Kerr, Mike Bethea, Guy Williams, David Sarju, Gregory Lewis, JD Hill, Glen Smith and last but definitely not least Angel Hennings.  This program requires a lot of hard work, but together we make a positive impact on an abundance of kids here in the King County area.  And for that reason, all of the hard work is definitely worthwhile.