Latest news with #LowerMerion
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"'F—k the education! Go get your f—ng money'" - Vernon Maxwell claims he was one of the first to advise Kobe Bryant to skip college
"'F—k the education! Go get your f—ng money'" - Vernon Maxwell claims he was one of the first to advise Kobe Bryant to skip college originally appeared on Basketball Network. No matter how brash or rough around the edges he may seem, former NBA champion Vernon Maxwell has always been praised for his authenticity and unfiltered honesty. From his six standout years with the Houston Rockets, where he secured a championship, to his current role as a media personality, Mad Max has always been unafraid to speak his mind and tell it like it is. Advertisement It was this type of unfiltered honesty that led Maxwell to offer some advice to a young Kobe Bryant back when they played against one another in pick-up games organized by Philadelphia 76ers head coach John Lucas II. According to the former NBA veteran, his message to the hoop prodigy was straightforward: don't waste time going to college; head straight to the NBA. High school sensation Maxwell played the 1995-96 season for Lucas and the Sixers. At that time, Bryant was also tearing up the high school basketball scene, starring for Lower Merion High School. In fact, Lucas got so impressed with the young man's play that he began inviting him over to Sixers' practices, where he even tested the mettle of draft prospects, which included Jerry Stackhouse. It was during these practices that Maxwell got to meet and experience what it was like to play Bryant. Advertisement "I was in Philly with John Lucas. John Lucas used to let him come over and practice with us. I seen him in high school," Vernon shared on Byron Scott's podcast. After witnessing what Bryant could do at his age, Maxwell approached him and provided some unsolicited advice: jump straight to the NBA. "S—t, I was one of the ones that told him, 'Man, hey, I don't know. You need to bring your a—s on to the NBA. Don't go to college, motherfuc—r,'" he recalled. Related: Allen Iverson admits iconic crossover on Michael Jordan has become overrated: "I think that one was legendary just because it was him" Kobe was that good Upon hearing Maxwell's advice, Scott burst into laughter and exclaimed, "Hey Max, you supposed to be leading the kid to get a higher education!" Advertisement However, Maxwell was adamant that Bryant already had the skills necessary to become an impact player in the NBA. "I was like, 'F—k the education,'" he said. "You motherfuc—r, go get your f—ng money. Come get your money, son, the way you did me in that f—ng gym.' And I was really trying to check this motherfuc—r, I was like, 'Good god, this motherfuc—r, he got it all." Maxwell, who stood 6'4" and had a rock-solid physique that he routinely used to annoy and deter some of the NBA's best players, was a tough challenge for Bryant to overcome. However, the latter proved to be up for the task, using his speed and agility to get past Maxwell's physicality. As the exchange unfolded, Mad Max watched in awe, struck by how much Kobe's moves and intensity reminded him of the legendary Michael Jordan. Advertisement "The motherfuc—r had a little Jordan in his a—s. I was like, 'Good God, this motherfuc—r do got a little Jordan in him.' But I was one of the ones who told him, man," Maxwell continued. "Was a special player, man. Great father. Just a great man, man. Great human being." Vernon eventually got to play Kobe in the NBA. And even though the wingman was still coming off the bench for a talented Los Angeles Lakers squad, he knew it was only a matter of time before Bryant would make his mark on the league. Related: Vernon Maxwell passionately explained why his Rockets would've beat the Bulls in 1994, even if MJ didn't retire: "When he took off 45 and put back on 23, Shaq went and beat him" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vernon Maxwell destroyed Kobe Bryant one-on-one after a night out clubbing: "You can't stop me, young boy"
Vernon Maxwell destroyed Kobe Bryant one-on-one after a night out clubbing: "You can't stop me, young boy" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Kobe Bryant's pre-draft workout with the Philadelphia 76ers in the mid-1990s is part of basketball lore — a key moment when, or so the story goes, the young Black Mamba showed he was ready for the NBA. Advertisement But the full story is more complicated than the myth suggests. Not every detail fits the picture of a perfect rise, as basketball author Roland Lazenby reveals in "Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant." Bryant vs. Maxwell To reach the top, you have to beat the best. For a high school player facing pro veterans, that's a tall order — but a young Bryant was determined to prove it. In the summer of 1995, he finally got his chance. Sam Rines, Bryant's former AAU coach, was there to watch. He reportedly showed up several times, including the day his former player went head-to-head with 76ers player Vernon Maxwell. Advertisement At first glance, that matchup might seem one-sided. But some context is key. First, Kobe wasn't just any high schooler. In his senior year at Lower Merion, he had led the Aces to their first state title in more than five decades, averaging a remarkable double-double with 30.8 points and 12.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals and nearly four blocks per game. The team finished 31-3, and many believed the then-teenager was ready to jump straight to the NBA — just like Kevin Garnett had the year before. Secondly, Maxwell, usually a deadly scorer and sharpshooter, hadn't had the best preparation leading up to this workout. Rines explained why. "I knew Vernon was out the night before," he recalled. "I saw him at a nightclub well past two or three in the morning." Advertisement Related: "I think there needs to be clarification about a lot of things that happened" - Scottie Pippen on the need to continue calling out Michael Jordan From setback to comeback The stage was set: the relentless Black Mamba versus Mad Max, who was probably still recovering from a late night out. Despite that — call it a slight handicap — the latter dominated the matchup. "He just got up the next morning and absolutely killed Kobe," recalled Rines, adding Maxwell was trash-talking nonstop while torching the high school sensation. "He (Maxwell) was saying everything, like, 'You can't stop me, young boy.' Anything you can imagine," said the now Executive Director of RockTop Basketball. Advertisement Kobe wasn't the first nor the last to feel the brunt of Vernon's skills. In the 1990s, the fiery 6'4" guard won two rings with the Houston Rockets, known for clutch shots, streaky scoring and leading the league twice in 2-pointers made. Still, the soon-to-be NBA star was rattled. "He (Kobe) didn't take it well, but you had to respect him because he was playing harder than I'd ever seen him play. That's when you knew Kobe was going to be a pro," recalled his former coach. There was a silver lining, though. Bryant's redemption came the very next day — not against the main culprit, Maxwell, but another NBA pro, then-Los Angeles Lakers swingman Eddie Jones. Advertisement According to Rines, Bryant dominated the 1989 Sixth Man of the Year in a five-on-five game, proving his toughness and readiness for the next level. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose — the key is to stand up and bounce back, just like the young Black Mamba did then. Related: "'F—k the education! Go get your f—ng money'" - Vernon Maxwell claims he was one of the first to advise Kobe Bryant to skip college This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Student says Pennsylvania high school forced them to remove keffiyeh at graduation ceremony
A student at Lower Merion High School in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, says they were not allowed to fully participate in their graduation ceremony because they were wearing a headscarf that has become a symbol for Palestinians. The student, Evan, said they showed up for the ceremony last Thursday in a keffiyeh-patterned headscarf. According to Evan's post on Instagram, school officials said the colors were a "political statement." The post says the student was pulled aside and told to take it off because it would cause a disruption. Evan said they were eventually allowed to return for a portion of the graduation after removing the headscarf. In a statement to CBS News Philadelphia, the Lower Merion School District said it sent guidelines to seniors and their families weeks before graduation. The guidelines included not wearing attire with political messages that would distract from the purpose of the ceremony, the Lower Merion School District said. The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the schools' actions and said in a statement in part that the incident is a "clear violation of students' rights to free expression, and a troubling example of racial and political profiling." The Lower Merion School District said students were given a choice between removing items that violated their guidance and participating in the ceremony, or not removing them and not participating.
Axios
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
News Market: Roots Picnic switcheroo
🎤 Roots Picnic headliner D'Angelo has dropped out of this weekend's festival due to an "unforeseen medical delay" stemming from a surgery, per a social media post from organizers. 🏗️ New development projects in University City are expected to be valued at more than $1 billion by the end of this year, per the University City District's latest report. 🏫 The top school districts in Pennsylvania include Lower Merion (No. 3) and Radnor (No. 4), per an analysis by the Pittsburgh Business Times 🔒.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Woman dead, another injured after tree falls on 2 cars in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania
A 59-year-old woman died, and a 64-year-old woman was injured after a tree landed on their cars in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, police said. Police said the tree fell on both of their cars at about 1:45 p.m. on Lancaster Avenue near Stanford Drive as both women were heading west. The 59-year-old woman was driving a Toyota Corolla, while the 64-year-old woman was driving a Nissan Altima. The 59-year-old was taken to Lankenau Hospital and died due to her injuries at 2:20 p.m., according to police. The 64-year-old was also taken to Lankenau. She was placed in stable condition, police said. Lancaster Avenue was closed between Remington and Clover Hill roads for about five hours because of the investigation, but it has since reopened. The incident is under investigation by the Lower Merion Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Unit.
