No matter what happens at the Class AA state basketball finals, retiring Young coach George Stanton can still go out a winner.
And we’re not talking in the figurative sense, either.
Sometime after the final horn sounds on the Illinois High School Association season and on his 18-year career, the 5-foot-9-inch Stanton will play a game of one-on-one against his 5-10, second-team All-State point guard, Cordell Henry.
That the 54-year-old Stanton can momentarily step way out of character while still maintaining his dignity and the utmost respect of his players provides an insight into the rapport he has established with high school athletes.
Stanton has drawn close to his players without becoming their friend. He exudes old-school values and traditional beliefs so naturally that his kids don’t consider him old-fashioned.
Nothing stands in the way of his principles, not even All-State forward Quentin Richardson.
Young was handling Westinghouse last season when “Q” went his own way in Stanton’s half-court offense. Richardson was benched, and a Westinghouse rally sent the game into overtime.
That Young eventually won meant little to Stanton. The lesson he imparted to his best player was all that counted.
“Society is different–the kids aren’t,” Stanton said before leading No. 1-ranked Young (27-1) into a quarterfinal matchup Friday with No. 4 Elgin (30-1). “It’s what we, as adults, are willing to accept.
“A lot of adults want to be kids. They want to be their friend rather than be the adult. I’m not going to the dance with Cordell Henry or partying with Dennis Gates. If you try to be like them, I don’t think they respect that. In fact, they almost resent it.”
Such a perspective enabled Stanton to maintain control during conflicts with the strong-willed Richardson.
“We used to have arguments, especially in my sophomore year, because I didn’t want to listen,” Richardson said. “I was stubborn. We would disagree, and instead of being quiet, I’d keep talking.
“At the end of my sophomore year, he brought me into his office. I began to understand where he was coming from. He told me I could argue all I wanted in practice–behind closed doors. At gametime, it’s his turn to talk and my turn to listen.”
Born in Tennessee in 1943, the Young coach moved to Chicago’s South Side when was 4. He was a backup point guard at Harlan, then played at Chicago Teachers College–now Chicago State. In his senior season–here’s your scouting report, Cordell–Stanton averaged 14 points, six rebounds and 10 assists a game.
The two biggest influences on his coaching style came from his college coach and legendary ex-Marshall coach Spin Salario and Simeon’s Bob Hambric.
Culminating a seven-year run as Simeon’s frosh-soph coach, Stanton led the lower-level Wolverines to a three-year 87-3 record and three consecutive Public League titles during 1985-87. The following season he was hired at Young, and he led the Dolphins to a 26-5 record and the city quarterfinals in ’93.
“When you reach a certain stage, it’s time to move on and do something else,” said Stanton, who is a leading candidate to become the Public League’s basketball coordinator next season. “But I’ve really enjoyed my time at Young.”
Young’s players want Stanton to go out on top.
“Coach makes sure we go to classes, and that we do what’s best for us on and off the court,” Henry said. “He helped me with my transcripts for college.
“When college coaches made their home visits for recruiting, he was at every one–not just for me, but for everybody on the team. That’s why I say he cares about us more than any other high school coach.”
But that won’t stop the mercurial-quick Henry from taking this grandfather of four to the hole. “This is going to be so much fun, I can hardly wait,” Henry said.
“You know he’s going to pull out the rulebook on you, and every time you crossover (dribble), he’s going to call carrying,” Richardson said with a laugh. “He’ll use all that old-school stuff, like step on your foot or grab your shorts.”
But in the end, after Stanton vs. Henry is over, the last thing anyone will remember is the final score.
