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Here are your North Carolina State Champions! Back row: Cederic Wilkerson, manager; Travis Haynes, JV Coach; Howard Hamilton, Asst. Coach; DeVonte Boykins; York Clinton; Seth Shieler; DeVince Boykins; Marcus Carson; Tyler Ledford; Robert Boykins, Asst. Co
As the stands in the Dean Smith Center filled with a sea of red, the battle began at 2:30 p.m. Coach Brad Levine’s Cavaliers came on court posting a 27-1 record for the season. Their only loss being on January 7th in Morganton to the Freedom Patriots. That was a close game ending with a score of 49-47. Now, it would be another game ending with a two point win! This time the courtly gentlemen of East Rutherford would be on the winning side. Coach Levine said: “I told the kids it was our time. We were supposed to be here!”
What does a coach do when’s he’s the first to produce a championship team? If he’s Coach Levine, he’s so overwhelmed by the fans support and his teams play, he cries! Yet one might say that this coach was destined to be the first to bring home a state basketball championship to East Rutherford High School. Just think of where he came from and who coached him in high school. He’s been coaching for 25 years and has been the Head Coach at East for the last 14 years. He was raised in Black Mountain, N. C. He has an older brother, Mark and a sister, Lisa. His dad is a full blooded Indian who loved sports. His son, Brad, credits his dad for his love of sports.
To appreciate Coach Brad’s destiny, let’s go back to 1973 at Charles D. Owen High School, Black Mountain, in the Swannanoa Valley. The Athletic Director was Brad’s dad, Jim Levine. Together with Principal Charlie Lytle, they interviewed and hired a newly graduated young man from UNC Chapel Hill. He became the basketball and golf coach for Owen High School. His name? Roy Allen Williams, the man who was born in a log cabin, in Marion, North Carolina, August 1, 1950. UNC’s Roy Williams, one of the most respected basketball coaches of all time and an inductee in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Roy Williams is the acclaimed winner who coached East High School’s Brad Levine. Perhaps, his influence and dedication is reflected by Coach Levine becoming the first in East Rutherford High School’s history to win the state basketball championship.
It doesn’t end there. Coach Levine is committed to having his team continue to serve the community. “This was not just a high school win, it was a community win and these great players need to do some good in an outreach program for the community.” With his leadership, I’m sure they will.
In case you’re wondering, yes, Coach Roy Williams called and congratulated his former player- Brad Levine!
