|
|
|
Independence, MO —
It’s not unusual for Fort Osage High School quarterback Steven McBee to send a text to coach Ryan Schartz.
But this text was out of the ordinary.
“I got a text from Steven that said D’Vante Mosby was going to come out for the team,” said Schartz, whose 2012 Indian squad is expected to be one of the most successful in the state.
“I texted him back that he better not be kidding – and he wasn’t. He was with D’Vante and we got to talking about how excited everyone was. I can’t even tell you how big this could be for our team.”
Mosby started at tight end as a sophomore for the Indians, but had to sit out last season after cracking a bone in his wrist playing AAU basketball in the summer of 2011.
“I thought I was going to have to sit out my junior year of high school basketball, too,” said Mosby, a standout player who is getting several looks from colleges across the country, “but the wrist finally healed and I was able to play basketball.
“The last few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about football. A lot of the guys want me to play. I prayed about my decision and talked to my mom and decided that I would come back.”
Perhaps the only person more excited than Schartz was McBee, a quarterback who can beat you with his legs or his arm.
“Steven has that big 6-foot-6, 220-pound target to throw to,” Schartz said.
And McBee adds, “And he’s already made a huge difference on running plays. We had some one-on-one drills this week and he was able to take on the linebacker when I was getting to the edge. Plus, he’s a great person and a great friend.”
Mosby is coming off a sensational summer of basketball, starring for the U-17 Pumas, who enjoyed success in the Metro Sports/KC Preps Invitational at MidAmerica West Sports Complex in Shawnee (Kan.). Mosby scored 23 points and added 11 rebounds and three steals in a 63-62 victory over the Seattle Friends of Hoop.
“I’ve worked so hard on my basketball, that that’s probably the direction I will go in college,” Mosby said. “But I couldn’t pass up one last chance to play with Steven and the other guys on the football team.
“They’re important to me, too.”
It’s not unusual for Fort Osage High School quarterback Steven McBee to send a text to coach Ryan Schartz.
But this text was out of the ordinary.
“I got a text from Steven that said D’Vante Mosby was going to come out for the team,” said Schartz, whose 2012 Indian squad is expected to be one of the most successful in the state.
“I texted him back that he better not be kidding – and he wasn’t. He was with D’Vante and we got to talking about how excited everyone was. I can’t even tell you how big this could be for our team.”
Mosby started at tight end as a sophomore for the Indians, but had to sit out last season after cracking a bone in his wrist playing AAU basketball in the summer of 2011.
“I thought I was going to have to sit out my junior year of high school basketball, too,” said Mosby, a standout player who is getting several looks from colleges across the country, “but the wrist finally healed and I was able to play basketball.
“The last few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about football. A lot of the guys want me to play. I prayed about my decision and talked to my mom and decided that I would come back.”
Perhaps the only person more excited than Schartz was McBee, a quarterback who can beat you with his legs or his arm.
“Steven has that big 6-foot-6, 220-pound target to throw to,” Schartz said.
And McBee adds, “And he’s already made a huge difference on running plays. We had some one-on-one drills this week and he was able to take on the linebacker when I was getting to the edge. Plus, he’s a great person and a great friend.”
Mosby is coming off a sensational summer of basketball, starring for the U-17 Pumas, who enjoyed success in the Metro Sports/KC Preps Invitational at MidAmerica West Sports Complex in Shawnee (Kan.). Mosby scored 23 points and added 11 rebounds and three steals in a 63-62 victory over the Seattle Friends of Hoop.
“I’ve worked so hard on my basketball, that that’s probably the direction I will go in college,” Mosby said. “But I couldn’t pass up one last chance to play with Steven and the other guys on the football team.
“They’re important to me, too.”
Mosby joined the team just in time to get in his mandatory 14 practices, before the Indians open play Aug. 24 at Park Hill South.
The following week they open the home season with a contest against defending Class 6 state champion Blue Springs South.
“My life just got a lot more exciting,” Mosby said. “I really didn’t know if I was going to play football and I put it all in God’s hands.”
And now, McBee and Co., want to put the ball in Mosby’s hands.
“D’Vante is one of the greatest kids I’ve ever been around,” Schartz said, “but once he steps on the field, he just becomes a beast – and I can’t wait to see what he does this season.”
