Beginning next school year, for the first time in school history, students at Bennett Elementary will compete against other area elementary schools in a school-sponsored basketball program. The new program is open to all students in grades 3 through 5. School administrators have tapped Coach DaeKwon Cubit as the program's first head coach.
Coach Cubit currently serves as a varsity boys assistant coach and heads up the Savage freshman boys' team. He will continue in those roles, while also adding the elementary coaching duties to his schedule. In addition to his coaching role at the school, Cubit also organizes and coaches a dedicated youth travel basketball program named Team Cubit Elite, which competes regionally during the spring and summer months.
Cubit is excited about this opportunity to coach the younger players and stresses that his program will focus on fundamentals and participation. "Everyone on the team will get to play", he says. "It starts young and helps us build for the higher levels. I want our kids to understand early what it takes to be great basketball players. Things like controlling their emotions and building mental toughness are just as important as body control and physical toughness", said the coach.
School officials are also determined to create an elementary basketball schedule that allows parents to watch their children compete. "There are a lot of schools nearby with existing elementary basketball programs", said Assistant Superintendent Luke Hanks. "This allows us to create a full after-school schedule which offers parents an opportunity to attend the events and still get their young students home at an early hour."
Elementary basketball will function as an extension of the school's existing physical education program. Students wishing to participate in the competitive program will have the opportunity to sign up at the beginning of the new school year. More information about the new program will be shared on our school social media streams as it becomes available.