by Alex Schwartz

Gripper is a name synonymous with Philadelphia AAU basketball. Paul Gripper has coached elite players from the City of Brotherly Love and the surrounding area for years, many of whom have developed into big-time prospects, such as Michael Gilchrist '11. Sometimes, when your father is big name an you are always surrounding by other big name, you fly under the radar a bit. Meet Joey Gripper, a class of 2011 point guard at Abington Friends (PA). “I have been playing AAU ball for nine years and I feel I’m overshadowed because of my dad. I want a chance to show everybody that I am [as] good as any PG in this class.”

The 6'1 Joey Gripper has done enough in his own right to garner interest from the likes of Harvard, UPenn, La Salle, Drexel, St. Joseph’s, The Citadel, Bowling Green,Albany, St. Bonaventure, Oregon State, Drake, Maryland, and Kent State, amongst others. In fact, Joey already claims offers from two of those programs. “Drexel [and] Harvard actually offered. I talked to Drexel [recently]. They want me to work out with their college guys. Harvard is [the] most aggressive. La Salle is kind of strong too.” Gripper was invited to the Harvard Elite Camp this past weekend but instead chose to attend the St. Joseph's Elite Team Camp with his high school squad. Gripper, who said plans to make his college decision the "summer after [my] junior year," stated the following when asked what he is trying to find in his future institution: “I’m looking for a school that will let me play my game. I want a nice atmosphere and a place that can grow on me and I can grow to love.”

Thus far, Gripper has done a commendable job in the classroom at Abington Friends, which he says is a "very tough" school. The floor general must have a true connection with AFS, as he lists two faculty members as people who will eventually help him make his college choice. "My father, Paul Gripper, and guidance counselors Mark Thompson and Peter Gaines [from Abington Friends],” replied Joey when I asked him who he would consult. Joey has already had some nice accomplishments while at AFS, some of which his lists amongst his biggest achievements on the hardwood. “My AAU team won five straight AAU Regional Championships. I have started both years at [Abington Friends, and] . . . I finally finished rated number one at Phenom 150 last year, and this year I averaged double figures for [the]entire season and made All-Friends League as a sophomore. [Also] winning the City CYO title as an eighth grader with [my stepbrother] Juan’ya [Green], Lamont[McClaurin, and] Malik [Garner]. Those would be my biggest [accomplishments] tome.” Gripper is not done yet, he still has more that he wants to take care of during his final two years of high school. "Well I, for one, want to make Reebok U next year. [This year] I’m going to Reebok Proving Grounds. I want to win to Friends League titles, I want to win Independent States, and score 1,000 points. I have 332 so far.”

A true point guard who would rather dish out a nice assist than take a J, Gripper compares his game to the Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo and former NBA player Jerome "Pooh" Richardson. “I [have] never seen Pooh in real life, but he was my dad’s favorite player in the 80’s [and] he made me watch old tapes and sort of pattern my game like that early [on]. Pooh predominantly dribbled [with his] left [hand], even though he was right-handed [and was a] flashy passer and ball handler, but I think I mainly play like Rondo. [This is] mainly because [I have] long arms, like to pass, like to steal the ball. I love to strip people [when I’m on D]. People,mainly my high school coach and my pop, say I reach too much, but I averaged three steals a game in high school.”

Joey, a well-spoken and polite young man off the court, knows when he needs to do to become better on the court. “I’ve been told [it is] off the ball defense. I lose my man a lot once he isn’t dribbling. My jumper was a weakness, but I’ve been working crazily on it and I shot40% from [beyond] the arc in high school, but I’m still trying to get better,but I must get better with off the ball D. My dad said I have to improve ball rotation and follow-through to be a great shooter, so I’m trying to improve greatly in that area.” At the same time, though, he does recognize his strong points. “The strongest part of my game is my speed, handle, and change of direction move attacking the hoop, plus [my] court vision. I can finish in open court,too, over bigs.”

“I want people to judge my game based on me, and not because they like, or mostly don’t like my dad. I can, and will earn my way,” says the younger Gripper. Well, if he keeps putting in the effort that he is right now, Gripper might be a name associated with Philly hoops for more than one reason, as there may be two Grippers being talked about