Championship pedigree: Ridge View playing for a state title

Yerrick Stoneman is no stranger to championships.

Stoneman was part of five national championships in his 11 years as an assistant for Steve Smith at national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy. On Saturday, he can win a state title one as a head coach when he leads Ridge View in the Class 4A championship against Wilson at Colonial Life Arena.

“This is a little more special, this run with this group. I feel like I have a major hand in their development,” Stoneman said. “Lot of our guys didn’t make their middle school teams. The work they put in and love they developed is what made them the players they are.”

Stoneman’s Oak Hill pedigree caught the attention of guard Walyn Napper, who transferred from Westwood to Ridge View shortly after his hire. Napper has emerged as the team’s point guard and second leading scorer.

“Knowing he was coming from Oak Hill, you knew he was a good coach because Oak Hill always has a good team,” Napper said. “So we were excited when he came in.”

Stoneman has fond memories of his time at Oak Hill where he helped coach the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Brandon Jennings and Rajon Rondo. He credits Smith, Oak Hill’s Hall of Fame coach, for playing a huge role in his development.

Stoneman said Smith gave him a lot of freedom as an assistant from practice plans to player development, something he passes on to his staff at Ridge View.

“He was definitely a mentor for me,” Stoneman said. “The knowledge of the game and how coach Smith prepared, I took a lot from him. He has such a knowledge for the game and the details that a lot people don’t see as coaches.”

Smith is proud of his former assistant and posted a message to Stoneman on Twitter this week.

“Enjoy the week and go get that State Title Saturday night!” Smith tweeted.

Stoneman runs a structured program but has shed his tough military exterior (he served with the Army in Iraq) at times this season. He broke out a few dance moves in the locker room when the Blazers clinched a share of the Region 3-4A title last month.

Ridge View got off to a rough start, losing all three games against tough competition in its Bojangles’ Bash event. But the Blazers have rattled off nine straight wins since losing to Westwood on Jan. 19.

They have been getting contributions from everyone including Napper, guard Crosby Harris-James, Javon Anderson, Patrick Jenkins, Joseph McKenny and Division I prospect Malcolm Wilson.

“Our guys are committed, love the game of basketball and love each other.” Stoneman said. “We have created a family atmosphere at Ridge View and it’s been special.”

This story was originally published March 1, 2018 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Championship pedigree: Ridge View playing for a state title."