Middle School All-American Game Announces Coaches for Inaugural Game

Steve Turner, Gonzaga High School

Steve Turner whose tenure at Gonzaga High School has been defined by excellence, is arguably one of the best basketball minds at the High School level on the DMV.  Coach Turner has been selected and will also serve as a Coach in the Middle School All-American game.

Coach Turner who also boast mutliple coach of the year awards as well as multiple WCAC Conference and tournament championships – most recently this past year leading his Purple Eagle squad to a victory over Dematha at a sold out Bender Arena at American University in Washington, DC.

Turner has built a reputation on producing Division I basketball players, quality young men, and great citizens.  He has developed such players at Nate Britt (North Carolina), Kris Jenkins (Villanova), Bryant Crawford (Wake Forest), Tyler Thornton (Duke), and most recently current guard Chris Lykes who recently received an offer to the ACC’s Miami Hurricanes are amongst many other players who have been coached by the legendary Steve Turner and are also playing at the college level.

Turner also supports both the high level NIKE, USA Basketball, and the NBA Camps.

Bruce Kelley, Bullis School

Bruce Kelley, a long-time boy’s basketball coach at Potomac’s Bullis School, who was recently selected to coach in the 2015 McDonald’s All-American Game will also serve as Coach in the Middle School All-American Game.

Coach Kelley took over the Bullldog program in 2004, since then Bullis has won 6 Interstate Athletic Conference title and produced several college player as well as several all league players.  Kelley led the school to three straight conference championships prior to this season. 

In addition to his selection to the McDonalds and Middle School All-American Game staffs Kelly was also selected and coached in the nation’s oldest high school all-star game, the Capital Classic High School All-Star Game which is played annually in the DMV.  Coach Kelley throughout the years has been selected by multiple media outlets and publications to receive Coach of the Year Honors.

                                                                                                                                

David Gately, McDonough High School

The new headman at McDonough High School in Baltimore County has laid the foundation for future success in a very short time.  David Gately who has a passion of the game and player development is one of the best sideline tacticians in the DMV.  Gately as well has been selected to Coach in the Middle School All-American Game on August 21, 2015.

Gately's hard working style is why he's regarded as one of Baltimore's best basketball players over the last 30 years. A former standout at Mount St. Joseph, Gately was a four-year starter at Loyola College (now Loyola University), finishing his career as the program's second all-time leading scorer (1,706 points).

Gately, currently third all-time at Loyola, is a member of the athletic Hall of Fame at Loyola (inducted in 1994) and Mount St. Joseph (2001). He played professionally for one year (1988) in Ireland.

"I was never the most talented player but the one thing I did was practice and play hard," said Gately, who was an all-BCL Tournament selection in 1983 and helped the Gaels to the BCL XI title match the year before. "I believe in practice done right."

At Loyola, Gately starred for Mark Amatucci, who was a Baltimore Catholic League Hall of Fame coach at Calvert Hall. Gately said Amatucci has been his coaching mentor.

Patrick Behan, St. Mary's Ryken

Patrick Behan is the youngest coach in the nations best basketball conference, the WCAC, controlling the reigns for the St. Mary’s Ryken High School.  One the hardest working recruiter he is determined to build a powerhouse in the Southern Maryland area.   Coach Behan whose actual first year at Rykan was this past season spent the two prior seasons at St. John’s College High School in Washington D.C. as an assistant coach. In his time with the Cadets, Behan was instrumental in all facets of the game, including recruiting, game preparation and scouting, as well as player development.

Coach Behan helped guide St. John’s to winning the WCAC regular season with a conference record of 16-2 during his last year there. At one point during the season, St. John’s won 24 straight regular season games. They spent much of the year rated in the USA Today Top 20, and several weeks at #1 in the Washington Post.

Behan has coached several players who have received full scholarships to the D1 and D2 levels.

While Behan is new to St. Mary’s Ryken, this is not his first stay in Southern Maryland. In 2011-12, Behan was an assistant coach at St. Mary’s College. Behan was the lead recruiter of the program in his one season. That year, St. Mary’s College won the Capital Athletic Conference regular season, and received an at-large bid to the Division III NCAA tournament before falling to Virginia Wesleyan in the round of 32.

Behan grew up in Leesburg, VA, playing his high school ball at Notre Dame Academy in Middleburg, VA. He helped guide his team to winning a Virginia State title while competing against a national schedule. He played his collegiate career at Bucknell University. Behan played for Pat Flannery for two seasons, and Dave Paulsen for the other two. While a member of the Bison, Behan was an All-Patriot League performer in 2009. He was also awarded the Benton A. Kribbs award for most outstanding player and received the coaches’ award for leadership and dedication to the program.

After college, Behan played professionally in Gotha, Germany before starting his coaching career.