What Do Denzel Washington And Charlotte’s Web Have To Do With It?

What do Denzel Washington and E.B. White have in common?

Washington, the actor, and White, the author of Charlotte’s Webb and Stuart Little, are graduates of Mount Vernon High School in New York.

The school is more famous for something else, though. Can you guess?

Why, it’s high school basketball. This isn’t the SB High School March Madness page for nothing.

Mount Vernon’s boys team is seeking a ninth state title in New York on Sunday, when it plays Jamestown in a game that SB Nation will report.

Six former NBA players have played at Mount Vernon. Among them are Scooter McCray and Rodney McCray, the brothers who played with Dr. Dunkenstein, Darrell Griffith, on Louisville’s 1980 national championship team. Gus Williams was probably the best ex-Mount Vernon player.

That was a long time ago when those guys played, but Mount Vernon has not slowed in their absence. The current coach, Bob Cimmino, arrived in 1994, and he’s won four state titles (2000, 2004, 2006, 2007) and over 350 games. His future NBA player was Ben Gordon, now with the Pistons.

If you remember Dr. Dunkenstein, you might also remember “The White Shadow,” a TV show from the 1970s

starring Ken Howard as a white head coach at a predominantly African-American high school. Some have likened Cimmono to Howard’s character, Ken Reeves.

Cimmino will coach the East in the McDonald’s All-American game this year. His top player, Jabarie Hinds, is headed to West Virginia.

No real commentary here, except to say that if you want to know about New York high school basketball, get to know Mount Vernon. A movie could be made. Maybe Denzel will direct it.