Ricketts' extra effort pays off for Frankford

ONCE HIS playing days are over, perhaps Joseph Ricketts can pocket extra money by directing jump-shooting clinics. Or by making motivational speeches on the benefits of maintaining a wonderful work ethic.

Hey, why wait? He should get started this summer.

You know how some (many? most?) kids come scrambling into school at the last possible moment? Not Joseph Ricketts.

Though classes at Frankford High don't start until 7:30 a.m., Ricketts almost always awakens at 5:45 and strolls into school at 6:30. OK, you won't find him polishing calculus skills or dissecting a frog for extra credit, but extra work, no matter the variety, always deserves applause.

Ricketts heads for the gym. Almost every day, he's joined by teammates Aleem Griffith, Sterling Walker, Shaquil Rone and Andre Coach.

"We help each other with our shooting," Ricketts said. "I'm guessing I take about 200 shots. It's a mixture. Not all of them are threes. The big guys rebound for the guards, and we make passes to them, so they can work on their down-low skills.

"This goes back. Not just to the beginning of the season. Since we started school. I'm here early pretty much every day. All five of us are. I've been trying to get the whole team to come. We'd be much better, I bet."

Ricketts, a 6-foot, 165-pound junior wing guard, spoke those words late Tuesday afternoon, shortly after the Pioneers scrambled past visiting Boys' Latin Charter, 58-48, in Public A.

Only one Frankford player scored in double figures. We're thinking you can guess his identity.

Mostly from the near wing or corner, in his role as the seventh man, Ricketts dead-eyed his way to a 5-for-8 performance from beyond the arc while totaling 21 points. Even better, he was perfect (5-for-5) after halftime as the Pioneers stormed to a 40-21 advantage.

He had fun, too.

Two of the bombs were fired from spots close to Frankford's bench. After the ball splashed through the net, Ricketts turned toward the subs, raised his arms from the side of his body and roared in celebration.

While the ball was soaring basketward, those guys had cooed "oooooooooooh" until the very moment the twine was tickled.

"When things are going great like that, you like to celebrate with your teammates," Ricketts said. "I was having fun, and so were they.

"To have a big game like that, you're in the moment. It gives you a rush. You can feel the adrenaline flowing."

In the first half, Ricketts said, he had multiple open looks, but passed up many, because the game plan was to work the ball inside. The approach changed for the final 16 minutes, and Ricketts was pretty much under orders to bomb away.

"A lot were off inbounds plays," he said. "Our big guy, Donald Robinson, was setting me backscreens. Just had to catch the nice passes from our guards and hit the shots. Once you start hitting, you know you're gonna keep doing it."

Ricketts added three rebounds and two steals. Tyree Tucker dished seven assists, mostly to Ricketts, while Denzel Turbeville and Robinson halved 12 rebounds.

Jamar Brisbon (10) was BL's only double-figure scorer. He also claimed eight boards.

Ricketts lives on Pratt Street, near Oakland, so the walk to Frankford is not exactly taxing. In fact, he made it long before he became a freshman.

"Joe's been working out with us since he was a seventh-grader," assistant Keith Hines said. "He loves being part of Frankford basketball."

Witness the early arrivals.