Senate Concurrent Resolution 631

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING VETERAN LANIER BASKETBALL COACH THOMAS BILLUPS.

WHEREAS, Coach Thomas Billups' success at Lanier High School may be unmatched in the history of Mississippi high school boys basketball; and

WHEREAS, Lanier High School Coach Billups' Bulldogs (34-3) won their final 19 games and finished No. 1 in The Clarion-Ledger Super 10 Rankings for the second consecutive year; and

WHEREAS, in 15 seasons, Billups has coached in 12 state finals, including eight in a row. He guided the Bulldogs to a second straight Class 4A State Championship, tying him with Gulfport's legendary Bert Jenkins for the most Mississippi High School Activities Association Boys State Titles with seven. Lanier won again despite the graduation of McDonald All-American Monta Ellis, who joined the NBA; and

WHEREAS, Coach Billups, 53, has built a hoops machine on Maple Street in Jackson. Not even Coach Jenkins, who won 866 games in 28 seasons, coached in eight consecutive state finals; and

WHEREAS, with a 463-73 record shouting orders from Lanier's bench, the demonstrative Billups has averaged more than 30 victories per year and won an outstanding 86% of the time; and

WHEREAS, Coach Billups' latest Gold Ball may be his most satisfying. Although Senior Point Guard Al Graham, Junior Guard R.L. Horton and Senior Forward Kalauso Williams entered this season with some experience, most of the Bulldogs were new faces. Lavel Johnson, the Mississippi correspondent for the recruiting magazine Hoop Scoop, believes Billups will cherish this state crown the most. This was his top coaching job; and

WHEREAS, Coach Billups' "in-your-face" style is relentless. Rarely does he sit. He paces the sidelines, roaring like an angry, nattily-attired bear. Sometimes, he will stop, arms folded, and scowl, staring at a striped shirt, or player, who has done him wrong. He plays no favorites. Whatever goes for one player goes for all of them; and

WHEREAS, for all of his bluntness, there is also a gentler side to Coach Billups, whether he's attending church with his team or hosting a Super Bowl party. The greatest tribute is what his players and former players say about him, the father-figure and nurturing comments that have been made. Coach Billups has control of his players and they respect him; and

WHEREAS, a look at Lanier's year-by-year ranking since Coach Thomas Billups arrived is as follows:

Season Ranking

2005-2006 1st

2004-2005 1st

2003-2004 2nd

2002-2003 2nd

2001-2002 2nd

2000-2001 3rd

1999-2000 4th

1998-1999 1st

1997-1998 NR

1996-1997 1st

1995-1996 1st

1994-1995 15th

1993-1994 4th

1992-1993 1st

1991-1992 14th

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the accomplishments of this remarkable Coach who has brought honor to his school, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate veteran Lanier Basketball Coach Thomas Billups and extend to him and his family the best wishes of the Legislature in his future successes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Billups and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.