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10/5/07-Football
Transferring transforms 2-sport star
Sims making the grade and feeling less backlash after his parents have him change schools.
Tom Markowski / The Detroit News
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ORCHARD LAKE -- In some ways Dion Sims is glad to see the last 12 months pass. The insensitive e-mails have nearly stopped. The snide remarks, if only made behind his back, have diminished.
Sims is comfortable in his new surroundings and ready to get on with his life, academically, athletically and socially.
Sims, 16, transferred from U-D Jesuit to Orchard Lake St. Mary's in September 2006 because his parents were not pleased with his academic performance.
Because of Catholic League transfer rules, Sims, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound two-way football player and five-position basketball player, was ineligible to compete in athletics the remainder of his sophomore year.
"It was very difficult," Sims said of the long layoff. "I missed being on the court and on the field. It made me eager to get back."
Life without athletics was difficult enough for a 15-year-old sophomore, who was one of the best players for his age group in two sports. Add to this e-mails questioning Sims' integrity and sincerity.
"I remember those (e-mails) well," he said. "Many came from some of the U-D students. They were saying I left because I couldn't handle the school. They were saying I was a dumb jock.
"I didn't pay too much attention to it. They tried to bring me down. I used it as motivation.
"But, yes, it did hurt."
Sims said his grades have improved since arriving at St. Mary's. He struggled to remain eligible at U-D. He was ineligible the second semester of his freshman year and attended summer school to be eligible for football his sophomore season.
At St. Mary's his grade-point average is 3.0.
Sims' classes include chemistry, geometry, journalism, American literature, Spanish 3, morality and advanced networking, a computer class.
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It's a demanding workload, one that Sims has learned to manage.
"I feel more comfortable in my environment," he said. "I feel I'm doing better here than at U-D. But I miss my friends, the fun I had there. It was my first high school. I miss the teachers."
Sims said his four closest friends are U-D students -- including John Bryant, who plays running back and linebacker. Tonight, for the first time, Sims and Bryant will be adversaries on a high school field as St. Mary's (4-1) plays U-D (0-6) in a Catholic League Central Division game at Ferndale.
Sims' size, jumping ability and large hands make him a natural as a receiver. He also plays linebacker, but admittedly struggles at times on defense.
"Playing the outside linebacker spot has been an adjustment for him," coach George Porritt said. "The angles he has to take he needs work on. But he's a hard worker. He's hungry to play.
"He's one of the best we've had, athletically. Even though he's a quiet kid he can be aggressive on the field."
Jeff Phillips is the receivers/defensive backs coach for St. Mary's. A '98 St. Mary's graduate, Phillips played football for four seasons at Duke, the last two as a starter in the secondary. Phillips knows talent -- he played against the likes of Peter Warrick (who played in the NFL for Cincinnati and Seattle), who played at Florida State.
"I saw him (Sims) for the first time when he was a freshman when we played U-D," Phillips said. "It's his size that jumped out at me. He's still raw. He does do things effortlessly. What I like about him is he listens. He has a good football mind. He has to realize it's not going to be this easy forever. The guys at the D1 level are going to be faster, quicker, stronger."
Schools such as Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State are recruiting Sims in both sports. Florida, Indiana and UCLA are recruiting Sims to play basketball. Others, like Iowa, are recruiting him for football.
"As of right now I want to do both, if I can work it out," Sims said. "If they said I could only do one, it would be football."
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