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Severna Park basketball player wants to hit the court and leave the past behind

By AARON GRAY, Staff Writer

Published 12/14/07

Severna Park High School basketball player Aaron Nutter can recite his weekly evening schedule without hesitation:

By Paul W. Gillespie -- The Capital Severna Park basketball player Aaron Nutter, right, defends Kevin Marshall during practice. The state-issued ankle bracelet covered by his sock and a looming court date next week are grim reminders for Aaron of the past year of troubles he’s trying to leave behind.

Monday, drug class.

Tuesday, therapy.

Wednesday, counseling.

Thursday, therapy.

Friday, basketball.

Playing with his team at the end of the week is his favorite time. But every time the cheerful 17 year old laces up his basketball hightops, a metal ankle bracelet he is required to wear by the state reminds him of his past and the mistakes he's made.

It reminds him of this past year - a troubled year that will follow him around for the rest of his life. Aaron made some poor decisions over the summer. On two separate occasions - within 15 days of each other - he was charged with felony gun possession, first-degree assault and other minor offenses.

That came after Aaron and his family moved from a Newtowne 20 public housing community to a house in Annapolis to escape mounting neighborhood rivalries. Aaron said he bought the gun only after a run-in with some of the wrong people. He started to carry it for protection.

"It got to where Aaron had to look over his shoulder at all times," his mother, Veronica, said. "We felt where we lived and the troubles Aaron ran into there followed him to school. If you're not comfortable playing basketball and being in class, then you're not going to want to go to school. That's what happened."

Ms. Nutter wrote a letter to the Board Of Education and Aaron was allowed to transfer from Annapolis to Severna Park in September 2006, which should have been the beginning of his junior year.

"We all had the same goals," Ms. Nutter said. "We just want to see him graduate."

Moving to a new house and switching schools appeared to be a quick fix, but it didn't solve the problem. After two months at Severna Park, Aaron dropped out. His grades took a nose dive and since he wasn't a full-time student, playing basketball for the Falcons was not an option.

With all the extra free time and no job, Aaron started to drift and hang out with the wrong people again. A life of crime and drugs became an everyday reality, and the law finally caught up with him.

After being arrested for the second gun charge, Aaron - at 5-foot-5, 145-pounds - spent 36 days in the Jennifer Road Detention Center, which is usually reserved for adult criminal offenders, while his family tried to raise funds for his $1 million bail.

In jail, the fresh-faced youngster spent 20 hours a day inside his cell. He had plenty of time to think.

"I really let my family down and I'm sorry for that," Aaron said Wednesday after practice. "They do everything they can to keep me out of trouble. Sometimes, I don't listen. But now I'm listening and I'm doing everything I can to get another chance."

Aaron returned to Severna Park this fall with a new perspective on life and an ambition to succeed. Is he fully rehabilitated? Not yet. Ready to change his ways? Yes.

Severna Park boys basketball coach Paul Pellicani knew Aaron from his days of running the point at Annapolis High. Aaron was with the Panthers as a freshman when they advanced to the state tournament. He started at point guard his sophomore year before quitting the team after the holiday break.

Mr. Pellicani had little interaction with Aaron until early September when his name appeared on the teacher's third-period gym class list.

"When he showed up on the first day, I thought, 'OK, this is going to be another one-and-done,'" Mr. Pellicani said. "Next thing I know, he's almost on the honor roll and his attendance has been impeccable. His English teacher is recommending he take the honors class next semester."

Mr. Pellicani hoped Aaron would bring that same heightened attitude from the classroom to his basketball team when tryouts started last month.

"He's pulled a complete 180," said Mr. Pellicani, whose team is off to a 2-0 start and visits Arundel (3-0) at 6:45 p.m. today. "He shows up for practice 20 minutes early and he's the last one to leave."

Aaron has started both games at point guard for the Falcons and has averaged nine points and five assists.

Basketball is a breath of fresh air for Aaron, who is always quick to smile. And lately, he could use some things to smile about. He's on house arrest until Thursday when he goes to county Circuit Court for the gun charges. It's also the same day Severna Park takes on Annapolis, his former team.

"I'm a little concerned about court," said Aaron, who will be tried as a juvenile after initially being charged as an adult. "But I'm not too worried because I know I'm doing good. I've been doing everything in my power to avoid going back to jail. The judge said I've been doing good, and I'm going to keep doing it."

Support at home has aided his comeback. Aaron lives with his mother, grandmother, Carolee, younger sister, Easean, 14, and older brother, Antonio, 18, who is out of school, but will start attending Severna Park in January. His grandfather, Horace, is a retired Marine.

"His family has really stuck by him and that always helps," said Suzanne Young, Aaron's house-arrest officer. "Aaron has always been respectful and polite. But with him, it was that common case where he fell in with the wrong crowd. Everyone is always quick to blame the kids he hung out with, but I truly believe Aaron has always been a nice person. He went down the wrong road but he's doing a great job finding his way back."

Ms. Young meets with Aaron every weekday in school and checks on him through daily phone calls in the evenings. The state worker said in such a tough line of work, Aaron represents the few that make her smile because she knows he's turning himself around.

"Aaron has made tremendous progress," said Ms. Young, who has known Aaron for a year and a half. "It's been a big change in his attitude."

During the week, Ms. Nutter and the rest of the family runs Aaron from basketball practice to the different sessions he has to attend every weekday night. Aaron said he is learning a lot and the different meetings are worth running all over the county for.

"Basically, he doesn't have time to get into to trouble," Ms. Nutter said.

With a packed schedule during the week, Aaron likes to designate his weekends to the family he started last month. With his girlfriend, Shymice Vond, the couple gave birth on Nov. 20 to a son, Amijae Aaron Nutter.

"I love my son," Aaron said. "And my relationship with Shymice is strong. We talk on the phone all the time and she comes over to my house when she can because I can't really visit her."

Aaron said taking care of a son is just another motivating factor for him to succeed. That, and his passion for basketball.

"I asked him once if he ever wanted to see the inside of the locker rooms at the Comcast Center," Mr. Pellicani said. "He told me, 'Coach, I already have and I want to go back.'"

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JP Ester - 2008-03-02 21:57:59

wow, mr. jp ester...you really do keep up the reputation SP has got for being arrogant pricks. Shut up, you're an idiot and no one cares about your opinion. Aarons probably one of the nicest kids you'll ever talk to, and im not gay but when he smiles or laughs it makes you wanna laugh too.

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devin hughes - severna park, MD - Karma: Bad

Aaron Nutter - 2007-12-18 15:39:31

School boundaries are not carved in stone, JP Ester, last I checked, SPHS was located in Anne Arundel County and I imagine the School Board did not take lightly their decision to allow Aaron Nutter to change venue. Let us not dance around the issue; you moved your family to SP so that your children could attend school without influence from a student body that consists of children who live in the projects. Now one of ?them? is going to school with your kids and it irritates you because you do not believe he has a right to be there?you are wrong. Aaron Nutter has a right to be educated in an environment where he is safe; apparently, for him, that was no longer the case at AHS. Aaron?s move was out of necessity, not out of shear desire to attend another school; making your concern that everyone and their cousin is going to invade you precious SPHS unlikely. Instead of recognizing the drive and potential in this young man, you cast stones. Shame on you for seeing this as an invasion of your territory, and not for what it is?a young man turning his life around.

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D B - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

Get a grip - 2007-12-17 11:18:30

I guess the players that transferred from Spalding to SP get a pass JP Ester. Guess what more than 3 players lost spots. Get a grip, pass the article on to kids or Parents and let them know what could happen when you make a mistake. You have to dig your way out or end up behind bars. Aaron does not want to go back to jail. (Reading is fundamental)

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Gary B. - Bowie, MD - Karma: Bad

Basketball - 2007-12-17 10:17:10

I am neither high income or white and race was never mentioned in my letter. My child does not play baseketball either. However, what about the kid who is sitting on the bench or got cut from the team because an out of area student has come in? Is that fair to him? And, if exceptions are made for him where does it stop? How many people would love to send their kids to SPHS? And, how many do they give special permission? My family struggles to make ends meet to send our children to SPHS and they dont have the luxuries of a lot of other students here. Believe me, I am aware of bad things happening in SP, but we moved here because we wanted our kids to be in a somewhat better environment.

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JP Ester - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Bad

True story - 2007-12-17 03:58:11

I grew up in annapolis and lived there all twenty years of my life. I attended Annapolis High for four years and have no regrets. I played basketball with aaron my senior year. Then he was a energetic freshmen with a true love for the game. we all knew what type of people he hung out with, but who else will be there for him. I have driven through complexes most people would never go without hesitation. When I would see how they lived i would not turn my head away in disgust like most, but rather feel pity. I believe every person deserves a chance to succeed . Aaron is finally getting this chance. If this article was never published, these parents of sphs students would keep their mouths shut. And Mr. Ester, I suggest you take a drive through annapolis tougher areas and think about what it would be like to grow up in these communities. Sure Annapolis is known to be a tough place to live. Severna Park is known to be the home of rich, obnoxious, arrogant pricks. I guess your reputation is dead on.

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alec c. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

J. Hyatt - 2007-12-16 18:47:10

Thank you!!!

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s. hall - annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

Aaron Nutter - 2007-12-16 18:45:37

I am not sure that JP Ester is very clear on the entire comment. First of all scholar, his mom requested permission from the Board of Education to have Aaron attend Severna Park in 2006, she never requested permission to move to Severna Park (racism is apparent in that particular area, but you have not been granted the right to deny African Americans the right to live where they so choose, nice try!!) Secondly, pull your ass out of the sand, there are teenagers in SP who also have babies, their parents are just so naive and closed minded that they usually are the teens that you read about in the paper who have chosen to dispose of a child as though they were scraps of paper.But, I don't recall you posting a comment about those cases, I guess what happens in SP stays in SP. And since when do we as adults have the right to put down any child who decides to change his life around and do the right thing? Aaron, is simply trying to break the cycle that alot of his friends are unfortunately continiuing to hold on to. I guess you would have felt better if his name was posted in the SP police beat instead. I hope others in Sp are not as ignorant as you are!! Hey, hopefully he will make the NBA, or better yet return to SP to coach your grand children, that would really give you something to talk about!!!Loser
please!!!!

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s. hall - annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

Severna Park - 2007-12-16 18:30:29

As a longtime SP resident, I have to speak up about this. Not all of us think that SP needs to be filled with just high income, high achieving light skinned kids. Sometimes we all benefit from being around people different from us. And sometimes we can help others improve their lives by welcoming them into our midst.

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J. Hyatt - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Neutral

Basketball player - 2007-12-14 14:41:03

I'm not sure if I am clear on this, but is he living out of area and his mother asked for special permission to move to SP? He has a baby too? His brother who is 18 dropped out and now will go to SP?? I am sorry but I moved here to SP to avoid these type of problems and I dont think that everytime someone drops out or gets in trouble with the law they should be allowed to get a free pass to SPHS, AND, take up one of the spaces on our athletic teams. JPE - Severna Park

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JP Ester - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Bad