Driving from W-R to a friend's house to watch the football game after the BU tilt, and was listening to the post-game show. About 25 minutes after the final buzzer, when the CCC interview had just been completed, Mazur and McKinney pointed out that although Page had missed all four of his free throw attempts, he was out on the court practicing free throws. Not sure why he was out on the court instead of back on the practice courts on the north side of the arena, but am extremely impressed with the young man's dedication to his craft. He looks like an extremely skilled big guy, with some athleticism and shooting range. He played solid defense against BU's big man (who the announcers said on the post-game had scored 20+ in their last game), and did so without fouling. Very optimistic about his growth...
AP
- Thread starter Smolmania
- Start date
Page has really good shooting mechanics and is not shy about putting up threes, and making them. Lets hope he can last the whole season, we don’t have a lot of good options at the five after him.
I would practice on the arena basket as well, preferably with screaming fans in the stands. A whole lot different than shooting in an empty gym.
In theory maybe you're correct. But I've been watching NU hoops for 50 years, and I've never ever heard or read about one of our players who had a tough night at the free throw line leaving the locker room after the game to go out and shoot free throws...
Hopefully Bennerman puts on some good weight and he has the same type of potential. Imagine a starting front court with Brnnerman, Page and Sinhleton with Reid and Ciaravino in the backcourt. West, Hodge, Kropp, Windham and Green off the bench. Very athletic team
This group is capable of a Final Four appearance.
Last player i can confirm doing this was Rex Walters - granted i haven’t been in chicago for more than 2 decades….
And im sure that he wasn’t the last, and that AP isn’t the only player in recent times to do this. We’ve got/had lots of “gym rats” who are deeply committed to improving their ”FT” game. Nice to hear AP take this aspect of his game seriously.
More Bennerman than AP. Don't think Ghai will be ready as a true freshman but we'll see.
Anyone recall the story Manute Bol's agent told when an NBA scout questioned his client's "courage?" He asked the scout, "how many guys on your team have killed a lion with a spear?"
I would tread lightly when questioning young Ghai's readiness to play meaningful minutes next season...
I would tread lightly when questioning young Ghai's readiness to play meaningful minutes next season...
Ghai's situation reminds me of Hakeem Olajawon's original arrival to U of Houston. Before being offered a scholarship, he was invited to visit the campus. No one on the staff had seen him, and indeed he'd played very little basketball. He had, however, trained and played soccer pretty seriously (as goalkeeper) and had developed exceptionally good footwork for a big man. He'd also played a fair amount of team handball and it was there that some "bird dog" had seen him in Nigeria and recommended him to the UH staff. Hence his visit.
Perhaps you've heard the story; I later confirmed with an assistant coach on Guy Lewis's staff that the tale was true. There was so little real interest in Olajuwon that no one from the athletic department even went to the airport to meet the young man and bring him to campus. Instead, Olajuwon was simply told to take a taxi.
The cab arrived outside basketball offices as the coaching staff was meeting in a conference room. Coach Lewis stood at a chalkboard before them and was discoursing on some matter or other but idly happened to look out a window and saw the cab stop at the curb outside. His eye lingered long enough to see the passenger discharge. When he saw the young man begin to stand up (and up and up ...), the sight of the potential recruit's height and bearing interrupted Lewis's remarks. Hardly missing a beat, he bellowed, "Don't just sit there. Somebody go out and help that boy bring in his bags." Two staffers dutifully rushed out to greet young Olajuwon, and that was his welcome to campus. A scholarship offer was made after they saw how readily he did basic court drills; his mobility was apparent. That was how a Hall of Fame career began.
Point is, however, that like NU's recruit, Olajuwon initially had very little in the way of basketball skills per se -- perhaps no more than NU's Ghia. I saw Hakeem (then spelled differently) a few times in his frosh season, and it wasn't always pretty but occasionally he'd block a shot or snatch a rebound that showed much promise. It was his attitude, however, that set him apart; in practices and games he was unfailingly cheerful in accepting coaching. I was told he never complained, and came to get along well with teammates and other students. A matchless success story.
It wouldn't be wise to set such expectations of Ghia from the start, of course, but there seem to be legit similarities of potential. Soccer can teach a lot that's adaptable to hoops. I don't mean to compare Ghia's and Hakeem's backgrounds. Olajuwon was always careful to stress, for instance, that he was brought up in a working-class family living in metro Lagos; understandably he resented people asking about jungle experiences, etc.
I move we let NU's tall recruit feel welcome but not expect overly much from him at the start. Coach James is reputedly strong in developing big men and Ghia could be his crowning achievement.
Great reference - we couldn't keep Rex because nobody else on the team at the time had the same "gym-rat" inclinations. Now the entire team fits the gym-rat mold - and this acts as a recruiting filter for us. Such a huge and positive cultural shift for the program. My impression is that Brooks and Mart have truly consolidated this blue collar, hard-working identity for us.