Today's Hall of Fame Class

All greats entering the Hall of Fame.

In terms of skill, athleticism, championships and all other ways you can measure player and coaches impacts on the court, this class is as good as you can find.

They also are all true professionals off the court and are role models for today's players and coaches in ways to behave in your profession.

For more thoughts about Jordan, Stockton and Robinson, view this link.

Steve Nash High School

I recently came across this highlight video of Steve Nash playing basketball in high school in Canada:



Now, while this video is indeed a highlight tape - I think its clear that you can see the certain qualities in Nash's game which has made him successful in his basketball career.

What I'm writing about today is for the amazing fact that all the major Division I basketball programs in the country overlooked him in high school and why that could be.

Now one thing is for certain - in every game Nash has played post high school, he probably never once was the tallest, strongest or fastest player on the court. Those attributes being the "staple" of today's basketball player and generally considered "must haves."

But Nash is a great example, maybe even the best example for the idea that more goes into athleticism than those few things. But before we get into that, I'd like to address a few things.

First of all, lets be clear here - in terms of the greater percentage of basketball players around the world, Nash was blessed with great physical gifts. While he may not be the fastest or strongest, Nash is fast and he is strong. I think this pre-conceived notion that since Nash can't dunk that he must be this slouch in movement athleticism is absurd.

But there clearly is more to Nash's game and athleticism in general. Things like coordination, balance, stamina and agility. These are areas that Nash is world class in. Nash is also a master of anticipation and creativity - things that playing soccer certainly enhanced. (Going to be exploring this further in an upcoming post, stay tuned.)

Nash needed not to prove his career anymore than simply making the NBA, that was justification enough. He went above and beyond, however. He's won two MVP's, he will be considered one of the 10 greatest point guards to ever play and if it wasn't for some bad luck, probably would have had a championship by now.

He is a great case study for college recruiters that you can't simply overlook somebody if they don't pass the "eye test." You need to take the whole of a player and consider everything they bring to the table before ruling someone out.

There is more than one way to succeed in the game of basketball and Steve Nash is living proof of that.

Point Guard Week

Just stating in advance. Starting on Monday, I'm declaring the upcoming week "Point Guard Week" for Dif's World of Bball.

No reasoning for it simply other than, I love point guards and point guard play.

Look out for it.

Recruiting

I'm generally new in the whole art of the recruiting thing - that is to say I have barely one year's experience.

This year though I have gotten started in the process much earlier than I did last year and I have to say I am enjoying, so far, the process.

A few times I have been given just a name and a small bit of information about a potential recruit and am left to myself to go ahead and try and track down more information. I think it is the gathering of information part that I am enjoying.

This is also where I feel having a strong network behind you to go ahead and try and track down more information is vital, which is why I am trying to build my network.

Enjoying it though.

Perry Jones, Baylor Commit

Just saw this video of a Baylor Commit, Perry Jones.

Kid is 6-10 and just observe his handle. Sickening.

Remembering Horace Jenkins

Now I know the title says Remembering Horace Jenkins and titles like that are usually left for those that have passed on. Make no mistake about it, Horace Jenkins the basketball player is alive and well. Matter of fact, Jenkins or "Junie" as he was known amongst his friends is not even retired. No the "oldest rookie" in the NBA is still playing the game he loves, this time for Italian team Climanio Bologna.

I came across an article recently from the past, about Horace, and it was this article which inspired me to write.

Back when I was in the 8th grade, my father read a short snippet in the newspaper about how the upcoming Division III basketball game between the Montclair State RedHawks and the William Paterson Pioneers was going to be a big game, with the winner deciding who would win the New Jersey Athletic Conference that season. The game was going to be played at William Paterson and since we lived just minutes from Willy P's gym, he decided to take me.

Really knowing nothing about either team and the concept of Division III basketball fairly new to me, I had low expectations for this game. As we arrived to what I'd call a rather frenzied atmosphere, my father and I were a little late, however managed to find two seats in the home side bleachers. Just minutes before the game was starting, a player on from William Paterson was rewarded for scoring his 1,000th point. Again, this achievement didn't quite mean what it means to me today, but I applauded all the same. Little did I know how much the player receiving the award, Horace Jenkins, was going to suck me in as a fan and change my life as a basketball player.

The first particular game that I saw him in, that game against Montclair State, I had no idea who he was, or that I would pay any particular attention to him. I don't remember much about said game, though I do remember that in the closing moments of the game, William Paterson had the game in hand, and Jenkins got a steal and the opportunity to go to the basket uncontested, which he finished beautifully with a monster reverse dunk. This dunk absolutely brought the house down and hooked me.

As we left the Rec Center that night, all my father and I really knew was that we just watched some amazing basketball player do what he does best on the court, yet we didn't think anything out of the ordinary. It wasn't until we got home and my dad did some further digging to find out Jenkins' whole story. Jenkins became ineligible his senior year of high school and could not play ball. He went on to Union County Community College and through one season he averaged 20.6 ppg, but had to drop out when his son, Hakeem was born. He needed to get a job to support his son and the only ball playing he did was in pick up games.

This wasn't a bad thing. William Paterson's head coach, Jose Rebibmas went to one of these said pick up games to watch another player, Mufeed Thomas. Only one problem occurred, Rebibmas couldn't take his eyes off Jenkins. After the game, he approached Jenkins and told him about the school and if he'd like to attend and play basketball. The rest is history.

Jenkins led William Paterson to their best run in schools history. They made it to two Final Fours and even the National Championship Game in which they lost. I still remember sitting on my desktop computer that day, listening to the audio broadcast of the game. This was way before high speed internet, so the broadcast was bumpy, but I still had to support my guy. It was during his senior year also that they asked Jenkins to compete in the NCAA slam dunk contest. Guys like Jeff Trepanier from USC and other Division I schools all represented and then there was little Horace Jenkins, from William Paterson College as Dickie V called it. Well, Jenkins not only won the thing, but did so in electrifying fashion.

It was in Horace's senior year that there began real chatter about the possibility of Horace getting drafted into the NBA from Division III. During that summer when he went and participated at the Portsmouth Invitational Camp, I read and followed the updates as much as I could. However, as good as his story was, the draft selection was not to be.

Jenkins held his head high though and played in Europe, his shot at the NBA yet to come. Either way this story isn't about Jenkins' time in the NBA. (He did make the Pistons roster in 2004 yet not their playoff roster. He finally achieved his NBA dream at the ripe age of 29.) For me, this is story about all those times, going with my father to the William Paterson Rec Center and watching Horace play. He taught me swagger. He taught me leadership. He taught me perseverance. All and all, he basically inspired me to become a better basketball player and I thank him for that.

Below is one other story I found about him:

D3 Horace Jenkins Shocks the World

What is Hustle?

For a small portion of my life I sold tickets for the New Jersey Nets. One of the pages they handed out was called "What is Hustle?". I recently found that paper and thought it was relevant so I decided to post it. Enjoy.

What is Hustle?

Hustle is doing something that everyone

is absolutely certain can’t be done.

Hustle is getting commitment because you got there first,

or stayed with it after everyone else gave up.

Hustle is shoe leather and elbow grease and sweat

and missing lunch.

Hustle is getting prospects to say “yes”

after they’ve said “no” twenty times.

Hustle is doing more unto a customer

than the other guy can do unto him.

Hustle is believing in yourself and

the business you’re in.

Hustle is the sheer joy of winning.

Hustle is being the sorest loser in town.

Hustle is hating to take a vacation because you

might miss a piece of the action

Hustle is heaven if you’re a hustler.

Hustle is hell if you’re not.

John Calipari - New Father of Point Guard U.

Here's a link to this article in which it explains Coach John Calipari's incredible success to bring in top point guards year after year.

It's certainly true and it leads the author to at the end of the writing claim Coach Calipari as the new "father to Point Guard U." assumingly taking over for the former, Lute Olsen at Arizona.

Arizona was formerly the place for premier points that went on to thrive in the NBA - Damon Stoudamire, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry are some of the points that played at Arizona.

Now Coach Calipari has had a string of some great point guards, first at Memphis and now ones that are following him to his new home the University of Kentucky.

His point guards over the past two years have been drafted first overall (Derrick Rose) and fourth overall(Tyreke Evans).

Which leads me to wonder, is it the system that is producing these great point guards or is it the talent? Or is the system simply a great vehicle for these explosive talents to showcase their skills?

First of all this system in question here is the Dribble Drive Motion Offense, which I have written about in earlier posts here. Obviously if you are a strong guard, with great quickness and the ability to penetrate, playing in this offense is going to showcase those skills to the utmost.

This I believe is the case with Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans. Rose you could argue is taylor made to have the ball in this kind of offense. The question is though, had Rose elected to go to say, Wisconsin and play for Bo Ryan's swing offense and slowdown approach. Rose's skill set would be the same, yet his full range of capabilities may or not have been as exposed.

Since Calipari's has taken the job at Kentucky he has signed major recruit and point guard, John Wall. Wall is generally considered the top player of his class and has already been projected as a top 3 pick. Here's some of his highlights to get a better idea of what Kentucky's getting.

Again a perfect marriage of player and system. Wall is going to thrive and Coach Calipari's third straight lottery selected point guard. Pretty unbelievable and definitely the new Point Guard University.

My take: Calipari is a great recruiter and is bringing in players who fit perfectly into his system. Look out for Wall.

Magic and Larry

Was doing a little reading of Chuck Klosterman (Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs) today and he had a chapter about the Celtics/Lakers rivalry and within that was something interesting that I believe David Halberstam came up with about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

This is taken out of context and is in no way, shape or form intended to be a commentary on race, just something I found interesting. It is in fact discussing race but Halberstam points out that Magic and Larry sort of lived a paradox of pathologies according to Klosterman.

Magic who is African-American had a middle class upbringing, that of which a was a more traditional "white" experience while Larry who is white, lived an impoverished, screwed up childhood which was more stereotypically black.

Once again, not a commentary on race at all in the slightest, yet something that I found interesting and just wanted to throw into my blog.

Grow Your Game

Something that I have always found interesting about basketball is the diversity contained inside the offensive side of the game. Think about it.

When you first learn the game or if you’re lucky enough, taught the game you’re inevitably going to learn either shooting or dribbling first. Arguably these are the two most basic offensive skills of basketball and some never grow from here.

As you grow with the game you’ll learn and develop new skills. Maybe a lay-up is taught, using both hands when dribbling, bounce passes, chest passes. These are skills a player is going to learn to ‘grow his or her game’.

The trend continues. You may learn dribbling moves such as a cross over or hesitation, there are a whole series of jabs and up fakes that you can learn. Perimeter players are going to be taught how to penetrate, shoot from the outside, cut effectively and so on. Post players get to learn a whole different set of skills: various post moves, hook shots, up and unders, passing out of double teams, the correct way to pivot etc.

The important thing is that you are in fact expanding your game and growing your offensive repertoire. Guards should be able to execute all their moves equally as effective with their right and their left. Post players the same way should have the ability to execute their moves going right or left. These are all parts of basketball and developing what you do is part of it.

I’m speaking on adding on to ‘what you do’. Now I had a pretty limited basketball career. I was a better than average, if not good high school player, for a small high school in North Jersey. I had probably just enough talent to make a small Division III school, but not really break into a rotation. Which was fine by me, I had a great time playing basketball and don’t regret anything. It’s now been four years since I’ve last played “competitive” basketball.

Yet I’m still fired up from something I saw on youtube recently. I’ve come across the twitter feed of Mike Lee. He’s a professional basketball trainer who puts up videos on youtube of how NBA players execute some of their patented moves (By the way, Mike does a great job. The videos are concise yet informative. Check out his blog right here) . One of his latest editions is the Allen Iverson fade away. Now I’m only 5-7, so one of my setbacks every time I step on a court is finding ways to get my shot off against taller players. So naturally this shot, perfected by one of the best “little” players in basketball history is a great way to do just that. Now I’m all fired up to get home from trip to work on that shot.

Point is, I’m 24 years old with my best basketball playing days way behind me, yet I’m still interested in adding things to my game. The summer is a great time to do that. Think about it if you’re a freshman entering high school right now. If you add a move to your game each summer, by time your through with college you’ll have seven new moves to your game. Seven offensive moves is a pretty diverse offensive player.

One of the best ways to learn hoop is by simply watching. It’s not always a bad thing to emulate what the greats of the game do (on the court.) Learn a turn-around fall away by watching Kobe Bryant. Learn an inside pivot from Tim Duncan. Heck, learn a skyhook from watching Kareem.

The key though is to expand your game. Don’t be satisfied with where you’re at and its never too late to learn something new.

Greatness Breeding Greatness

This is most definitely a basketball blog. Nearly all of my posts are basketball related and this will be one of the few that strays slightly off the path of hoops, though not much. Its just that if something comes up worth talking about, I feel this is my outlet to get my thoughts down. The fact that a major story, which is so gripping that you can't help but get sucked in, has sucked me in. Obviously the biggest news sweeping the country has been the loss of the King of Pop Michael Jackson. The loss and subsequent tributes and coverage of Michael has been everywhere, and you just can't help but be consumed by it. I like everyone else has been swept up in it, so naturally I watched his public funeral at the Staples Center which was a very touching event.

What really struck me though and got me thinking was when Magic Johnson said his eulogy and words about Michael Jackson. Magic always is thoughtful and always speaks well so I wasn't surprised the way Magic came off. What got me thinking was when Magic talked about going on tour with Michael (can be found at 2:00 mark of youtube video).

Magic went on to say how Michael always had command of what was going on around him. The crew, his bandmembers, just everything...Michael was in command of it. He said that watching Michael out there performing and the genius of what he was doing, that he truly believed it made him a better point guard.

After he said this, my girlfriends mother who I was watching the funeral along with remarked how she thought that it was silly, that Michael made Magic a better point guard, based on the logic of - one is music and one is basketball.

And while this makes sense, certainly Michael Jackson is not going to make Magic Johnson a better dribbler or passer, I do believe that you can become a better point guard from watching him. Let me exlain.

It is obvious that when you watch Michael Jackson perform that you are watching genius. Genius. A simple Youtube search and you have endless footage of video where you can see that. It is a lot like my last post, the cream rises to the top, sometimes the talent is just so immense that it just comes through the screen. It becomes real. That was Michael Jackson performing.

Now, lets say you're Magic Johnson. An emerging point guard, blessed with all the full toolbox of skill set that would allow to become the best point guard he would like to be. You're there, up close and personal with Michael, watching him, studying him. You are seeing a true master of what he is doing, up on stage, executing to perfection, and you are seeing him reap the benefits in fan approval. As a competitor, wouldn't this be inspiring? Would you not get to a gym immediately to try and perfect your craft the way Michael had his? These are the kind of effects I believe Magic was talking about when spoke about Michael making him a better point guard.

Greatness really does breed greatness. One great of music (Michael) was inspiring another emerging great of basketball, Magic. Inspiration can come from anywhere, be it song, written word, spoken word, video. Basketball players can be inspired by teammates, coaches, competition. Michael Jackson's music and performances can do a lot of different things, but for me its been an inspiring thing. Its sad that he has passed for sure, but his music will live on forever and will inspire future greats at whatever they do forever. RIP Michael Jackson.

Twitter

You have to love twitter and if you're not on it, I seriously suggest you sign up. It has the unfortunate stigma as being a "self absorbing" medium or a way to find out what other people are "literally actually doing."

But if you are following good people who are actually provide value in a subject area that you care about, I promise you will be addicted.

Besides the plethora of other benefits - marketing, networking to name a few - twitter provides a value and a place for knowledgeable people to engage in discussion about things they care about.

Not sure why Twitter took off as it did, but it certainly has a place and value for people looking to stay engaged with what they care about!

Follow me @justindefeo!