“I’ve had three or four guys that were top 10 on the Wooden list invited to go to L.A., so I spent some time with Coach there, and we played in the Wooden Classic several times, so I spent some time there. I honestly don’t think about those things,” Huggins said before giving a quick autobiography and philosophy. “I grew up in Midville [West Virginia], man, 500 people, two stoplights, nine bars. I got in a truck with this guy one time and I looked and he didn’t have a rear view mirror. I said `You don’t have a rear view mirror.’ He said, `I don’t back up son, I go forward.’ And that’s how I live my life.”
Archive for the ‘John Willkom's Thoughts’ Category
Thoughts from Bob Huggins, by John Willkom
Saturday, March 13th, 2010NBA Concepts: Pick N Roll Basketball, by John Willkom
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009Having just returned from NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, I couldn’t help but notice the tremendous emphasis on playing pick & roll basketball on the offensive end of the floor. When we talk about advanced skill sets, being able to effectively run a pick and roll (both as a dribbler and as a screener) is something that coaches and scouts alike pay close attention to. Based on my observations, two point guards really stood out in their ability to correctly read pick and roll situations:
The Good: Darren Collison. The former UCLA Bruin and current New Orleans Hornet thrives in pick and roll situations. His decision making is second to none, and he attacks each ball screen aggressively, forcing the defending post player to really move his feet. Collison does a great job going to body on each screen and then stretching the defense with his dribble. Going into this event, I wasn’t a huge Collison fan, but watching him run the pick and roll erased all doubt about his first round draft selection.
The Improving: Jonny Flynn. Coming out of Syracuse, you can tell that Flynn didn’t play as much pick and roll basketball as someone like Collison. Flynn is an incredible athlete, whose quickness often overshadows missed reads and over dribbling. While Collison dragged the big men away from the basket, Flynn often dribbled back towards the screener and ruined the spacing that a pick and roll creates. Flynn will be an all star caliber point guard in the league. However, you can be sure that Timberwolves coaches are working with him as you read this.
Summer Love, by John Willkom
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009I love summer. Warm weather, trips to the beach, and a break from school that never lasts long enough. Yet, as I reflect on my youth, memories of summer basketball have a special place in my heart. I can’t help but smile when I think about the tremendous amount of time I spent playing basketball from June-August. Individual workouts and weight room sessions occupied the days, while the drive way games in the neighborhood would keep the neighbors up at night.
Players play during the summer because they love the game. There are no fans on the driveway or newspaper reporters hanging out at the gym. Real ball players don’t worry about the hundred degree days or the gyms without air conditioning. They simply make a commitment to the game because their isn’t anything else they would rather be doing.
What is your plan for the summer? Years later, I still appreciate the time spent by myself working on the game. I learned to demand perfection from myself, a trait that has carried over to my current business career.
I encourage you to have a plan for the summer, but most importantly, play the game because you love it. Maximize your days and appreciate the confidence that goes along with improving yourself. Will you feel the summer love? I know that I did.
