Closing Out the Reebok ABCD Camp
by Ray Floriani
TEANECK, N.J. – The final day at ABCD called for two sets of games beginning sharply at 9:30 A.M. Attendance was sparse at tip-off, but by the end of the first quarter the coaches who would attend this early session were settled in. Jim Baron of Rhode Island was one of the earliest attendees. By tipoff time Bruce Weber (Illinois), Skip Prosser (Wake Forest), Tom Crean (Marquette), Fred Hill (Rutgers), Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) and Bob Huggins (Kansas State) were also present.
With action still going on at Eastern Invitational (about 90 minutes away near Trenton), a number of coaches opted for the morning session here before getting on the road. The afternoon at Rothman Center was reserved for the Underclassman and Senior all star games. The all-star games can be entertaining, and often a bit sloppy and devoid of defense. By time the all star doubleheader rolls around, coaches have a very good handle (everyone knows O.J. Mayo, Bill Walker and the likes can play) on who they are interested in and who can satisfy the needs of their respective programs.
Interesting to note the expressions on the players’ faces after they completed their final games. Some will take a slow walk, with no facial expression as they are thinking and reflecting on the week. Specifically, what they may need to work on or how they met, or fell short, of their expectations of a few days ago.
A few will give a hint of satisfaction by their expression. Roberto Nelson, a 6-4 sophomore out of Santa Barbara (CA) was in the middle. “Overall I had a good week,” Nelson said, “but it’s hard out there. Everyone is quick and everyone has something out there.”
Miles Beatty, the 6-3 senior from St. Anthony’s (NJ) is already being recruited. As he headed for the Rothman Center exit Beatty did note, “the week was great. I got a lot out of it and I’m satisfied the way it all went.”
For Zach Rosen, who at this point is not recruited as much as Beatty, the week was significant. A senior guard, Rosen transferred from Colonia(NJ) High School to St. Benedict’s. He realizes the players around him at his new school are more talented and the players he will face will be much better than the competition at his former location. “Coming here (ABCD) was a great experience,” Rosen said as he relaxed with family after his final contest on Sunday. “Being at St. Benedict’s will be a step up, so playing here just gave me more confidence as the week went on. It was definitely a good week here for me.”
Rosen caught more attention as the week wore on. He makes sound decisions on the floor but did show the ability to hit the perimeter shot as well.
Players were not the only ones scrutinized. Approximately 25 officials were working the games as part of a tryout for the Big East Conference. Art Hyland, the Big East supervisor, ran the tryouts and was assisted by conference officials such as Tom Lopes, Bob Donato (before leaving due to a family emergency), Jim Haney, Reggie Greenwood, Pat Driscoll, Will Bush, Jim Burr and John Cahill.
Brandon Cruz of Queens is a Division II and III official who tried out. On Sunday morning Cruz was stretching before taking the floor when he noted, “the week went well for me, but right now I can feel it. My hamstrings and calves are getting a little sore.” At age 24 Cruz is in excellent shape. Still, the two games a day, especially on court one or four’s unforgiving synthetic surface can take a toll. “These are fast-paced, demanding games,” Cruz said, “but I had a great time.”
Officials are critiqued after each quarter and post game by the staff observers. “They do not let you know how you are doing for the week,” Cruz offered, “you only get critiqued as the game goes on.”
Besides the on-floor work, there are morning classroom sessions on topics as block/charge and coach/official relationships. Norm Roberts of St. John’s addressed the group on the latter. “He (Roberts) was good,” Cruz said. “He discussed relationships (on the floor) with officials and coaches and officials and players as well.”
Hyland has no set number on how many officials may be offered a spot on the conference staff. There are times an official might not get an immediate offer to join the conference, but his name will be remembered to see how he progresses in the near future. Current Big East officials Ray Perrone, John Hughes and Brian O’Connell, to name a few, have used their ABCD tryouts to gain entrance to the conference.
They say a good official should not get noticed as the game progresses. At ABCD, though, someone is always watching.
An ABCD “alum” stopped by during the week to visit. John Blackgrove, who is heading into his final season at FDU, attended ABCD roughly five years ago. The 6’2″ Blackgrove was a prolific scorer from Pascack Valley (NJ) High School. The critics said Blackgrove’s league was too suburban, too slow and the talented guards at ABCD would destroy him. They were misguided.
“What I really remember about ABCD was it was great,” Blackgrove said. “I really didn’t have to make a big adjustment; I got the ball, I shot, that was my game.” Blackgrove showed he could shoot. What he lacked in footspeed against certain opponents, he countered with tenacity and savvy. “The thing I really remember,” Blackgrove added, “was compared to high school these games were so fast-paced. That was an adjustment, getting up and down the floor so fast. But it got me ready for my senior year. I came into the season in great form.”
Blackgrove accepted a scholarship to Fordham and showed some promise under Bob Hill, but transferred a year after his exit. His career at FDU has been hindered by back problems, something he’s hoping to get over this year.
“He’s a great kid,” FDU Coach Tom Green said during a break at camp. “We are hoping those back problems are over because we really are counting on him this year for some scoring.”
A quick second opinion
- Still more intrigued over James Tyler. As previously noted here, the Murfreesboro (NC) junior is 7’2″ (remember you “can’t teach height”) but weighs in at 330. His skills and feel for the game are good. But he has to get under 300 at least to be more effective. If and when he does, look out.
- Tim Flowers, a 6’5″ senior out of Chicago, gave a good effort and worked particularly hard inside.
- Greg Echenique is another name to remember. The 6’9″ sophomore from Venezuela will be at St. Benedict’s this season. Echenique also could stand to lose a few pounds. He’s effective, but if he gets under his listed 263 pounds, he’ll be even better.
- Carlton Fay, a 6’8″ senior from Hennepin (IL) did a nice job of hustling inside. Fay has a nice touch and is basically the type of player you like and notice the more you see him.
- It’s traditionally a guard and/or win-oriented camp. An exception is Kevin Love. If Love did not get the ball in the high or low post the 6’10” Oregon native got it off the boards. Simply, his presence was such that his teammates rarely forgot him in an offensive set.
- The games can deteriorate, especially in blowouts later in the week, to little defense, too much transition with no rhyme or reason. Regardless, over the years of watching ABCD, it is evident teams are making more of a concerted effort to run sets in halfcourt. The morning stations and practices are sinking in, which helps provide better games.
