The Pro Training Center

Big "Kuba"

I’ve seen many players this summer training in our gym, from future NBA All-Stars to Division III players just trying to improve, but none have piqued my interest quite as much as “Big Kuba”. Kuba is Jakub Kusmieruk , a 7’4 inch player at John Carroll High School in Bel Aire (Baltimore),MD. That is, 7’4, 286lbs, and still growing. Well, maybe growing in height but not in weight. Jakub, Tony Martin- the Head Coach at John Carroll, and Anthony Macri-Tony’s assistant coach, spent a week here in Clearwater learning new ways to develop their big, big man.

 Jakub has a huge upside, for many reasons. We can start with his size, as 7’4 is just plain huge. His weight has dropped 16 pounds in the last month, thanks to a dedication to drinking mostly water and eating healthy foods that are not typically found at fast food joints. Hmmm-size and dedication, now that is a special combination.

 His coaches are very impressive too, focused on building a program, not just one player. Jakub and his teammates will all be the beneficiaries of such a program, as each will learn to help the other. And having a 7’4 inch player will always lead to opportunities for an aggressive teammate.

 But I was most impressed with Jakub himself, his desire to excel and his willingness to do what is necessary to get there. On day one, Jakub missed almost every dunk attempt for one reason or another. He had no excuses, and didn’t try to offer any. Instead of hanging his head and feeling shame, he simply “knuckled up” and listened intently to the mistakes he was making. By weeks end, he was dunking with authority 10-15 consecutive times in a drill, and surprising all of us with his speed in the process. It takes heart to first fail, then keep pushing until you succeed. Jakub has a big heart inside that large body. Instead of simply playing in one AAU tournament after another this summer, Jakub chose the tougher route. He attended multiple weeks of the famed Five-Star Basketball Camp, learning skills from some of America’s best teachers. He traveled to many different states to work one on one with top individual coaches. His coaches took copius notes and filmed hours of the training. In the process, Jakub learned what it takes to improve and succeed. I think he chose the wiser route.

 I know there will be countless college coaches and scouts who will write about all of Jakub’s faults. But I also know the NBA is filled with players who were similarly knocked at 16 years of age. You never know for sure when a big man will suddenly “figure it out” and play at a higher level. I’m reminded of another big man who, as a freshman in college, averaged 3 pts and 2 rebounds per game, and was considered by many scouts as a “reach” player at the hi-major level. In fact, the school he most wanted to attend, Georgetown, would not offer him a scholarship. Well, that player ended up improving during his second season. A lot. He was named the MVP of the Final 4 after his Florida Gators team won the title. Yes, Joakim Noah never paid attention to what the critics wrote about him, and now is the most famous player in college basketball.

 With 2 years left of high school, and college after that, Jakub Kusmieruk  will be a name that I will be following. You should too. He has every factor you look for in a developing player going for him-personal drive, solid coaching, plays for a special program. And did I mention he’s 7’4?

Guillermo Diaz

5/28/06
I get so many inquiries into just how athletic Guillermo is, or what it is we are doing to get him back to the athlete he was before minor knee surgery last summer.  I'll get into the details of what we did in a later blog, but first let me show you what I showed him.  His high school coach and pseudo-father, Art Alvarez, was kind enough to loan me a dvd of Guillermo's high school highlights.  I was warned that Alvarez would be "difficult to deal with", as he is a powerful man in the Nike/AAU world.  But Guillermo's agent, Jason Levien, assured me that Alvarez is great to work with and will respect my position, as he loves his players' and want what's best for them.  He was right-Alvarez has literally been a perfect partner in all of this, and I understand completely why Guillermo and many other players think so highly of Coach Alvarez.  Anyway-I showed G-Mo the dvd and let him just sit there and smile at just what a special athlete he "was".  I felt like his confidence in his knee was shattered-but that the knee itself was fine..  I knew I'd get his confidence back through sheer hard work, and I wanted G-Mo to get that desire back to be, simply, the best 6'2 athlete on the planet.  See for yourself what this young man is capable of:
the amazing Guillermo Diaz

JJ!!

5/26/2005

My podcast about JJ -a surefire NBA player.
Download TheWordOnReddick.mp3

Alexander Johnson

5/26/2005

Here are some comments about AJ-one of the most athletic big men in the NBA draft.

Download AlexanderJohnson.mp3

JJ Redick

12/23/2005

Redick's Transformation

I’ve always enjoyed theatrical productions that bring meaning to our own everyday lives.  Whether they be heroic stories that inspire  or comedies that help get us thru a stressful day, a good play or movie (or book, of course) can often open our eyes to something we may otherwise overlook.  One of my favorites is “My Fair Lady”, the story of the wealthy Linguistic Professor who decides to see if he can pass off a poor flower girl as a Princess simply my teaching her to speak properly.  As this young woman literally transforms before our eyes into a Princess, the Professor still can only see her as the flower girl from the streets that first walked into his house.  Why am I writing about this in a blog about basketball?  Simple how many coaches reading this still see their veteran players as the young inexperienced players they once were?  Perhaps you see maturity, but still limit their offensive or defensive game despite many hours of practice. Or how many players haven’t accepted the notion that their coaches (or teammates) are much more helpful to them than they were originally.  We must allow for growth, both in ourselves and those around us. 

I bring all of this up after watching the Duke vs. Texas game, then reading many articles suggesting JJ Redick still is not talented (or tall) enough to be considered a top 10 NBA draft pick.  I’ve been watching basketball for 30+ years, and evaluating players since 1987, and I’m not sure I remember a more dominant performance by one player in a #1 vs. #2 match-up.  And let’s not forget that #2 is loaded with athletes, and is coached by a terrific basketball mind who is a great defensive teacher. 

Texas

knew coming in what needed to be done to stop Redick-they simply could not do it.  JJ was just too good.  So when people say or write that he is “too small”, or “too slow”, to be a top 10 pick, I have to wonder if they are behaving as Professor Higgins did.  Do they still see Redick as he once was, a standstill shooter with moderate ball skills?  I think yes, they do, but the rest of us see a shooter and scorer that has few peers in the world right now.  Name me a single team that does not have a desperate need for a world class shooter who is ultra-competitive, can handle the ball, and can score coming off screens or driving the lane or pulling up in transition. Can you imagine JJ next to Shaq and D-Wade?  What about with Parker and Ginobli and Duncan?  How many open shots will he get on those teams? Better yet, look at

Toronto

. Clearly a lottery team-let’s say they get the first pick in the draft.  I know people will argue that they should draft a center (Aldridge?), who may be ready to help them in a year or so.  But who would help their superstar, Chris Bosh, more-a young and raw center, or a prolific scorer and leader like Redick?  Talent like JJ’s is rare, and they can always find a banger as a free agent to help Bosh stick to his natural 4 spot (plus Villanueva needs his minutes too).  Calderon is a young and promising point guard, Joey Graham has a chance to be very good as a 3, add Redick to the mix and you have a team that would be tough to defend.  Redick may be hard-pressed to defend the likes of D-Wade (who isn’t), but I promise you Wade will not enjoy chasing JJ down either.

I’m not arguing that Redick should go #1 (yet-it’s only December), I’m only pointing out that he is not the same player he was 2 years ago.  And I bet if you look closely at your team or teammates, you’ll find that you’re treating one or some of them as if they have not developed, when they probably have.