We have been missing college basketball since March and will not be seeing any NBA basketball until July 31st at the very earliest. The good news is that we can celebrate America’s birthday on the 4th of July with some on-court fireworks courtesy of The Basketball Tournament. The TBT returns next month with a 24-team single-elimination bracket that will be played over the course of 10 days in Columbus, OH with a winner-take-all prize of $1 million. We continue our preview coverage with Eric Devendorf, who was a McDonald’s All-American in 2005 and a 2-time scoring champion of the National Basketball League in New Zealand. He will be playing for Boeheim’s Army along with several other Syracuse alums including Donte Greene/Chris McCullough/Brandon Triche. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Eric about winning the 2nd-longest game in college basketball history and playing for $1 million next month.
You began your high school career in Michigan and finished it at Oak Hill Academy: what was it like to play with a 16-year old Kevin Durant? Kevin was something I had not seen yet. Standing 6’10” and being able to dribble/shoot the ball like a guard: it was awesome to see. What really set him apart was his work ethic: he was in the gym constantly. We would play 2-on-2 all the time just getting shots up in the gym. He was super-competitive as well at a young age so you knew that he was special.
In the 2005 McDonald’s All-American Game you scored 13 PTS for the East in a 5-PT win over the West: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Monta Ellis/Tyler Hansbrough/Louis Williams/other)? Monta/Louis were 2 guards who I played against a lot growing up in high school: in the summertime we played against each other in AAU, summer camps, team USA, etc. They were 2 of the best scorers that I have ever seen.
You played for Coach Jim Boeheim at Syracuse: what makes him such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? I was lucky enough to learn from him as a player and also as a coach. He is a super-competitive guy. The biggest thing that I learned from him was how to keep my composure and stay poised in times where other players/coaches might tense up. He was always calm, kept his patience, and never let things fluster him.
As a freshman you scored 12.2 PPG and were named to the Big East All-Freshman team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? For me it was my confidence: I believed in myself and I knew that I could compete with anyone in the world when it came to basketball. I put the work in and that gave me the confidence to go out and compete with anyone.
In the 2009 Big East tourney quarterfinals you scored 22 PTS in 61 minutes before fouling out in a 10-PT 6-OT win over UConn: what are your memories of winning the 2nd-longest game in college basketball history? My biggest memory was the shot that did not count: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpDN4bKvyOo. Jumping on that scorer’s table in Madison Square Garden: the greatest arena in the world. There were so many emotions going through me at that moment: it was so awesome to be a part of the greatest college game of all time.
After going undrafted you spent several years playing pro basketball in the D-League and overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? I think that here in America the players are more talented/stronger/faster/athletic so it is more of an up-and-down, pushing-the-pace type of game. In Europe and overseas it is more strategic/tactical: players have to outsmart you a lot of the times. Guys are more fundamental because they are learning how to play the game the right way at a young age. A lot of the time players in America can get by with their athletic ability…but it catches up to you once you get to a high level.
The NCAA tourney was canceled last March: what was your reaction when you heard about it, and what impact has the coronavirus had on you either on or off the court since then? It was sad: I felt bad for the players, especially the seniors and other guys who did not get a chance to finish up. I think that it was a big adjustment for everyone and a lot of stuff is now being done virtually. I believe that the people who have success are able to figure it out and make the necessary adjustments needed to keep going.
Next month you will be playing for Boeheim’s Army in the TBT: why did you decide to participate, and how is the team looking at the moment? I love the game of basketball and am going to keep playing as long as my body allows me to. We have a good squad with a nice mixture of older/younger players. There is a lot of talent and I am looking forward to competing with these guys.
What will your share of the $1 million prize be if your team wins it all, and what will you do with the money? We all get an even split. I have a few different things that I will do, such as invest part of it and take care of a few others things that I have going on.
Are there any thoughts you would like to share about George Floyd/protests/police/etc.? It is very sad and hard to see what is going on in our country with racism and police brutality towards Black people. Change is needed and there has been a need for change for a long long time. I hope that we will see change soon and I will do all I can to stop racism: I will not be silent about it.