Neither BC nor Virginia have had smooth sailing this year…but after seeing NC State win 5 games in 5 days at the ACC tourney last March you can no longer count anyone out in this conference. Another thing that the Eagles and Cavaliers have in common is great FT shooting from the Hand family. Donald Jr. is currently 3rd in the league with 86.9 FT%, and more than 25 years ago his father led the league with 86.2 FT%. Today marks the 26th anniversary of the original Donald scoring a career-high 41 PTS in a 3-PT OT win over NC State on Valentine’s Day 1999. HoopsHD got to chat with the fantastic father about being named an ACC Legend in 2015 and watching his son living out his dream in 2025.
You were born/raised in Paterson, NJ, where you played on the legendary 1994 Paterson AAU national championship team (along with future NBA players Kobe Bryant/Vince Carter/Tim Thomas): when you look back on it more than 3 decades later, do you have any doubt that it was the greatest AAU team ever assembled? We had some other guys you may have heard of including Kevin Freeman/Rodney Rogers. At that time AAU ball was at an all-time high and everyone wanted to be the best. Every time that we stepped onto the court we played with a high intensity.
Your 1st coach at Virginia was Jeff Jones: what made him such a good coach? I was a late signee so after going there on my visit and learning about the academics/athletics it really stood out. I had a rough start because I was playing behind guys like future lottery pick Courtney Alexander.
You were the 1st UVA player to serve as captain for 3 straight years: what is the key to being a great leader? Consistency both on and off the court and knowing your teammates. As a PG you need to understand where everyone likes to get the ball. I had to set the standard for all the young guys to teach them the “UVA Way”.
You still rank in the top-10 in school history with 529 AST/179 STL: how did you balance your passing with your defense? Being consistent. My high school coaches always told me that nobody showed up to see me: my role was to get the ball to everyone else.
On Valentine’s Day 1999 you scored a career-high 41 PTS in a 3-PT OT win over NC State: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Absolutely. I remember that it was a very nice day in Charlottesville with great weather. We had 6 walk-ons on our roster at the time and Coach Pete Gillen said to go out/have fun/let it fly, and it really worked out for us.
You led the conference that year with 86.2 FT%: what is the secret to making FTs? Just staying focused. I struggled from the FT line as a freshman, but it was just a matter of adjusting to the college ranks. I always kept my eye on the inside of the rim: we tend to look down when we step up to the line, but you need to focus on the target.
After graduation you spent several years playing pro basketball overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? They learn the game a lot earlier overseas: spacing, 3-PT shooting, etc. The biggest difference is that they play at a slower pace and have often played pro ball since age 15, so it gives them an advantage when they come to the US. AAU ball helps American kids get college scholarships, but they are more advanced in the pro game overseas.
In 2015 you were recognized as an ACC Legend along with several former stars including Horace Grant (Clemson)/Shane Battier (Duke)/Derrick Coleman (Syracuse): where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I think it is at the top. My blood/sweat/tears allowed me to overcome a lot of things. I never imagined that I would go to UVA and get my degree, so to become an ACC legend at a great institution means that it paid off for me. Seeing my son become successful has probably passed that.
Your alma mater has made almost every single NCAA tourney during the past decade but is just 12-12 this season: what was your reaction last October when you learned that Coach Tony Bennett was retiring, and what will it take for the team to get back on track in the future? My 1st reaction was shock because Tony is such a legend and has done so much for the school/community. He won the 1st NCAA title in UVA history, but I respect his decision based on NIL and other factors. You want to go out on top and he did that. Sometimes you have a down year: it has been hit-or-miss this year so they just need to bring back some former players to show what the brotherhood is about.
Your son Donald Jr. is currently leading BC in PPG/RPG and leading the ACC in FT%: how was he able to make such a huge leap from last year to this year, and who on earth do you cheer for when he plays against your alma mater?! That is a hard question! I cheer for both…but my heart is always with my son. He has always had the talent, and the BC coaching staff did a great job of putting a plan together for him. He came in a little older: taking a year off really helped him get his body right. He figured out how to compete and allowed the game to slow down. He has always been a gym rat but what separates him is his hard work. He concentrates on his FTs and is a very humble kid who respects the game and treats it like a pro. That is his dream, so the sky is the limit…if he keeps working hard because hard work pays off.
