Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews NBA prospect Martin Krampelj

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Jon Teitel

There is only 1 week left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 20th. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. Martin Krampelj has had a long journey to professional basketball both in terms of geography (growing up in Slovenia) as well as anatomy (a trio of ACL tears). He succeeded on both ends of the court at Creighton in terms of offense (60.2 career FG%) and defense (top-10 in Big East play last year in both BLK/STL). HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Martin about his academic/athletic achievements and what it would mean to get drafted.

You grew up in Slovenia: how did you 1st get into basketball, and how big is the sport in your homeland? I grew up with my 2 sisters and 3 cousins who were my neighbors. 2 of them were older and I always wanted to do what they did so when they started playing basketball then so did I a week later. Long story short: I loved it and it grew into something bigger. I think that soccer might be bigger than basketball but Slovenians love basketball. Goran Dragic, Luka Doncic, and other high-profile basketball players from Slovenia are a very big influence on kids and our country.

In 2012 you played on the Slovenian national team at the U18 Euro Championships: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what was it like facing future lottery pick Dario Saric (who scored 27 PTS in 30 minutes during a win by Croatia)? Playing for the national team was a dream come true for me. Slovenia and Croatia are big rivals in every sport so it is always fun to play against them. I remember that Saric was just unstoppable at the time: that is why he is in the NBA now.

What made you choose Creighton, and how did you like playing for Coach Greg McDermott? Creighton offered me an official visit to the university and I fell in love with everything I saw. The fans, coaches, teammates, and all of the other people around were very nice/fun to talk to. From an educational standpoint Creighton ranks pretty high nationally. I did not even mention the facilities yet: they are absolutely on the highest level possible. With all of that I was very fortunate to be in a “small city”, which I liked because I came from a way smaller environment. Coach McDermott is a great coach who everyone would love to play for. What I really like about him is that he brings the best out of his players and gives the team a chance to be successful both on and off the court.

Last year you were the only player to rank in the top-10 in Big East play in both BLK/STL: what is your secret for being a great defender? Part of the secret was that I was kind of undersized on my position so I looked a lot faster than the guys who I was matched up with. Obviously defense at Creighton is a team effort so I was put in a position to be successful. We all helped each other and the main thing was to talk on defense, which will also help a defender be successful.

You finished your college career as a 60.2% FG shooter: what is the key to being a great shooter? I did not even realize that until now. That is not bad but it could be even better now that I think about some of my missed layups (haha!). I just think that I was very efficient in player movement/positioning that helped me score a couple of easy ones every game. Again, I could not have done it without my teammates. The whole team is basically around 40% from the 3-PT line so that puts a lot of confusion and pressure on our opponents. Those numbers come with a lot of hard work and watching a lot of film.

You were a 3-time member of the Big East All-Academic Team: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? First of all I want to thank my professors who helped me schedule school around my basketball schedule and really helped me stay on top of everything. I never missed class and built good relationships with professors who were willing to help everyone be successful as long as we worked hard.

You have suffered 3 ACL tears during your career: how is your health doing at the moment? I have never felt better!

You stated on Twitter that you decided to go pro “after testing the waters and receiving valuable feedback”: what kind of feedback did you receive, and did the fact that you graduated last month have any impact on your decision? I liked my chances to stay in the draft. I got to compete against projected 1st round picks and had a good feeling that I could compete with them. I got my degree and now want to pursue my dream of playing in the NBA.

How do you think the Bluejays’ frontcourt will be this fall with both you/Samson Froling turning pro and Jacob Epperson continuing to rehab from injuries? We are at our best with our backs against the wall. Creighton always finds a way to win games and I am sure that it will continue next year. Christian Bishop might be only a sophomore but I think that he will step up his game because he learned a lot this past season. Jacob has not played very much (21 total games over the past 2 years) but proved that he is unstoppable so he will heal and then become a star.

What would it mean to you to get drafted, and will you head overseas if you do not get drafted? It would be my dream come true to get drafted. I have watched the NBA Draft since I was a kid…even though I had to wake up in the middle of the night to watch it! I never had all that hype and buzz from high school so I am used to proving myself again and again. I will do whatever it takes for me to become an NBA player.

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Happy Draft-iversary!: HoopsHD interviews broadcaster Bill Hillgrove about former Pitt star Billy Knight

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Jon Teitel

With the 2019 NBA draft taking place next week, we will spend the days ahead taking a walk down memory lane with a choice collection of players who are celebrating an awesome anniversary this year. From a future Hall of Famer selected 2nd overall in 1959 (60th anniversary) through a conference POY picked in the 2nd round in 2009 (10th anniversary), these stars have all seen their dreams come true in past drafts. We continue our series with Bill Hillgrove, who did play-by-play for Pitt basketball in the 1970s when Billy Knight was turning into an All-American. After joining the ABA Billy became 1 of the best scorers in pro basketball, and after retiring he became a longtime NBA executive. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Bill about the 45th anniversary of Knight leading his team to the Elite 8 and then getting drafted a couple of months later.

Knight was highly recruited out of Braddock High School in the Pittsburgh suburbs: what made him choose the Panthers? I think that it was the influence of assistant coach Tim Grgurich. The 1974 team could have been recruited on a trolley car since they were all from this area!

He averaged a double-double during each of his 3 seasons on the varsity: how was he able to balance his scoring with his rebounding? He was just a smooth player who had the gift to let the game come to him. His 1st game was on the road at Gettysburg and the NCAA did not declare him eligible until a few hours before the game, but he came out and it appeared that he had been there a long time. We were playing at UCLA in December of 1972 and I drove him in a rental car to Pauley Pavilion. We arrived only 23 minutes before tip-off, but he went out and scored 37 PTS: after the game Coach John Wooden walked across the court to shake his hand. It was an example of how he could just get his ankles taped, walk out on the court, and still play his best.

As a senior in 1974 his team won a school-record 22 straight games: did it reach a point where they expected to win every single time they stepped onto the court? I think that was the mindset: if they lost it was a shock to everyone.

In the 1974 Elite 8 he had 19 PTS/10 REB in a loss to top-ranked NC State: how was he able to play so well against the eventual national champs? We beat Furman before facing the Wolfpack on their home court. Coach Norm Sloan did not have to leave the state to win it all. Knight was the best player on the floor and he knew it. NC State had some great players like Tom Burleson/David Thompson but Thompson actually tripped over 1 of his own players and had to go to the hospital. Too bad that Pitt lost because they were a darn good team.

He finished that year by being named an All-American: what did it mean to him to receive such outstanding honors? For a kid from Braddock to get any national recognition was fantastic. It was a steel town that had collapsed.

In the 1974 NBA draft he was picked 21st overall by the Lakers (1 spot ahead of Truck Robinson): why did he decide to join the ABA instead? I think that I was part of that. I escorted him to an ABA game where Julius Erving was playing. We went to their locker room afterward and Dr. J sat down with Billy and convinced him that the ABA was the best option for him. I went to 1 of his 1st NBA games in Buffalo with my family: I noticed that every single time Billy got the ball Randy Smith clapped his hands and asked Billy to pass it to him!

In 1975 he scored 17.1 PPG for the Pacers and made the ABA All-Rookie 1st-team: how was he able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros? He felt that he belonged, just like when he started his sophomore year at Pitt. He was relaxed, which was his calling card.

In 1977 he averaged 26.6 PPG (#2 in the NBA behind only Pete Maravich): what made him such a great scorer? He had a great jump shot and was a really great offensive rebounder. He could go inside or outside and had good hands: he was a pure delight to watch.

He later served in the front office of several different NBA teams: how did he enjoy being an executive compared to being a player? I think that he enjoyed the process very much. He would have liked to be athletic director at Pitt: it was not meant to be but he still comes back to campus to take part in different ceremonies.

He was later voted to Pitt’s all-time starting 5: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? He really remembers his roots and is just a great person. He is the best player in Pitt history even though we have had many great ones.

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Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews NBA prospect Nic Claxton

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Jon Teitel

There are only a couple of weeks left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 20th. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. The Claxton family already had 1 NBA dream come true 25 years ago, as Charles was drafted by the Suns in 1994 and later played for the Celtics. Charles’ son Nic will try to make it 2-for-2 next week after leading the SEC in BLK last season and being projected to be selected in the 1st round by several mock drafts. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Nic about being a great defender and what it would mean to get drafted.

Coming out of high school you were recruited by several great schools including Baylor, Florida State, NC State, and South Carolina: what made you choose Georgia? Ultimately my love for the university. They did a great job of recruiting me: I almost went to Florida State but my visit here reaffirmed in my heart that I was making the right decision.

You have spent several summers playing for the Virgin Islands: how big is basketball down there? It is pretty big and in the future I will try to help them out in any way I can. They are trying to use basketball as a platform to get kids on the right path so that they can avoid drugs/violence.

In 2016 you played against the US in the FIBA Americas U-18 Championship: which of your opponents impressed you the most (Jarrett Allen/Mo Bamba/Trae Young/other)? I actually liked Michael Porter Jr. a lot: once he gets healthy I think he is going to be a problem for other people in the NBA. He has a really good shot and I expect to see him make a big splash.

You only started 5 games as a freshman but started all 32 games last year: what was the biggest change from year #1 to year #2? The coaching change at our school. Coach Tom Crean came in from day 1 and showed me how he was going to develop me and push me every day to be the best player that I could be.

In March you scored a career-high 25 PTS/9-12 FG in a 6-PT win at Florida (including a finger-licking celebration in the final minutes): was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yes: I was definitely locked in all game. We had lost several close games to finish February (4 in a row by a combined 9 PTS) so that night I took matters into my own hands: it was a good moment for our team.

Last year you led the SEC with 81 BLK and led your team with 34 STL: what is your secret for being a great defender? Having pride in playing defense, which I have had since I was young. I have a chip on my shoulder and I do not want my opponent to score against me. Being 6’11” also helps!

You made the SEC Academic honor roll during each of the past 2 years: how much importance do you place on academics, and do you plan to eventually get your degree? Definitely. My parents (especially my mom) are really big on academics so I have always tried to balance basketball with school. I plan to finish my degree either during my playing days or afterward so I know that I will eventually come back to campus to graduate.

Your father Charles was an all-SEC player at Georgia who later joined the Celtics and your younger brother Chase has signed to play basketball at Winthrop: who is the best athlete in the family? I have a lot of confidence in myself so I will have to say me! All 3 of us are great athletes and I am extremely proud of my brother.

Why did you decide to turn pro? I did not know if I would be keeping my name in the draft but I decided to stay after getting some good feedback from teams at the combine.

What would it mean to you to get drafted? Hearing my name called on draft night would be a huge blessing so I will just keep praying/working until then.

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Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews NBA prospect James Batemon

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Jon Teitel

There are only a couple of weeks left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 20th. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. Some guys enter college as blue-chip prospects while others enter with a chip on their shoulders. James Batemon was the latter but his resume grew greatly last season: 1st-team all-WCC, led the league in STL, and almost led his Loyola Marymount team to a CBI title. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with James about being a great PG and what it would mean to get drafted.

You grew up in Wisconsin and began your college career at North Dakota State College of Science where you were a 2-time All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It meant a lot to me and my family. I had a chip on my shoulder after being lightly-recruited so it was helpful to get that junior college background before getting to where I wanted to be.

How did you end up at Loyola Marymount? I fell in love with the coach during my visit. They reached out to me after my junior college season was over and LA was a hot spot with great weather and a great opportunity for me.

You played for Coach Mike Dunlap: what makes him such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? He teaches the game a lot and is great at Xs and Os. He taught me so many small things like certain angles on the floor and different kinds of schemes, all of which were very helpful.

You started 30 games in your 1st year in Los Angeles and led the team in scoring: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I wanted to prove everyone wrong who had overlooked me. We had a bunch of new guys and I knew that someone needed to be a scorer/facilitator. I led the team in scoring as a PG after playing SG during my 1st year in North Dakota. When you are playing with good teammates you can feel confident distributing the ball more often.

In 2018 you were the only player in the top-5 of the WCC in PTS/AST: how do you balance your scoring with your passing? Your teammates have a lot to do with it. If I was too conservative my teammates/coaches would tell me to be more aggressive. I am just a ballplayer but if I take too many shots then I will start trying to get my guys involved more.

Last year you led the conference with 54 STL: what is the key to being a great defender? Reaction time, covering ground, and just being in the right position. I also took more than 10 charges last season!

You were named 1st-team all-WCC: how does the WCC compare to some of the best conferences in the country? I think we compare pretty well to the Power-5 conferences. Gonzaga was clearly 1st and Portland was clearly last but everyone else in the league was competing hard against each other.

In the 2019 CBI semifinals you scored 9 PTS in a 9-PT loss at eventual champion South Florida: how close did you come to winning a title? We came very close and were right there. They took off on us in the final minutes and had a crazy scoring run. It seemed like it was called differently than on the West Coast but you cannot blame the officials.

How has the pre-draft process gone so far while you rehab from tendinitis, and how is your health doing at the moment? It has been great. I played the whole season with severe tendinitis in my knee. I did not know that at the time but I did not want to miss the whole season so I just sucked it up and played. My rehab is going great and I am close to being 100%, then I will be back on the court going full-speed in no time. I noticed a drop speed-wise last year but I want to be 100% for the scouts.

What would it mean to you to get drafted? It would mean a lot! Even if I do not get drafted I just want the opportunity to work out for a team and show them what I have. To go from junior college to D-1 was the 1st step, and it would be a dream come true to play in the NBA: I cannot wait to see what is next!

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Happy Draft-iversary!: HoopsHD interviews former ETSU star Skeeter Swift

Posted on June 9, 2019 by Jon Teitel

With the 2019 NBA draft taking place later this month, we will spend the next couple of weeks taking a walk down memory lane with a choice collection of players who are celebrating an awesome anniversary this year. From a future Hall of Famer selected 2nd overall in 1959 (60th anniversary) through a conference POY picked in the 2nd round in 2009 (10th anniversary), these stars have all seen their dreams come true in past drafts. We continue our series with Skeeter Swift, who was a conference POY/All-American before being drafted by Milwaukee in 1969. He chose to join the ABA instead, where he became 1 of the best FT shooters in league history, then was hired at coach at Liberty and later won a high school national title as coach at Oak Hill Academy. Skeeter passed away in 2017 but HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with him several years ago and now brings you this never-before-published interview in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Skeeter getting drafted.

Your 1st amazing athletic accomplishment took place on the George Washington (now TC Williams) High School football field in September 1963 when you drop-kicked a field goal at the end of the 1st half in a win over Annandale: why did you do a drop-kick, and did the fans know what the heck you were doing? The fans had no idea what was going on. 1 of my assistant coaches showed me how to do it and on Friday the 13th against the #1 team in the district I just got lucky!

You were named to the 1964/1965 All-Met teams (along with guys like John Hummer/Austin Carr) and played pickup games in DC against Hall of Famers like Elgin Baylor/Dave Bing: how good was the DC basketball scene back in the day, and how big an issue was race (if at all)? Hall of Famer Earl Lloyd summed it up best: once you cross the line, there is no race. In the 1960s I felt that DC metro basketball was the best in the country. The majority of All-Met guys got college basketball scholarships and a few even went on to play in the pros.

In 1965 you scored 21 PTS before fouling out in a 1-PT 2-OT win over Wakefield in the Northern District title game: what did it feel like to get a standing ovation from the fans who had been taunting you from the start of the game? They beat us pretty bad earlier in the year. We had to beat Washington & Lee twice in a week just to get the chance to play Wakefield. The highlight of the Wakefield game came when I was sitting on the bench after fouling out and a group of their players came over to shake my hand and tell me that I played a hell of a game. At that time it was the biggest gym in the area so it was a great atmosphere.

In 1966 you attended the famous Texas Western-Kentucky NCAA championship game: what was the reaction like from the crowd, and could you tell how big a deal it was at the time? You will think I am a wacko but I did not even know it was the title game! I saw Bobby Joe Hill steal the ball 3 times and I saw Big Daddy Lattin dunk it: it was a great game. My favorite part of the movie “Glory Road” is when the team gets off the airplane at the end and we get to see that they all made it in the game of life.

You were recruited by several famous college coaches (including Lefty Driesell/Frank McGuire): why did you decide to attend East Tennessee State? I was not the best at academics but ETSU was willing to take a chance on me. I graduated in 4 years with a 2.5 GPA. We were playing in Richmond after their coach had told me he thought I was too fat and after I made a long shot I turned to ask him, “Did that look like the shot of a fat man?!”

In 1966 you scored 20.9 PPG and were named OVC ROY: how were you able to come in and be so successful right from the start? I was driven to be accepted and felt that I would be accepted if we won. Integration broke in around 1965/1966 and we had the best players in the area because the SEC would not recruit Black players. We were not able to play on the varsity back then.

Take me through the 1968 NCAA tourney:
You had 22 PTS/10 REB in a 7-PT win over Florida State: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? FSU coach Hugh Durham was considered to be the best defensive coach in the country and Dave Cowens had led them to a #2 national ranking. I got stronger as the game progressed and just manhandled the guards on the offensive end. After the game Durham said I looked like a Marine drill sergeant!

You scored 21 PTS in a 7-PT loss to Ohio State: what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? We got a police escort back to campus after the FSU game and they had just had a panty raid on our ultra-conservative campus! I did not play really well against OSU and all of their big men were able to get rebounds. We did not play well down the stretch because after playing to win in the 1st half we were playing not to lose in the 2nd half. The consolation game was not that fun: it is a losers’ game.

You made all 18 of your FTs during the tourney: what is your secret for being a great FT shooter? I did a lot of work as I was coming up: I would shoot in the wind, rain, snow, etc. I was not a great scorer but I was always a great shooter. I learned from Hal “Bulldog” Greer who shot FTs the same way that he shot jumpers.

In 1968 you scored 20 PTS in an 8-PT upset of Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium and taunted the Blue Devil fans by walking off the court as you made your final FT: did you really know that it was going in, and how did the Cameron Crazies of the 1960s compare to the present-day edition? Duke invited us to play at their place and thought they would beat us really bad. It is a dungeon look-alike when empty but is gorgeous on game-day. I had a 5’10” guy guarding me so I posted him up a lot. When the final FT left my hand I just ran off the court as it was going in even though there were 20 seconds left. Everyone was interviewing me after the game. Duke might have beaten us 9 out of 10 times…but that night was our night.

In 1969 you had an arena-record 41 PTS (15-26 FG) in a win at Western Kentucky: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? That was my last game in Diddle Arena: I loved playing there in front of 10,000+ people. WKU had 3 guys who were 7’ tall. My mentality is that if my 1st shot goes in then the rest of the night I will be in a zone. I could be a shooter if need be but I liked to pass the ball.

You were a 3-time All-OVC performer, 1968 conference POY, and an All-American: what did it mean to you to win such outstanding honors? Considering the talent I played against it was truly an honor and being named POY was really a highlight. I was also MVP of the Tennessee-Kentucky All-Star Game in Nashville.

You were drafted 31st overall by Milwaukee in the 1969 NBA draft (2 spots ahead of Norm Van Lier), but opted to take an offer from the ABA’s expansion New Orleans Buccaneers: why did you choose the ABA over the NBA, and do you have any regrets? Can you imagine how stupid I was: I could have been the 2 guard on a Milwaukee team with Oscar Robertson/Lew Alcindor!  However, the name of the game was money: New Orleans offered me a 3-year no-cut contract and Milwaukee only offered me a 1-year deal. The ABA was a funny league but had some great talent so I have no regrets.

Your career 84.1 FT% is #9 in ABA history (ahead of legends like George Gervin/Rick Mount): do you feel like you were 1 of the best FT shooters in pro basketball? Oh yeah: there is no doubt! Today’s players play above the rim more than ever before and FT shooting is also getting better. I remember Wilt Chamberlain dunking the ball from the FT line: it is a no-brainer that he is the best to ever play the game.

In 1977 you became head coach at Liberty: why did you decide to get into coaching, and what was it like to work for Reverend Jerry Falwell? In order to be a good coach you have to be a good teacher. I was very immature at the time and did not know how to handle that kind of environment: I would jump up, throw my coat, etc. Reverend Falwell was a great motivator but I probably should not have made the move until I was more mature.

In 1979 you became coach at Oak Hill Academy, where you went 61-1 (including 58 wins in a row) and won the 1980 national title: what did it mean to you to win the title, and why did you ever get out of the coaching business? Despite going 61-1 I got fired after refusing to play a guy who was flunking English. I took the position in the spring when they had only 2 games on the schedule so I started scheduling anyone that I could. My rule was that you had to make a 2.5 GPA or go home. I hired an assistant coach who was the real coach and we had a few McDonald’s All-Americans. We ran a clean program and all of our seniors got scholarships: it was disappointing to leave.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I would like to be known as the Pete Rose of basketball…even though I did not bet on my team! I was the consummate team player and a winner who never left anything out on the floor.

*You can find more information on Trey Williams’ book about Skeeter at: www.facebook.com/pg/skeeterswiftbook/posts

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Happy Draft-iversary!: HoopsHD interviews Seton Hall legend Nick Werkman

Posted on June 8, 2019 by Jon Teitel

With the 2019 NBA draft taking place later this month, we will spend the next few weeks taking a walk down memory lane with a choice collection of players who are celebrating an awesome anniversary this year. From a future Hall of Famer selected 2nd overall in 1959 (60th anniversary) through a conference POY picked in the 2nd round in 2009 (10th anniversary), these stars have all seen their dreams come true in past drafts. We continue our series with Nick Werkman, who played basketball at Seton Hall before being drafted by the Celtics in 1964. His grammar school team won 100 consecutive games, his high school team won the Parochial A state championship during each of his 4 years, and after joining the Pirates he ended up with 2273 PTS/1036 REB in only 3 seasons. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Nick about being 1 of the greatest scorers in NCAA history and the 55th anniversary of getting drafted.

Your nickname was “Nick the Quick”: who gave you the nickname, and how did you like it? I loved it. I got it from our athletic department in my sophomore year. Oscar Robertson had a nickname, as did many others because it was just the fashion of the time. It rhymed…but I do not know if I was that fast!

In 1961 the school received a multi-year ban from playing in a national tourney due to its involvement in a point-shaving scandal: why did you decide to stay at Seton Hall knowing that you would never get to play in the postseason? In hindsight I made a mistake: I probably should have changed schools because I did not realize how damaging it would be to my career. We originally traveled all over the country but then our schedule changed a lot and we were only allowed to play on the East Coast. My freshman team was undefeated and the varsity team that year was very good as well so we expected to be a top-5 team. To be honest, nobody knew exactly what to do. I was recruited by schools like Kentucky/St. John’s/etc. 1 reason that I went to Seton Hall was because our biggest home games were at Madison Square Garden: the rest of the games were at our home gym. It was fantastic to play there and I got a pass to go to the Garden anytime I wanted to. Many people say I saved the program but I did not save myself because I never played in a postseason tourney.

In 1963 you led the nation with 29.5 PPG: did you feel like you were the best player in the country? I thought that I was the best in the country during each of my years there!

That same year you were also named an All-American: what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding honor? It was great because back then people stayed in college for 4 years so everyone wanted to be an All-American. My whole life I wanted to be on a Wheaties box so I never drank/smoked/did drugs…but I picked the same year that Mickey Mantle made it! It is nice to watch a guy like Jeremy Lin breathe some fresh air into the sport. I was the 1st in my family to go to college: I came from a blue-collar family. My 1st contract was for $8500 so I do not know how a player like Allen Iverson can lose (or even spend) $90 million!

In 1964 you won the Haggerty Award (which is given to the All-Metropolitan New York D-1 POY): how big a deal was the Haggerty Award back then? It was for the best player in the metro area so it was a tremendous honor. NYU was great, as were Manhattan/St. John’s, so there were a lot of All-Americans competing for it. NYC is the mecca of basketball and pro basketball was not as big back then. People would come to MSG to show their stuff.

Your career 32 PPG is #9 all-time in D-1 history: what was your secret for being a great scorer? My secret is a little different from what most people think. I was not a guy who could fit into a category like guard or forward: I was an all-around type of scorer. I would score a few baskets on the fast break, a few more around the basket, and then several more on foul shots. I was not always a pure shooter but I was tough to stop because I could post up or take my opponent outside. We were scoring in the 90s when most other teams scored in the 60s. We won 4 state titles in high school and I averaged about 20 PPG with several other teammates in double-figures. When you play for a balanced team like that you never expect to make the leap to 30 PPG. I was triple-teamed during every game.

In the summer of 1964 you were drafted 43rd overall by Boston but never played in an NBA game: did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of getting drafted, or other? I never wanted to be drafted by the Celtics. They had just won 9 of 11 titles with Hall of Famer John Havlicek playing 20 minutes off the bench. You know how far down I was on the bench: you needed a spyglass just to find me! That dynasty was so set that it was hard to make the team so I was just battling for a roster spot. I figured that I would be drafted by a nearby team like the Knicks or 76ers so that all my friends could come see me play. The dream of my life would have been to get drafted by the Knicks: then maybe I could have become the 1st Jeremy Lin. Bob Cousy was coaching Boston College at the time and he was the 1 who recommended me after I scored 40+ PTS against his team.

What have you been up to since retiring from basketball? I got married to my college girlfriend and we had 3 children. My son Nick was all-state in baseball and got a tryout with the Yankees. I coached at Stockton State and was assistant AD for 10 years.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I am the Muhammad Ali of Seton Hall: the man who made it on his own.

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