Friday, January 13th, 2012 at 7:36 pm  |  one response

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Hoophall Classic Talk

Head coaches of Simeon, Oak Hill, Findlay Prep and Prestonwood Christian talk hoops in anticipation to the Hoophall Classic this weekend.

Franklyn Calle / @FrankieC7

With arguably the most prestigious national high school showcase in the calendar – the Hoophall Classic – on the horizon, SLAM was among the selected few media members that were invited to partake in a conference call earlier this week with the head coaches from four of top programs slated to participate: Robert Smith of Simeon, Steve Smith of Oak Hill, Mike Peck of Findlay Prep and Chris Mayberry of Prestonwood Christian. The following were some of topics touched on during the call.

Robert Smith, Simeon (Play against Findlay Prep on Monday, Jan. 16 at 3pm EST)

On being ranked the top team in the nation:
“It’s been okay. The guys have taking it in stride which has been good. There hasn’t been that much pressure; a little bit more than we’re used to but it hasn’t been that much.”

Experience on previous Hoophall experience:
“It was great for our kids. Some of the young men didn’t even know what the Hall of Fame was or where it was at so that was great for them to be able to come down, see that, and venture that. Jabari [Parker], I think he was a freshman when he came down so it was great for him. And for him to come back is great. It was a great experience. The kids loved it. Unfortunately, we lost. But it was a great experience for the whole coaching staff and the kids.”

On Jabari Parker and the spotlight he’s garnered:
“That’s when he plays his best, when he’s on that level. So he can definitely showcase how good he is and let everyone know that what they read about him is not fake. He’s a very humble young man. He goes about everything the right way and that’s what I love about him.”

Steve Smith, Oak Hill (Play against Prestonwood Christian Academy on Saturday, Jan 14 at 6pm EST)

On participating in the Hoophall Classic:
“Well, we’ve been there I’m not sure how many years in a row but it’s several–probably five or six. It’s a great experience for our guys. Most of them have never been to the Hall of Fame with the exception of the kids that are returning to our rosters from last year. They hear about it but we get to take them there. They get to see the Hall. In the high school section there’s a locker up there that has some information on Oak Hill, so they always get a kick out of seeing that since their school is represented there. Then they just go through the halls and see the exhibits and so forth. And then playing in the game is always a big thrill for them. Great crowds at Springfield College. We’re hoping to play well. We’ve actually lost the last two years so we’re excited to come back up there again and play. The fans are always good there. It’s more of  a neutral crowd. We’re usually on the road a lot and play in some hostile venues. This is not one of those. It’s a good crowd. They’re there to watch basketball. They appreciate the game of basketball and support both teams. It’s a good experience to play there because you always play a high level opponent and this year we’re playing Prestonwood and once again we’ll have our work cut out for us.”

On preparing his players for a typical Oak Hill schedule:
“Well, we talk about it earlier in the year. They can tell when traveling on the road what it means for other teams to play us. The crowds. The opponents, everything about the game. It’s always a big game. It’s probably, besides a state championship game, for most team it’s their biggest game of the year–and they take it that way. So our team has to approach each game that way too or we’ll get caught up in something we don’t want to be a part of. So our players know it, they understand it, and appreciate what it means to play for Oak Hill and what it means for teams to play against Oak Hill. We’ve had this basketball program since the middle 70s so there’s a tradition with it. They know the players that have played here and the teams that have played before them, and they’re always comparing themselves to past teams and past players. I think our guys know, once they’re here about three or four weeks, they realize that the school has a tradition and the basketball team is kind of a fraternity with the guys that have gone on to play in college and the pro. Our guys know we have a tradition and that it’s a big deal when teams play us.”

On Tyler Lewis and Jordan Adams:
“Tyler’s our point guard. He’s the guy that’s making us go this year. He’s probably our most valuable player up to this point. He doesn’t look like a basketball player when you see him. He’s 5-11 and that’s stretching him out. Not very athletic but he really has a good feel for the game. He understand his position on the floor at the point. He directs the team on both ends of the floor. He’s kind of the guy that has made us go so far.

And then Jordan Adams and Devaunte Smith Rivera are our other guards. We play three guards, start three guards. They are our leading scorers. Jordan averages about 16 and Devaunte averages about 18. Tyler, our point guard, is our third leading scorer. And then we have a guard off the bench, R.J. Curington, averaging double-figures. Those four guys are all double-figure scorers for us. Devaunte is going to Georgetown, Jordan is going to UCLA. They are key on offense for us.  And then we have a big guy in the middle –AJ Hammons–he’s about 6-11. When he plays well then we’re an awful good team. Some nights AJ takes the night off for whatever reason. Something is funny about big guys but when we get him motivated and playing then we have a really good team.”

On this year’s team and the possibility of having a player make the McDonald’s All-American game:
“We may not have one [a McDonald's All-American] and if we have one it’ll be an upset because we don’t have anybody that’s really a top 25 player. Now Tyler Lewis is playing like one of the top point guards in the country and I hope he gets some votes to that end, and the other guys are probably on the outside looking in. We’ve had I think a McDonald’s All-American every year since like 1999 or something like that. But I’ve enjoyed coaching this team. They don’t have a lot of egos. They play well together. They share the ball. Most nights they get after it on the defensive end. We’ve had a couple of occasions where I thought they should have been better and those were the nights where we struggled. The team has played really well and they get along together. When one guy has an off night it doesn’t really hurt us. When you have a McDonald’s All-American you rely on the guy so much and when he has an off night you struggle. With our guys, when a guy has an off night–we probably got eight or nine Division I players counting the juniors–so I can easily find somebody to spell somebody if they not really playing well or not doing what we want them to do. So I really like the making of the team.”

On Jabari Parker:
“I love watching Jabari play. He actually, when he was in the seventh grade he came to my camp here at Oak Hill. So I saw him when he was a young kid playing, I knew how good he was going to be at that point. He came with RJ Curington who ended up coming to school here–they were buddies. But Jabari is a great player. And in my opinion he’s the best player out there regardless of class. I just love watching him play. He’s so smart, got a great feel. He can score inside, outside. I mean, he can do it all. I just love watching him play. I just think he’s the best player out there. And his team is good obviously. I watched him play the other night. He doesn’t have to shoot it everytime down. He involves his teammates. He’ll play on both ends of the floor. He’ll rebound. I saw how excited he was when his team won too. He’s a guy I like to watch play.”

Mike Peck, Findlay Prep (Play against Simeon High School on Monday, Jan. 16 at 3pm EST)

On playing on the Hoophall classic:
“Being our third year back, we’re excited about playing. It’s a great event. I think the venue, like Steve said–the fans, the support–they just want to watch good basketball. So it makes for a good environment instead of just an environment where it’s hostile, which sometimes on the road we all face. Our kids are always excited about it. The TV, being on ESPN, it’s special in terms of your player and program–your exposure. But I just think it’s a neat experience, you know, how it’s connected with the hoop Hall of Fame and getting guys–exposing them to that part of it so they could see the history and tradition of basketball. And then tying it with the Martin Luther King weekend, I think it’s kind of a neat timing and experience for everybody. So we’re excited about the opportunity.”

On the ESPN National High School invitational and attempting to win it this year after having won it all in 2009 and 2010:
“I think it’s a great event because it gives you something to play for. We’re not part of our state tournament and as you know there’s no 50-state national tournament. So it kind of gives that meaning or purpose and some closure to your season; a finale if you will for your season. So it gives guys something to look forward to in terms of a final event or tournament, in terms of winner takes all type of mindset. So that’s something we definitely look forward to and kind of gear things towards.”

On Brandon Ashley and Anthony Bennett:
“Brandon Ashley and Anthony Bennett are two inside presences for us that have an impact on our game and the way we play just because of their versatility. They are not leaving it just to the block. They can step out, face-up and do multiple things in terms of handle it, pass it, you know, drive it and shoot it. They are a key part of what makes us go. One area that we challenge them on is defensively. I think they’ve gotten a lot better over the last coupe of weeks just in terms of readiness and desire to play defense. That’s the end that they really need to help us out on–the defensive presence, altering shots in there, rebounding, deterring opponents from wanting to drive it in there offensively. I think it’s going to be huge for us and it’s important for them to embrace that.”

On suffering their first and only loss of the season to LaLumiere:
“Unfortunately, I think this might have been a group that needed something like that to be honest with you. I’ve said that to them and to a few folks. I think, [initially] a little bit of disappointment, a little bit of shock to some of them. Nonetheless, the reality is when you don’t come and bring it on any given night–like I always say, if a guy is tall, short, fat or skinny, it doesn’t matter, if they’re making shots they got a chance to win. LaLumiere, I thought they were a very good team that night. They had good pieces in terms of their size and match-ups with us. And then they made some shots. They made some key shots at the right times for them. We just put ourselves in too deep of a hole in that first half and couldn’t get out of it completely, but made a good run at the end and made it interesting but in the end came up short.”

On Anthony Bennett’s recruiting:
“He’s okay with the uncommitted part. He just trimmed his list to five and he’s not doing anything until after the season in terms of making that final decision. I think he feels he’s in a very good spot. We feel like he’s in a good spot for him. It’s not anything that he needs to lose sleep over or worry about. He got good options and choices. I think it’s just about making the best educated decision for him in terms of going to the right system that’s best going to suit him as a player and where he can have the most success maybe quicker than later.”

Chris Mayberry, Prestonwood Christian Academy (Play against Oak Hill Academy on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 6pm EST)

On playing at the Hoophall Classic:
“I’m new here at Prestonwood and a new coach I guess more on a national level. So it’s just a blessing from the Lord for us. We’re just excited. My nine-year old son is so pumped. He wakes up everyday asking, ‘When are we going to the Hall of Fame?’ So it’s just a great honor. I’ve been following high school basketball since I was a young kid. I don’t mean to date Steve Smith but I was watching him coach and following Oak Hill when I was in high school. So that was a long time ago.”

On Julius Randle:
“Quite honestly, it’s really not him as a player, although he’s really good, and don’t get me wrong about that, he’s just a great young man. He does everything I ask him to do. He stays late, comes in early. Gets it done in the classroom. He’s just a special kid that God has bless with some unique abilities.”

On the experience he hopes his team gets this weekend:
“Just respecting the game and where the game comes from. I think that’s a big part of what we try to do here–just play the right way and really work hard. The whole experience is just going to be a great life lesson to our guys about respecting the past and being part of the present, just continuing basketball in the future–that’s what we’re excited about.”