Who was watching him?
Andrew Wiggins scored 47 points against the Lakers Sunday; he led the way in the Wolves 125-99 win over my Lakers. The headline reads “who was watching him” because nobody was guarding him or more likely playing matador defense. This 2015 Rookie of the Year continues to raise his game and it brings to mind a past comment.
At the barber shop one of the barbers a big-time Kansas fan made the statement. “Wiggins is playing to not get hurt” indicating Wiggins was preparing to leave school all along. Drafted by the Cavs we figured he would earn his NBA stripes playing along side LeBron James. Fate was to intervene in Wiggins future, a trade was orchestrated with the Wolves who exchanged Kevin Love for the youngster.
A new player
We hear the University of Alabama football almost always come to mind but that might be changing, the school now intends to become a basketball school too. Alabama always played the sport however in football crazy State of Alabama round ball has played second fiddle to that oblong ball. This began to change with the hiring of the “Little General” Avery Johnson. Johnson was hired in 2015 as head coach many wondered including yours truly. The new hire had plenty of coaching experience but all of it was at the NBA level. Would he be able to recruit, could he relate to 18, 19 and 20-year olds? Those were just two of the questions we had regarding Johnson.
I’m unsure the number of players Johnson inherited however he was able to guide the team to an 18-15 record (8-10 conference). Alabama finished the post-season playing in the NIT Tournament. How about 2017 you ask, we don’t know yet however in the recruiting department Alabama is competing with the Big Boys. The school has landed high in the 2017 Recruiting Class in fact ESPN Recruiting Nation rates Alabama with the number three best class in the nation. If this were football you might be pleasantly surprised, since this is basketball it’s almost shocking news.
Below the radar
To basketball crazy Carolina fans he was hardly noticeable; inserted in the game at the end of a blowout. North Carolina freshman Shea Rush saw exactly one minute of action against Chattanooga and scored 2 points. Folks from the Kansas City Metro are familiar with the Rush name, he’s the son of Jaron Rush. There is plenty of argument raging here but in some circles Jaron is considered the best high school player who ever played in the KC Metro.
Jaron was an All-State high school player at Pembroke High in Kansas City (MO). After graduation he headed west for UCLA, his play was outstanding at times during his freshmen year however change was in the air. Jaron made the decision to leave UCLA and head for the NBA or at least that’s what he believed. The telephone call Jaron expected never came from the NBA and he became another soul mislead by some surrounding him and his own personal demons. As for son Shea he’s got game although he’s not quite as flashy or has the glamour of his father.
When I heard the 6-6 200 pound Rush was headed to North Carolina as a walk-on candidate I was mystified. I believed he exhibited enough talent to be a starter somewhere he certainly wouldn’t receive playing time at loaded Carolina. Then I remembered his dad was supposed to be “signed, sealed and delivered” to Kansas until he changed his mind. The connection Roy Williams was the coach recruiting Jaron while at Kansas so it appears he secured a Rush years later now at Carolina.
