Big Names, Bigger Bodies: Day One

Day One of the Pan-Am XV Trials was all about the big men. The biggest names in sports journalism – ESPN’s senior college basketball writer Andy Katz, SI’s Seth Davis, and the Philadelphia Daily News’ Dick Jerardi mixed and mingled among the NBA scouts and college coaches, taking time to exchange pleasantries in between some serious dunks that could flush the color right off the official FIBA ball, which is so ugly it wouldn’t even be used as a “money ball” for a 3-point competition. The big men of the coaching universe worked the room, all wearing a different color-of-the-flag polo coded to match their role as a member of the selection committee or the coaching staff. Jay Wright and his coaching crew adorned white and briefly guided the players through a four-out, one-in zone offense before dividing the group up for shooting drills and then about an hour’s worth of scrimmages. Jim Boeheim, Ernie Kent (Oregon) and the blue shirts remained on the sidelines as spectators for most of the two hours. However, the biggest men in the arena drew the most attention, regardless of celebrity. With the international paint area lines taped on the floor of the Gooding Arena courts, there was extra space to see these huge bodies take to the sky.

Indiana PF D.J. White showed a number of weapons in his offensive arsenal, ranging from a powerful drop step to a classic sky hook. I don’t believe that he’s 6’9’’ 251 lbs. either. He looked just as beefy as PF Richard Hendrix, who is probably just under his listed weight of 265 lbs. During shooting drills, White consistently knocked down shots from fifteen feet. During a fast-break drill he gave his best Daryl Dawkins impression with a two-handed tomahawk monster jam. But White wasn’t even the consensus pick to click. Memphis PF Joey Dorsey was nearly unstoppable within ten feet of the basket. It would have been impossible to miss this guy. While nobody saw him attempt a shot from anywhere outside the paint, everyone did see him make C Roy Hibbert a total non-factor on the boards on a number of trips with tenacious box-outs. Dorsey also took advantage of the FIBA international rule that allows players to touch the basketball while it is on or above the cylinder. He almost leapfrogged an unsuspecting guard when he tip-dunked a SG Derrick Low missed leaner. Even the most composed journalists gave their neighbor a wide-eyed silent stare before continuing to check out the action.

(Dorsey stuffing an anonymous blue team player like an envelope)

PF Ahmad Nivins of St. Joe’s got some attention on a couple of freakish athletic plays. There was a visible rustle of papers along the sideline, in which everyone took another glance at their roster sheet. Who is number 38 again?

Another surprise was the play of C Roy Hibbert. Hibb was not the dominant auto-basket that most people expected on day one. At times, his feet looked like they were nailed into the floor. He finished a couple of baskets on nice interior passes from penetrating guards, but could not seem to get comfortable with his back to the basket. But the first day is not of great concern to anyone, including the head coach. Jay Wright commented after the scrimmages concluded that no impressions are set in stone after the first day. “You learn not to get too excited the first night,” said Wright. “Some guys don’t come in in great shape. Some guys flew across the country. There’s a lot of things. That’s why it’s good that we have five sessions – you really need that time,” he added.

Whether it’s from the big men or the guards, Team USA will need more than the big-bodied athleticism on display today. When asked about the key to competing on the international level, Wright noted one thing: skill. “Skill – you gotta have guys with skill all over the floor. They’re so good offensively it’s tough to just say we’re gonna go shut them down. You gotta be able to score with them.”

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Aside from Dorsey’s jam, the other highlight of the afternoon was a move PG Eric Maynor made on SG DeMarcus Nelson. Nelson shot off the ground on a number of occasions, nabbing offensive boards when he outleaped much bigger opponents. And he also needed to hop off the floor when Maynor hit him with a quick double cross-over in the backcourt. Nelson lost his balance when Maynor shifted back to his left and could only put his arm down to try to keep his balance.

Despite adding two invitees to the Trials, USA Basketball was not allowed to bring Dominic James and Sean Singletary into the fold. These late additions were not on the original submission to the overarching Pan-American body. Thus, we’re back at thirty players.

More to come tomorrow, the first practice of a double-session starts at 10 AM.