Eastern Pike 08-09

[seetherfan]

i heard from a player that kevin was the 5th or 6th leading rebounder on the team so how can u say that he is going to be a beast on the glass when he hasnt changed since last year? i heard him and cole work on there outside game more then there inside game and when are they ever going to be coming outside of the paint?? cole has some good moves and could be a really good player but it takes him 5 min to figure out what move to do

[Eagle eye]

I don't know what part of Kevin's game he is working on, but I know for a fact that Kole's dad makes him work on his post skills. Kole's post moves are a little slower than the norm but... 1) he was only a sophomore and 2) that's why he shines because he doesn't force what's not there. One of the biggest handicaps on this team is height, and Kevin is a good 2-3 inches taller than everyone else. Also, he has an edge in size and strength, so disciplining Kevin in the art of boxing out and rebounding will be more advantageous than working with any other player on that skill. I do agree with you as far as this past year, but it was the first year either of them had significant varsity experience.

[felix22]

Kole does work alot on the outside now and he has improved but he dont need to be out there.He also works on inside too and he seems to have gotten some better moves.I watch him play all the time and he has improved tremendously.

Kevin Montgomery also works on the outside and he can shoot pretty good,but hes not the best.Him and Kole play together alot considering their size is good to practice against each other.

I know for a fact that recently Lawhorn hurt his back and hasnt attended all the open gyms.He still goes and he works very hard. He has a good shot and has a good future during his junior and senior year.

Helton cant use his left hand all that good.He dont work with it much either.I actually saw at his house that his basketball rim isnt 10 foot high which could ruin his shot over the summer.

Osborne has a ton of good moves and he is a very athletic person overall.His moves that he makes to get down into the post needs to be improved.If you get a defensive team it will be difficult for him to do that.Also if they get a ref that calls travels he needs to be careful and make it to where he wont travel.Also in his freshman year in the Holiday Tournament he made a last second shot to put it into overtime.That was impressive for a freshman under that kind of pressure.

[crossover]

Some of the things i read on here are unbelievable. Just because somebody has a low rim at there house doesnt mean that they have to use it. It could have been a little brother or cousin. It sounds to me that some people on here have some friends or family on the team because the way that some of these players are put out to be is nothing the way they are.

[bystander]

The question is---what is the coaching staff willing to do to make 2008-09 a respectable season and improve from last season. It was obvious that the slow down game did not work for you guys last year. The Eastern community is used to seeing a "run and gun" game and it has shown success in the past. I was at the first game of the season last year, it was UP TEMPO and it was exciting. YOU WON!!! What happened after that?

Another question---is Helton coming back at point?

[felix22]

i know for a fact that he uses the small rim i saw him shooting on it

[jumpman]

Crossover,
I agree, I think some of the posters on this thread are parents, friends, or even the players themselves. Some of the things I've read have made no sense or are completely off base. I'm not going to comment on the players or coaches, but what I will say to bystander is that just because the community is used to seeing run & gun, doesn't mean that's what they should be doing. Look at the players on this team and the players on the teams the last few years. There is no comparison. However, go back to the 99-01 teams, they weren't nearly the athletes as the 04-06 teams but were successful by slowing it down and being extremely patient. Also, to run and gun a team has to be at least 8 or 9 strong players deep. You have to adjust your style according to the players you have.

[bystander]

crossover,

I'm not saying that run and gun is the answer, but the slow game didn't work much last year either, so they need to do something different? Quicker et less passing might help. You can't score if you don't shoot and they sure passed up alot of opportunity to shoot last year.

For the kids who are not showing up in open gyms---are they involved in other sports that might interfere with the "right after school schedule". Or are they just not dedicated to basketball until November gets here and wouldn't come anyway.

I here Lawhorn has been playing AAU basketball, 4 or 5 of the guys played baseball, and others ran track, so what's a small school to do when it relies on the same athletes to participate in all the sports?

A comment on the post players--hopefully they will mature a little this year and recognize that they can dish back out sometimes when you don't have a good opportunity to score.

[felix22]

i know for a fact that Helton didnt participate in baseball or track

for most though baseball is over and track for some so why cant thay come now?

[bystander]

Baseball is not over for some of them and actually some of them will play up into August. Summer used to be for baseball, but now kids have to juggle multiple sports if they want to participate. Hopefully coaches are willing to help with juggling schedules and are understanding. Its the best for all involved, especially at the small schools where the same athletes participate in every sport.

[felix22]

for a matter of fact i went to the last baseball game so i know its over because they lost

[J-Bird]

Earlier I was asked who I thought my starting five would be. My starting five would be:

Point Guard(1) - Jacob Helton: Good ball handler, can shoot the ball, and probably the quickest player on the team. As the point guard though, I would like to see his assist total improve. Its important for a pointgaurd on any team that he gets easy points for the rest of the team and finds them in positions to score.

Shooting Guard(2)(Can also play 1 or 3) - Derek Lawhorn: The teams best pure shooter and a top defender that plays with a lot of heart. Also has good ball handling skills and can help Jacob bring up the ball when needed. His assist total needs to improve as well.

The offense, a lot of times last year looked stagnate. Ball movement can become contagious and lead to easier baskets. This team has smart basketball players, they just need to have more confidence in themselves.

Small Forward(3)(Can also play 2 or 4) - Bryan Osborne: Best athlete on the team and best scorer. He can score in a variety of ways and has the athletic ability to play in the post some as well. He is also a solid defender.

Power Forward(4)(Can also play 5) - Kole Wheeler: Best post scorer on the team. Has excellent post moves for a player only 6'2" and patient in his offense. You hardly see him force a shot. Can run the floor with anyone on the team when he wants too and fights hard for rebounds. I agree with other people on here that he can be lazy at times. If he can overcome that I see him becoming one of the top post players in the SOC the next couple years.

Center(5) - Kevin Montgomery: He has God given size and strength you just can't teach. However, he can be taught to use it to the best of his abilities. He may have been fifth last year in rebounding, (in part due to his lack of rebounding technique) but his playing time fluctuated as well. He should be first in rebounds, but no less than third behind Bryan and Kole. His size can give the eagles 6 to 8 easy points a game in rebounds and putbacks. No other player on the team can guarantee the team that.

These five can play uptempo or slow down. Kevin is the only one that may not be able to run with the rest, but his size will help the team defensively. He can also get them easy buckets on missed shots as stated earlier.

Off the bench will be Nate Deweese(can play 3 or 4) - Has a decent shot, can handle the ball if needed, and the size to play down low. Doug Mcvey(can play 2 or 3) Good shooter and scrappy defender, with decent ball handling skills. Bret Williams(can play 3 or 4) Has perfected the pump fake step in jump shot, can also handle the ball if needed and plays with a lot of heart. Any of these three can be subbed in at anytime and not much will change in the flow of the game for the team.

[bystander]

felix

high school baseball is over, but some of these kids still play in summer baseball leagues which are just now beginning and can last for weeks

Jumper is correct though things will be okay come November which is a long time away yet .

I think it unfair judgement to assume that because a kid misses an open gym now that they will not be prepared come November, the ones not prepared are those who do nothing and expect everything.

[Eaglefan]

Sure is a lot of basketball talk for a season so far way. I am glad to see the interest. Since this is my first post i will comment on several thing I have just read.

The Eagles are young and the coach is new. I think that was the problem last year. I know Coach PJ was a good basketball player but that doesn't make him a good coach. Only time will tell that. For now i am behind him hoping for great success. Eastern is small and he only has so many boys to choose from. It will be his job to teach them everything they need to know to carry out his game plans. Not an easy job. However if he is up to the task and he works hard and spends some needed one on one time with some of his players there should be improvement in the team. That's right to build his team he needs to work one on one with the boys he has available to him. A good basketball team is made up of five individual players on the court at a time playing one on one as a team. Even the last man on the bench should have a roll to play. If that player cant or does not have a roll to play the he should not be on the team.

PJ has picks. It is only human nature for any one to like some people better than other people. But if he wants to be a truly good basketball coach he needs to put that aside and play the best that he has available to him.
He may hope that his favorites do well and play well but just because they are boys he likes doesn't mean they should be on the court all of the time. Perhaps they are roll players for now or maybe he will teach them and they will improve and be the go to players he needs. OR maybe not. As I mentioned above Eastern is a small school and he only has so many players available. He will need to develop all of them to truly be successful. He has an unknown amount of talent. How will he utilize it?

[Eaglesnest]

This thread is very odd. Looks like we have our own players or worse their parents putting down the teams players and coaching staff 5 months before the season even starts?

Favorites and picks....looks like somebody's "little Johny" just isn't getting enough playing time? Sad commentary.

[bystander]

nest
you sound a bit defensive---what makes you so sure that the players or parents are posting negative threads---maybe it is just someone who has loved "eagle" basketball for many years and wants to offer an opinion --- you yourself have offered some opinions that could be taken the wrong way

hopefully anyone posting is being constructive and not critical and the same for those who are reading

since it is only June all this talk is premature anyway

[Eaglefan]

Eaglesnets:

Don't be so quick to judge. I made no criticism of PJ or the players. I want to see them nothing but successful. Wont all Eagle Fans be happy to see the team winners showing the improvement thru hard work and perseverance? Won't we all be happy to see that?

What would the big guys on ESPN say about the Eagles during the off season. That they have a lot to do or work on to be successful? PJ himself would say that and I don't mean to be putting words in the coaches mouth.

Sorry you disagree!! Sorry if i offended you? I thought this was a forum?

[CoachFitch]

I am glad to see some interest on here for Eastern Eagle Basketball. I am thankful of those that appear to support myself and coach Hines, and respectful of those that do not. We only WON 4 games last season, and therefore "second" guessing and hind sight are expected. It is what makes this game so wonderful. There is always more than one way to skin a cat and a different way isn't necessarily the wrong way...but it is still different.

Nonetheless, I will respond to a few concerns that my players have brought to my attention. Forums are for discussion, but need to be accurate.
The following items are not:
1. Eaglefan suggesting that I have "picks." Nothing could be farther from the truth. I am always available to all of my players and have "sat" everyone of them at different times in games and have sat with them all at lunch throughout the year. My players and students know that I am there for everyone one of them at all times.

2. J-Bird stating that I slowed the game down every possession and Crossover stating that I would n't let them run. Totally false. We work on our break every day in practice. Unfortunately, due largely to our youth, inadequate ball handling, and lack of quickness(again youth!), we didn't outquick people down the floor, advance the ball with the pass, or get needed easy baskets. Our lack of scoring was due to our poor shooting(35% from 2, <30% from 3, and 58% from the line). Our transition game and team shooting will be much improved this season as our younger players will be a year wiser, quicker, and stronger.

3. For those wandering about the Symmes Valley game, I can't comment as it is under review. All I can say is those folks who were there know what happened.

4. For bystander wandering what the staff is willing to do...I have been available 4 days a week for weight conditioning/open gym the very day that we were allowed to hold those activities. I can honestly tell you that myself and Coach Hines are more than doing our part and I am glad to do it. We have a full summer program in place. My staff from 7th grade on up are committed to the big picture and have bought into my system(Our talented 7th grade team went 15-1 running it). Our hurdle, as Coach Caldwell relayed to me initially, is getting adequate participation(some due to multi-sport athletes which is expected and ok and some due to lack of commitment and laziness). I am thankful to report that I had 10 varisty players at our Monday night league game last night. That is a good sign for the future!

I have a great group of kids with much potential. Potential and talent are two different things. I have worked with many kids in the past with more talent. However, as I tell my players all the time, HARD WORK BEATS TALENT WHEN TALENT QUITS WORKING HARD! So, if this group will band together, put the team first above any individual agenda, and work hard then we will see significant strides made this year. We have room to improve in every aspect of the game. I would only request that we all focus on what players can do to make themselves the best players that they can be and what I can do to be the best coach that I can be. Remember, the kids read this stuff. We need to encourage them and challenge them to reach their potential and become the best they can be. I am blessed to get to work with this group of players and look forward to turning things around next season. Feel free to PM me if you wish to.

GO EAGLES!

[Eaglesnest]

I apologize if anything that I posted could be viewed as "offensive" to any player or coach. Coach Fitch, if you wish us to focus on what aspects of the game that the players should focus on in order to be better players, then here is my 2 cents:

Osborne-I hope he works on his outside shot and ball handling. If he does, he will be a complete players and a very difficult cover.

Helton-has to work on ballhandling and "looking up" on the break. His outside shot could also be improved.

Wheeler-must improve his strength and decision making. Make his move or kick it out!

Williams-must improve his decision making and shot selection. He seems to pass up open shots and then force at other times.

Lawhorne-must improve strength, quickness, and decision making. I've heard he has a good shot, but seemed to struggle when I saw him. Still, I love how hard he plays!

Big Kid (can't remember his name)-post moves....post moves....and more post moves.

Deweese-outside shot and conditioning.

Tall, thin guard-ball handling and shot selection.

Anyhow, I hope all of the players will put in the time to get better individually because then they will also be better collectively.

Best of luck!