Enjoyed seeing Jarvis Hayes again. Good to have the interviews, but I would have preferred to see the team do more drills. It was much more "Media Day" than "Live Stream of Practice." Guess we won't know about much about how the guys look until the exhibition game.
With that said, here are a few observations:
Kenny Gaines looks thicker. Without seeing him move around, it's hard to tell if he's put on good weight, or whether he has gained weight because he hasn't been able to participate fully in conditioning drills.
Juwan Parker has a brace on his leg. Likely means he won't play much at the beginning of the year.
Fox has Turtle Jackson learning the point. Great to be three-deep at the point guard position, especially in light of the two recruits scheduled to come in next year, but it makes me wonder what we will do this year if Kenny and Juwan don't heal completely. I guess that by learning the point, Jackson should be able to know where the two-guard is supposed to go, so it stands to reason that he could play the shooting guard position if needed.
E'Torrion Wilridge does indeed have a nice stroke. Elbow is locked in tight and good follow-through.
Derek Ogbeide is a man in the post. Once again, I am reminded of Cordy Glenn, a guy who got better and better every year on the O-line for the football Dawgs. It's rare to get a stocky guy who also plays above the rim. Jeremy Price and Takais Brown were two former Dawgs hoops players who had the beef, but lacked the explosiveness. Chris Barnes of a few years ago is probably the best comparison.
Fox seems to think that Kenny Paul Geno took a significant step forward in the off-season. KPG is such a "tweener" that I really don't expect him to get a lot of minutes. He can jump and has a fairly reasonable shooting motion if he gets his feet set. However, he doesn't seem big enough for the power forward position, nor quick enough for the wing. If he scores 5 points a night, I would be surprised. I would love to be wrong.
They are referring to Mike Edwards as being 6' 10". Is that right? Whether he's 6' 9" or 10", if he runs the floor like they say he can, he will be a load for other teams to handle this year.
Watch the video linked below. But in case the link ever is taken down, here are a few tidbits:
Mack wants to go somewhere where the coaching staff is stable, and where he gets to play right away.
He knows he can score the ball, but he wants to work on defense and rebounding, getting stronger and being more explosive in his leaping ability.
Also says that his mother is heavily involved with the decision, although his college choice is ultimately his decision. Lots of teams talking to him, but he has five actual offers on the table.
Sounds to me like Texas is in first place (relationship with Shaka Smart), then South Carolina (hometown hero possibility), then UGA (close to home, can play right away).
If I'm Ms. Mack, I wouldn't want my son playing for Coach Martin. He's in a bit of a hot seat situation, Even if he weren't, Martin is an in your face screamer. South Carolina's version of Andy Landers. Some guys need that, but I wouldn't entrust my son to that kind of treatment.
In UGA's favor, we really don't have a wing on the roster. Fact is, we haven't had a scoring wing in a long, long time. Only guy that comes to mind right now is Jarvis Hayes.
For the present, Georgia can make do with hybrid 3/4 guys, like Wilridge and Geno, or we can stick out there a combo guard, like Mann and Parker (assuming Parker comes back healthy). Bottom line is that if Tevin Mack comes to Athens, he starts right away.
Mack's eyes must light up a bit when he considers UGA. We're offensively challenged. We need a maker. When we have guys that can score the ball, we can get them to the League. Don't remember anybody recent from South Carolina who has made it.
and discussing how happy I am for Jonas, I thought it appropriate to provide the link for an article I posted a few years ago. The article is mostly about the charitable efforts of Jonas' brother, Jarvis, but it still gives insight on how Jonas and Jarvis were raised and the lasting impact that their parents have had on the Atlanta area.
And just in case NorthJersey.com ever gets rid of the article, I include below an excerpt from the text.
Nets are Winners Where it Counts
Jarvis Hayes grew up minutes from downtown Atlanta and walking distance from Bankhead Courts and Bankhead Highway, a rough area rife with homelessness, gangs, violence, crime and drugs. Hayes’ brothers were robbed at gunpoint twice and one witnessed their cousin being murdered.
CARMINE GALASSO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Brook Lopez, right, and Devin Harris, next to Lopez on left, with other members of the Nets serve a pre-Thanksgiving meal at the Montclair Citadel Salvation Army.
Hayes vowed to help clean up things where he was raised and make a difference, and the Nets’ forward is making good on his promise.
Last week, Thanksgiving came early as the Jarvis Hayes Foundation teamed with Feed the Children and distributed boxes of non-perishable food, hygiene products and other items to 400 families at Compassion Atlanta, an organization that helps the needy in and around the area where Hayes grew up.
“Not only do I want to give back to the community that I’m a part of, but as a professional athlete I feel like it’s an obligation to help out,” Hayes said. “I was blessed to be in the position I’m in to be a professional athlete. I feel like it’s my obligation to bless someone else, if at all possible.”
Hayes, who is out with a hamstring injury, started his foundation in May 2007. His giving spirit was inspired by his parents.
When Hayes was a youngster, his brother Marcus brought home a boy who basically was on his own. Hayes’ parents took him in and made him part of the family. To this day, Hayes considers Raheem Waller, a Florida A&M assistant basketball coach, his brother.
“Ever since then, from the heart my parents have, it kind of was instilled in me to never turn your back or if you can help somebody, help them,” Hayes said. “That’s how I am today.”
Bankhead Courts was the area where the famous Atlanta child murders of 1979-81 took place. Hayes was born in 1981, and saw enough to know things could have gone very differently had he not followed the lead of his strong parents.
“We’ve seen a lot of drugs, robbery, guns,” he said. “It wasn’t good. We all were blessed to make it out. We all in our own way are making a difference.”
This is the second straight year Hayes’ foundation has fed people for Thanksgiving, and there’s more to come.
Hayes hopes to team with his church in Carrollton, Ga., about 50 miles west of Atlanta, to stage a similar event for Christmas. He also will sponsor a child.
Hayes recently started an after-school program with Maynard Jackson Small Learning Communities to help kids improve their grades and prepare them for Georgia’s standardized tests. A program is in the works to teach student-athletes how to balance academics and sports. Hayes’ parents made sure he received good grades or he couldn’t play sports.
“It feels good just to make an impact,” Hayes said. “I do it for no other reason but to make an impact.
“It’s my obligation. … No matter how good it was and how bad it was you can never forget where home is. I fortunately haven’t.”
Complete game for the Dawgs in the win over Texas A&M. Wow, it sure does feel good to get the W.
Congrats, too, to Coach Fox. He mixed in a little press, gave Kenny Gaines a few more minutes, and kept his guys from letting the game get away late in the second half.
I'm not a Larry Conley fan. Not by a long stretch. But he was right on target in his commentary that Kentavious is probably more valuable to his team than any other player in the SEC. We might have won a couple of games this season without KCP, but just a couple. Kentavious plays great defense, gets the team out on the break, rebounds the ball and this year has really increased his shooting percentage.
I can't think of any shooting guard that Georgia has ever had that brings more to the table than KCP. Kentavious is averaging 17 points and 6 boards a game and shooting a respectable 42 percent from the field. He also gets 2 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
In the last ten years we've had designated three-point shooters like Ricky McPhee who also did pretty well on the defensive end. Gerald Robinson could drive on anybody, but he was more of a second point guard. Corey Butler played some at the two-guard, but he was a defensive ace, rather than a scorer. Billy Humphrey could shoot, but he had hobbled wheels for a portion of his career, and I don't remember him rebounding the ball much.
Levi Stukes was a shooting guard in a point guard's body. Ezra Williams could shoot, but he didn't have much of a mid-range game. Jarvis Hayes was more of a small forward. D.A. Layne could score, but see my description of Levi Stukes above.
You'd have to go back to the era of Shandon and Willie Anderson to find Georgia's last big athletic two-guards, guys who could score, defend and rebound. But even then, the Anderson brothers were more scorers than shooters. If Kentavious is not the best ever UGA two-guard, then he's close. If basketball had a Heisman, KCP would get my vote.
Learn something new every day. I was completely unaware that Jarvis had a brother who coached at Georgia State. Easy to see the resemblance.
At any rate, Jarvis went over to Georgia State to visit his brother and talk with the Panthers team. Jarvis made some good comments on what it takes to make it in the pro's.
Would be good to get Jarvis and Jonas back in Athens from time to time. I'm sure that Howard Thompkins and Travis Leslie could benefit from hearing about the NBA experience.
I don't know what to think about Hayes' future in the League. The attached article is fairly upbeat. He'd like to return to the Nets. But with the injuries that he's had, will he get a shot to continue playing in the NBA?
If these guys weren't making so much money, you'd feel sorry for them.
There are a lot of unknowns in professional sports. I'm sure it's hard to be on the road so much, then be the subject of trade rumors.
Jarvis, in particular, must be wondering, because he hasn't been able to shake the injuries that have plagued his career. Would another team take a chance on him? If I'm the GM, I'd have to pass. In my heart of hearts, I really don't expect Hayes to be in the League next year.
Hopefully, Jarvis will get one more shot, and his legs will hold up so that he can show that he can help a team that needs a defender and a shot-maker on the perimeter.
For the rest of the guys, there are just a bunch of questions, not many answers. Playing on the last place team in the NBA is tough.
But how many of us wouldn't trade places with them in a New York (or New Jersey) minute?
Jarvis Hayes has made it back onto the court for the New Jersey Nets. He had a long recovery (32 games) due to a hamstring that was torn in two places.
In the game against Milwaukee, Jarvis scored 7 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 14 minutes. He shot 3 of 5 from the floor.
The Nets still lost the game, 98 to 76, but it sounds like Jarvis will be able to help them get just a little bit better as the season wears on. Hopefully, not too much, though, since the Nets play the Hawks tonight.
The Jarvis Hayes Foundation was active in lending a helping hand to families in need this holiday season.
Although Jarvis himself is busy with practice and games for the New Jersey Nets (while he recovers from his hamstring injury), Jarvis' parents led the charge in getting food to the needy.
Hayes is shown helping out the less fortunate in the attached video. His foundation continues to do good work in Atlanta, while he is playing for the New Jersey Nets.
Good article from the AJC. Dominique and Jarvis Hayes are quoted, as are Jalen Kendrick and Coach Hugh Durham.
It will take Coach Fox a while. He got Vincent Williams on board for 2009, and Gerald Robinson and Cady Lalanne for 2010.
But will the best players in the Atlanta area come to Athens?
Fox will have to see just what it takes to handle the Atlanta AAU scene. Since the NCAA is working to get new rules enacted, the relationships with AAU coaches should be cleaner. There shouldn't be as many issues with the perception of improper dealing, and all this should benefit Coach Fox as he seeks to develop ties within the basketball community.
The biggest issue is the Win and Loss record for Fox in his first year. If Fox can field a competitive and even winning team this fall and winter, then prospects will start to want to come to UGA.
Damien Wilkins had an incredible game in his first outing with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Wilkins scored 12 points, with 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals. To top matters off, he corraled a rebound at the end of the game and banked in a jump shot to defeat the New Jersey Nets. Final score: Wolves 95, Nets 93.
Wilkins' former teammate Jarvis Hayes played only sparingly for the Nets. Hayes is still recovering from problems with his shins. He may have come back too soon, since he reportedly suffered a hamstring injury after just a couple of minutes of competition.
I thought that this interview with Jarvis was worth posting. It goes into his thoughts for this year's season, his desires to come back from injuries, and his thoughts about becoming a father.
Unfortunately, before Hayes has been able to get started for the season, he has been temporarily sidelined by more injuries, this time to his shins. Still hoping he has a successful season with the Nets.
Hard to argue with Dime's analysis. Jarvis has always been an injury or two away from playing his best. The Nets are too young and too weak in the post to avoid the lower parts of the NBA Eastern Division.
Good to see Jarvis giving back to the community. His foundation supports the homeless, helps provide care for those with cancer and diabetes, and gives academic and athletic training to youth.
He and his wife, Illia, recently delivered Jarvis James Hayes II. A few details of the birth, including Jarvis' mad rush to the hospital, are included in the attached article from NBA.com.
Jarvis and the former Illia Miles, met at University of Georgia. Illia was an All-American in the 200 meters for UGA's track program.
We shall be expecting an early commit for the class of 2027. :-)
Hayes has battled through the knee injuries and is starting to really produce for the New Jersey Nets.
Hayes is averaging a career-high 9 points and 4 rebounds. He is shooting 45 percent from the floor, and almost 40 percent from behind the arc, and has earned more playing time this year.
Doubt he'll ever be a particularly high-riser, but he doesn't need to be. Play some reasonable defense and feed off of the penetrate and dish game that Devon Harris, New Jersey's star point guard, creates. If Hayes develops his spot-up shooting game, and keeps defenders honest by driving it every once in a while, he may have a long NBA career.
Jarvis Hayes is being recognized for his all-around game. He has turned into a reliable perimeter defender, and still shoots the ball very well.
Hayes really stood out in New Jersey's game against the Hawks this week. He hit 3 three-pointers, grabbed 4 rebounds and had 2 steals and an assist, with no turnovers.
He even participated in the last-second play by Vince Carter that won the game at the buzzer. He triggered the ball in from the sideline, Vince Carter ran to go get it, and then he launched a 35 footer that hit all-net.
