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Steve Nash Skills Academy News and Notes

By: Alex Schwartz

Steve Nash Interview

CSN: This camp is broke down into two parts which is he high school kids and the college kids, what is the biggest difference in the two?

SN: "I think the strength and expercience, the college kids are a little stronger, they've been lifting weights with their programs and also just been growing as men so there is a physical difference and then I think also mentally, these guys have been playing in difficult enviroments and have been playing with more pressure and the fact they've been playing against better players gives them alot of experience."

PS:Is there a big 'wow' factor for you seeing some of these kids and just saying to yourself you can't believe how good they are at such a young age?

SN: "Of course, some of them are so young and yet so talented already, you feel like you have to check their birth certificates, they're clever and it's great to see. It's a beautiful thing to see the game is still strong and the kids are still excited and passionate about it."

CSN:Some people have trashed North American basketball in saying the European skill level and their development programs are much better, are camps like these things that North American basketball are using to combat that?

SN:"I think so, you know it is true that the world has caught up in some areas. I think to come here and to really put players in a camp just for their positions, just for the skills it really takes to succeed at that position is a way to give these kids an opportunity to make steps that maybe they wouldn't make if they didn't have this opportunity so maybe it is a response to the growth of the game around the world but I think with camps like this the rebuttal will be strong."

AZ: A couple of the high school kids, Lance Stephenson and Dexter Strickland are going to try out for the Under-18 USA team, competing against college kids, do you think some of these kids could play on a u-18 USA team of college kids and do you think there's renewed pride to try and play for USA since the Americans have suffered a little bit lately?

SN: "I dont know about the renewed pride...they may not be as good or not all of them will be as good right now but they're capable of playing with them and I think a few of them will fit right in."

CSN:X's and O's wise what are the most important things you try and teach these kids in this kind of setting?

SN: "Well I think the biggest thing that we're trying to teach at the point guard academy is the pick and roll...the pick and roll is such a huge part of the game and it's also one of the most difficult things for a young player to learn and it takes years and years and you always are getting better at it and I think we only give them the tools so they give themselves a chance to get better at it every year because I think it's something that even I'm still improving at and hopefully if we can give them the tools and the insight they can continue to improve and make rapid gains."

KA:With the high school guys especially, change of speed and using speed to your advantage, not always going 100 miles an hour, is that something you notice with some of these guys? that they're trying to get some things done too quickly?

SN: "Yeah, I think it's a trait of alot of young players is that they rush a little bit, they're in a hurry. You want to allow them to slow down a little bit, use their speed to their advantage and I think once you go at full speed all the time the defense can key in on you but if you change pace, change speeds, change directions then you give yourself a chance to really allow your speed to be an advantage."

CSN:The NBA draft was on Thursday so since your here talk about what you guys did and what you saw in the draft in general.

SN:"All I heard is that we got Robin Lopez (Stanford) so I'm excited about that, it's nice to have some size and athleticism...I think he's an intelligent kid so it will be a great addition to our team but I didnt see much of the draft after that."

PS:Talk about how Steve Nash at the same age might have fared at a camp like this?

SN:"Well, I think I would have done okay because I was a hard worker, I had good skills and I was creative but I think physically these guys are ahead of me and when I went to Santa Clara it took me a little while to catch up to the level and the speed of the game so I think these kids, physically, are ahead of me from when I was their age, it took me a little while to catch up."

AZ:Talk about what the New York Knicks new coach Mike D'Antoni can bring to the Knicks?

SN:"I think Mike's going to be great for them and the city, it's kind of the center of basketball in many ways, it is such a great basketball city and the struggles the Knicks have had have been painful for the fans. I think Mike's going to be fantastic, they're going to play a little bit different style than they're used to in in New York. It's probably been a few years since they got up and down the floor the way he'll want them to but he's such a talented and intelligent coach that I think he can't help but have a great impact on the team."

Lance Stephenson Sr. Interview

NB: So what schools is Lance really considering?

LS:"UCLA, Kansas, USC, St. John's and Memphis"

NB:What do you think Lance needs to work on the most?

LS:"A little bit of everything, he has an all-around game so he's got to keep brushing up on everything, all his tools...It's not that one thing that I can say he needs to work on, just everything he needs to just keep getting better everyday."

NB:What do you see as the strong points in Lance's game?

LS:"His strength, his agility, he's real quick, he's got good lateral movement, he's explosive, he's got the compete package right now."

NB:When Lance was young did you see him having the potential to be such a talented player?

LS:"Yes, from day one I knew he was going to be a real talented player, just like my other son."

NB:Other than you and Lance, who else is going to be involved in the decision process for college?

SN: "Lance's Mom, that's about it, his high school coach (Dwayne "Tiny" Morton of Lincoln HS) has a little bit of influence as well."

NB:Is Lance going to eventually make the final decision or is it just going to be a group decision?

LS: "I would say he is going to make the final decision, we're just going to give him all the information and let him decide what he want's to do."

NB:Is there a school that you favor at the moment?

LS:"Right now my favorite school is UCLA"

NB: What makes the Bruins stand out to you?

LS:"The tradition, the conference, the style of play, they let their guard play pretty free."

NB:Do you think Lance is a lock to be a one-an-done player in college?

LS: "No, nothing is a lock, he still has to play the games, I wouldn't say he's a lock, he still has alot of work to do."

NB:What are you most proud of Lance for?

LS:"Just staying with it, and never folding, he's kept he same demeanor all the way through high school, he hasn't let the media change his game, he still has his attitude, he still has his agressiveness and that's what I'm most proud of him for...he's designed his game and stuck with it."

NB: What are Lance's plans for July during the evalutation period?

LS:"He'll be trying out for the 18u USA team."

Tony Wroten Interview

NB: What school's are you currently considering?

TW:"Man there's alot, I got a long list...it's Louisville, Syracuse, Villanova, Memphis, Maryland, Seton Hall, Washington, I can go on and on, I don't even know what my top 5 is right now."

NB:How many scholarship offers do you have at this point and from who?

TW:" One and it's from the Washington Huskies"

NB:What is it like being such a young player and having so much attention?

TW:"It's great because alot of people come to your games, all eyes are on you but then again I can't think all about me because it's about my team and then the game will follow so it's a nice privelege to have people come see me and to have my games packed."

NB:What's the strongest point of your game?

TW:"My vision, I'm an all-around player, I'm like Magic Johnson basically."

NB: What's the weakest point of your game at the moment?

TW: Right now I'd say my opposite hand (right hand)."

NB: Are you the best player in the 2011 class?

TW:"Yes, by far...I'm not saying that to be cocky, I'm just saying it to be confident. The reason is because I can do it all...shoot, dribble, go to the hole, play D and I always want to guard the best player on the other team that's why a few days ago I wanted to guard Lance Stephenson and John Wall because they are the best and that's why I think I'm the best in the class."

Austin Rivers Interview

NB:What was it like watching your Dad coach the Celtics to the NBA championship?

AR:"It didn't really sink in until the next day, it was crazy, it was probably the craziest thing to ever happen and probably the best day of my life so far."

NB: Do you kind of feel like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders?

AR: "Yeah, I think he can actually relax now, now he's at least won one and he has none of that pressure about having all those great players and not succeeding, so I think he's more relaxed now."

NB:What's it been like for you being around NBA players all your life?

AR:"It's different, it's helped me alot because they teach you alot of stuff. I don't train with them or play with them that much, I just go in my backyard and play but it's alot different, they teach you stuff and it's fun."

NB:What are the biggest stength's of your game?

AR:"I would say my jump shot because it can open me up and when they have to play close and then I think I am quick enough to go by alot of people and I can penetrate and score ."

NB:What would you say are some of the weaknesses you have to work on?

AR: "I would say my strength, compared to some of these dudes that are pretty big. You got Lance (Stephenson), and Tommy (Mason-Griffin) over here who look like football players so I need to get a bit stronger and bigger."

CSN=Comcast Sports Net

PS=Patrick Stanwood

AZ=Adam Zagoria

KA=Kevin Armstrong

NB=Northstar Basketball

This article is associated with the following player(s):
Rivers, Austin
Stephenson, Lance
Wroten, Tony

POSTED: 7-7-2008

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