Majok back in the fold
by UConnBlog Justin on Jul 19, 2009 11:59 PM EDT
Email
Print
Somewhere, Coach Cal is fist-pumping.
After months of noncommittal statements and gauging the interest of every professional club on the planet, Ater Majok told The Courant's Mike Anthony he will definitely be playing for UConn next season. For Majok, who declared for the NBA draft without signing an agent and then pulled his name from consideration, the educational opportunities at UConn were just too important to pass up. You know, once playing professionally was out of the question.
"Education comes first, so I'm going to get my education," Majok said Sunday at the Greater Hartford Pro-Am, breaking a three-month silence. "The decision is for me to get my law degree. It was tough, all the pressure and stuff. Now, it's not about that. It's time for me to get to work on school and the team."
The decision came just in time. I don't know if sources close to Majok could come up with any more vague statements to describe where the Majok man stood. But I guess you can't hold it against Majok for pursuing his professional options considering he was, you know, a refugee from a war-torn country.
And although he won't be able to suit up until second semester, Majok's return could make UConn the favorite to win the Big East next season. Anthony, who has been watching Majok at the Hartford Pro-Am, couldn't help but be impressed by the 6-10 forward in action.
"Majok needs to improve his ballhandling, get a better nose for the ball while rebounding and not travel as often as he does. All that will come with time and structure under Jim Calhoun at UConn. Though it's hard to truly judge a player in the loosely-coached, defense-lacking pro-am, Majok appears just to need to be more sound with the ball -- like most inexperienced big guys.
But, man, does ever have a presence -- long and fast and strong. He plays like a wing. His fadeaway is money."
Not money enough to make him money, but we'll take it.
3 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I’m not really that enthused by that report. It sounds like he’s a 3 who wont bang at all. It’ll be tough to get minutes, in that case. Plus, if he’s athletic and 6’10", he should really be getting rebounds and blocking shots and not taking fadeaways.
But I guess I’m being unreasonable. If that’s his game, that’s his game. Maybe he’ll improve his handle and be a matchup nightmare at the 3 next year.
by gxpanos on Jul 20, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions
And it’s good to have him (back?), obviously. It’s easy to give him a lot of crap because of the Favrian decision-making skills, and because he obviously didnt REALLY want to go to school, but we have to remember that the clearinghouse screwed him, and, you know, he’s a refugee from a war-torn country trying to help his family. Good job bringing that up, Jesus. I think if we’re ever annoyed with his game this year we should keep that in mind.
by gxpanos on Jul 20, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions
Yeah, when I read he had a traveling problem I was a little taken aback. But perhaps Cal can teach him the crab dribble.
And the fact that he’s more of a 3/4 hybrid may be better for the team in the long run. Gavin is more of your typical loafing power forward (sans intimidating glares) who can rebound and whatnot. So if you have Big Chuck, Gavin/Oriakhi on the court with him, who guards Majok?
And I think I heard Cal say he has the wingspan of a 7-footer, so he may be like Thabeet in that he doesn’t really have to be a good defender to be good at defense (if that makes sense). He can just kind of stumble into blocks because he’s so tall.
by Justin Verrier on Jul 20, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
