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Monday, May 20, 2013

Jamail Jones Interview

Photo Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson
I had the opportunity to interview Jamail Jones, Marquette transfer, who will finally step out on the court next year for FGCU. He is a 6'6" F/G with great athleticism and talent; Jones played senior year at Montverde Academy and was #53 on ESPN 150. Be sure to thank Jamail Jones for stopping by and enjoy.

 Liam Jones: You obviously have practiced with new coach Joe Dooley, how do you think it compares to practices with Coach Enfield?

Jamail Jones: "Coach Enfield was a little more relaxed, Dooley is relaxed but a little bit more intense and more disciplined and expects us to do these things when Coach Enfield really gave us a more free lance type of deal."

LJ: You transferred to FGCU and now have gone through a coaching change, how do you stay focused on improving your game while going through these changes?


Photo Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson
JJ: "I'm not gonna lie, when I first hear Coach Enfield was leaving, it was kind of a shock but not really a shock because me and him discussed it if like a opportunity were to come, he would obviously take it if it was a better situation than what he was in but as far as, I don't really let which coach dictate how I play. I always give a 110% percent and listen to coaches so I just have been working extremely hard to prepare my game and help my teammates."

LJ: When you transferred, what was attractive about FGCU, the university and the basketball program, and do you think that is still there today with Enfield leaving?

JJ: "He was a pretty big reason why I came but when I initially enrolled in school, change isn't always bad, obviously the change for me was good, the program, the coaching staff that we have, the student body, the campus, everything is so FGCU, and I'm happy to be here even with Enfield is gone because I developed that relationship with my assistant coaches, with the students, with my teammates so it was really about him [Enfield] before I got there but once I got there it became much bigger than just the relationship I had with him."

Photo Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson
LJ: Coach Dooley just added Tulane transfer Marc Eddy-Norelia, what is your advice for him and other transfers to stay motivated even with a year of sitting out?

JJ: "I know I could tell them that a year sitting out, its no fun but you just have to approach it as if you were playing. What helped me get through my year was coaches not taking it easy on my just because I had a year sitting out, they treated me as if I was suiting up for each and every game and you just have to take that. That year will go by fast and treating like that will help expedite the process.

LJ: Sitting out, you can still practice but how do you stay on top of your game without that fast paced in game action?

JJ: That aspect is pretty tough but you just have to stay on your conditioning, that is the most vital things but it is also one of the hardest things to do because you feel 'I have a long year ahead of me, I don't really have to work on my conditioning' well before you know it, the year will be over. So that extra conditioning will always keep you in tip top shape cause practicing with the team will help you but once they go on road trips, you don't have practice everyday. They leave on a Wednesday and don't get back until Sunday, you have to take it upon yourself to get to the gym and the treadmill, ride the bike or whatever. It is a tough process but also helps you develop into a young man."

LJ: What is the part of your game that you think will most benefit the teams overall performance?

JJ: "Main thing, is leadership. There were some times during the season where we had some rough patches, we lost 2 or 3 game losing streak and I feel that during those tough times we didn't really have one leader to step up and hold people accountable and hold themselves accountable and pull the team together when there are tough times in a game. I feel that I get along with my teammates and it is one of the vital aspects of a team. Me, I'm all about the team, whether I score 20 points, it doesn't really matter, as long as we win.

LJ: None of you want to be a one and done team, how do you guys continue to stay focused for next year and strive to be even better?

JJ: "Not being complacent, we have to remember what got us there and continue to build on top of that. Now we know what it takes and people know that our school is not a push over, we are a legitimate Division I team, now we have to continue to live up to that. Teams will now look at us 'We can't take these guys lightly, NCAA tournament, they got the nickname Dunk City'. We have to come into every game like we have a target. We can get complacent or we can get hungrier but not too greedy."

(All photos were taken by Linwood Ferguson during FGCU scrimmage in 2012)
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Thursday, May 16, 2013

Sherwood Brown Interview Extended

I was able to ask Sherwood Brown some other questions, along with the Road To the NBA. Here are his responses. Enjoy and feel free to leave comments/suggestions.

"Coach Enfield is a really good shooter, one thing he definitely helped me with was my shooting form, he took my shooting form to another level, made me a more consistent shooter. Also he helped me work on 1 on 1 moves to help become a better all around scorer. He gave me confidence. You can't do much in this type of business unless you have a lot of confidence."

"The pace of the game, its definitely a lot faster pace than in college but even though, our team we played at a very fast pace anyways so I don't think it will be too hard for me to adjust to. But its a long season, one thing I definitely have to be able to do is take care of my body the whole season, stay durable."

"One thing I have always been good at is rebounding the ball, for my size. No matter what level. My coach always said 'If you're a good rebounder in high school, you're going to be a good rebounder in college, you're going to be a good rebounder in the next level, wherever you end up. That is definitely something I can take to the next level."

"When I started going to FGCU, one thing I definitely wanted to do is be the beginning of something new, so it just feels that much better when you set out do to something and you accomplish that goal."

"We had a pretty good season, we lost some games that we felt we should have won but we also won some games that were total confidence boosters, we beat University of Miami, that was a huge confidence booster for us. We played Duke, we played them tough, that was also a big confidence booster. After we went into the tournament, we knew he had a really good team we just had to keep everyone on the same page at the right time and that's what we did, we just got on a good little winning streak and carried it on."

"We beat Georgetown. A lot of teams, after the win the first game, then they just satisfy, but we were always hungry and that helped lead us to more victories."

"Its definitely a dream come true. Everyone has a dream, every basketball player has a dream of playing in the NBA and so to actually get a chance to make my dream become a reality is just really special to me"

"Yeah, coming out of high school I was always the underdog and it helped me, its just gave me that motivation to play hard and get better. Me being the underdog, something that I'm used to so I just gotta take that hunger and continue to do what I do best and stay motivated"
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Road To the NBA: With Sherwood Brown (Episode 1)


I was able to sit down with Sherwood Brown and bring you the first episode of the Road To the NBA. Here is the overall timeline of the process so far, he will be checking in again to do the next episode in a couple of weeks. I asked other questions as well, let me know if you want me to post the full interview. Please Enjoy.

"It all started with, I had to get an agent right after the tournament ended because there was kind of a lot of stuff that I was missing out on just because I hadn't had an agent yet. I got an agent about a week and half after the tournament was over. Seth Cohen is my agent (Verus NBA Management). My AAU coach, she hooked me up with my agent right now."

"And ever since then, I came up here [Chicago] about two weeks and I started working out with tech. You know it has been a lot of gruesome workouts but I'm here for the intense workouts. I have been doing three a days, three times a week and every other day has been 2 a days. I am just here working hard."

"I am going to continue to work out and get better at some skills that I need to possess at the next level. In the next couple of weeks I will be having some workouts with some NBA teams so I'm going to continue to stay conditioned and get ready for those."

"I'm gonna have a sit down with my agent tomorrow and he has a couple of teams lined up for me to go work out with so after I talk to him tomorrow I will find out about my schedule for the next couple of months."

Idea: Only Gators

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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Off-Season Guide 1: Women's Soccer

The Eagles, led by Shannen Wacker, ended the season with a 14-4-3 record and a lone conference loss to UNF (7-1-1 conference record) to earn a A-Sun Regular Season Championship for the 3rd year in a row. After earning the #1 seed in the A-Sun Tournament, FGCU beat #5 Jacksonville en route to scraping by #2 Mercer in the finals, 1-0 (OT). The Eagles had to travel to Gainesville to take on the Gators in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. UF scored in the 22nd minute and then again in 77th to capture a 2-0 victory.



Photo Courtesy of Jim Dostie
FGCU will be losing seniors Jessica Swartzentruber, Danielle Faller, Jennifer Crittenberger, Julia Martin, and Ashely Ciesielczyk. They all certainly left their mark on FGCU soccer. Crittenberger is fifth all time in minutes (5853) and games started (64) in FGCU history. Faller has a constant motor that led her to start all 78 games in her career. Ciesielczyk is first on the all time FGCU list for assists with 28. Swartzentruber returned from an injury to play her last game at FGCU in the NCAA tournament against UF. Martin had a key assist in the A-Sun semi-finals to lead their team to victory. 

Post-Season accolades are not a rare occurrence for FGCU. This year, Jim Blankenship was named A-Sun Coach of the Year and Ashely Ciesielczyk earned the A-Sun defensive player of the year. Shannen Wacker, Ally Kasun joined Ciesielczyk on the All Conference First Team and Danielle Faller, Jennifer Crittenberger, Emma Blackwell, and Shea Rhoney earned A-Sun Second Team honors.

It will be hard to replace all the great talent and personalities these seniors had but Jim Blankenship did a phenomenal job bringing in great young talent. Lauren Knight, Ashely Parks, Paulina Speckmaler (transfer), Tabitha Tindell, and Yazmin Velez all signed NLIs to FGCU. 

FGCU Soccer contributed to the Eagles being named A-Sun Women's All Sport Champions.
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Sunday, May 5, 2013

Eddie Keith II Interview

Today I was able to interview Eddie Keith II, small forward for Edgewater High School in Orlando and Florida Elite (AAU). He currently has offers from Florida Atlantic, FGCU, Georgia Southern, Jacksonville, Charleston, Gardner Webb and has interest from multiple other schools. It was over the phone and the call was breaking up so please excuse and breaks or pauses. Please Enjoy!

Liam Jones: So you are playing Florida Elite, tell me what that is like?

Eddie Keith: Florida Elite, at any given time anyone on the team could take over at the game. I love those guys, it’s a very good environment. I love the coaching staff

LJ: Wherever you end up playing, what do your pride yourself on, what is the biggest asset you will bring to the team?

EK: My competitiveness basically, score the basketball, play defense, whatever my team needs me to do.

LJ: So what affect did the Sweet Sixteen run have on your view of Florida Gulf Coast?

EK: I’ve kept up with them since they offered. Coach Enfield, the head coach, came to my high school to watch me work out and stuff, kept in contact pretty well, gave me a couple pointers on my shot and consistency. The run didn’t really surprise me at all, I always thought they could.

LJ: You talked about Coach Enfield but what do you know about their new Coach Dooley?

EK: I haven’t even talked to him yet; I only really know he came from Kansas.

LJ: Do you think you would fit into the system there?

EK: When Coach Enfield was there, I loved the system, they played up and down. I don’t really know what the new coach is going to do yet so.
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