I will say I like what some of the older guys are saying.
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Freshmen get early test in K-State basketball program
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MANHATTAN — Summer workouts for college basketball teams provide incoming freshmen a small taste of what awaits them when fall classes begin and practice begins in earnest.
Kansas State freshmen Mike McGuirl, Levi Stockard and Nigel Shadd are getting that crash course on and off the court.
“It’s been kind of crazy because it’s a big transition, getting out of my house with my parents and being on my own,” said McGuirl, a 6-foot-2 guard from Ellington, Conn. “It’s my responsibility to be where I have to be so it’s a lot of work and a big transition.”
McGuirl seems to be adapting well.
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“Mike McGuirl might be the surprise of the summer,” coach Bruce Weber said. “He’s physically ready already. He’s very strong for a freshman coming in. He’s shot the ball very well and he has good athleticism.
“Is he there, yet? No, but he’s been a nice, pleasant surprise for us.”
McGuirl, who averaged 21 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists as a senior at East Catholic High School, could give the Wildcats an outside scoring threat.
“I can make shots and making shots helps any team win,” McGuirl said. “I’ll play bigger than my size. I’ll rebound and do the things the team needs to win.”
Weber also is pleased with the early progress of Shadd, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward from Mesa, Ariz., and Stockard, a 6-8, 250-pound forward from St. Louis.
“Levi and Nigel are typical freshmen but they are kind of opposites,” Weber said. “Nigel has the body, the physical presence and he’s been able to deal with the weights and conditioning and that part easier than Levi.
“Levi has the skill and understanding the game and he’s changing his body, and he’s done a great job. It’s a hard month to go through things but he has great skills.”
Shadd, who played at a small, private high school (Tri-City Christian Academy) is making a big leap in competition level.
“In high school, I played mainly against guys that were Mike’s height,” Shadd said, pointing to the 6-2 McGuirl. “At this level, I’m average height. I like it. It’s more of a challenge, but it’s a struggle.”
Stockard, who played on back-to-back Missouri 4A state championship teams at Vashon High School, also is meeting the challenge.
“I feel like I’m fitting in pretty well,” Stockard said. “I feel I can bring toughness. I can guard the four and the five, so I’m very versatile, and I can score.”
Neither player has backed down from the challenge.
“Thomas Gipson (former Wildcat) came (last) week and he said he was beating the heck out of those guys and they didn’t even budge,” Weber said.
“The new guys are a lot more physical than I was coming in,” said junior forward Dean Wade. “They are a lot more ready than I was my freshman year, so I feel like they’re a step ahead of where I was.”
Weber said there is one key area that could lead to playing time for the young big men.
“I tell them, ‘You want minutes, rebound,’ ” Weber said.
That suits Shadd, who had 27 rebounds in one game and averaged 18.5 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks his senior season.
“I like doing the dirty work,” he said. “I’m more of a rebounding big and I like to run the floor and spread the floor. My game right now is to get rebounds.
“Everybody is working hard every day because everybody wants minutes, so that’s what everybody is working for every day when we’re practicing and when we’re working on our own. Everybody is determined to get those minutes.”
Two other freshmen in the mix for the Wildcats are guard Cartier Diarra and forward James Love, who sat out last season with injuries. Diarra redshirted with a knee injury and the 6-11 Love had a broken foot.
“Cartier Diarra is still trying to figure it out and get some confidence but it’s nice to have him back,” Weber said. “He’s talented. We missed him last year.
“James Love is an X-factor. We don’t know. He hasn’t played in eight or nine months since he got hurt in October. He’s doing stuff on the court and we’re hoping next week he can do some live stuff for the first time since October, then we’ll know a little more.
r
Freshmen get early test in K-State basketball program
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0 Share
MANHATTAN — Summer workouts for college basketball teams provide incoming freshmen a small taste of what awaits them when fall classes begin and practice begins in earnest.
Kansas State freshmen Mike McGuirl, Levi Stockard and Nigel Shadd are getting that crash course on and off the court.
“It’s been kind of crazy because it’s a big transition, getting out of my house with my parents and being on my own,” said McGuirl, a 6-foot-2 guard from Ellington, Conn. “It’s my responsibility to be where I have to be so it’s a lot of work and a big transition.”
McGuirl seems to be adapting well.
SEE ALSO
K-State guard Kamau Stokes builds off NBA evaluation process
K-State basketball newcomers learning system
“Mike McGuirl might be the surprise of the summer,” coach Bruce Weber said. “He’s physically ready already. He’s very strong for a freshman coming in. He’s shot the ball very well and he has good athleticism.
“Is he there, yet? No, but he’s been a nice, pleasant surprise for us.”
McGuirl, who averaged 21 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists as a senior at East Catholic High School, could give the Wildcats an outside scoring threat.
“I can make shots and making shots helps any team win,” McGuirl said. “I’ll play bigger than my size. I’ll rebound and do the things the team needs to win.”
Weber also is pleased with the early progress of Shadd, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward from Mesa, Ariz., and Stockard, a 6-8, 250-pound forward from St. Louis.
“Levi and Nigel are typical freshmen but they are kind of opposites,” Weber said. “Nigel has the body, the physical presence and he’s been able to deal with the weights and conditioning and that part easier than Levi.
“Levi has the skill and understanding the game and he’s changing his body, and he’s done a great job. It’s a hard month to go through things but he has great skills.”
Shadd, who played at a small, private high school (Tri-City Christian Academy) is making a big leap in competition level.
“In high school, I played mainly against guys that were Mike’s height,” Shadd said, pointing to the 6-2 McGuirl. “At this level, I’m average height. I like it. It’s more of a challenge, but it’s a struggle.”
Stockard, who played on back-to-back Missouri 4A state championship teams at Vashon High School, also is meeting the challenge.
“I feel like I’m fitting in pretty well,” Stockard said. “I feel I can bring toughness. I can guard the four and the five, so I’m very versatile, and I can score.”
Neither player has backed down from the challenge.
“Thomas Gipson (former Wildcat) came (last) week and he said he was beating the heck out of those guys and they didn’t even budge,” Weber said.
“The new guys are a lot more physical than I was coming in,” said junior forward Dean Wade. “They are a lot more ready than I was my freshman year, so I feel like they’re a step ahead of where I was.”
Weber said there is one key area that could lead to playing time for the young big men.
“I tell them, ‘You want minutes, rebound,’ ” Weber said.
That suits Shadd, who had 27 rebounds in one game and averaged 18.5 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks his senior season.
“I like doing the dirty work,” he said. “I’m more of a rebounding big and I like to run the floor and spread the floor. My game right now is to get rebounds.
“Everybody is working hard every day because everybody wants minutes, so that’s what everybody is working for every day when we’re practicing and when we’re working on our own. Everybody is determined to get those minutes.”
Two other freshmen in the mix for the Wildcats are guard Cartier Diarra and forward James Love, who sat out last season with injuries. Diarra redshirted with a knee injury and the 6-11 Love had a broken foot.
“Cartier Diarra is still trying to figure it out and get some confidence but it’s nice to have him back,” Weber said. “He’s talented. We missed him last year.
“James Love is an X-factor. We don’t know. He hasn’t played in eight or nine months since he got hurt in October. He’s doing stuff on the court and we’re hoping next week he can do some live stuff for the first time since October, then we’ll know a little more.
