Showing posts with label Eric Childress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Childress. Show all posts
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Friday, January 2, 2015
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Interview with Coach Bob Williams, May 14, 2013
Gaucho Hoops (GH): Thanks for taking the interview, Coach. Can we talk about the three incoming signees? Let's start with Zalmico Harmon.
Coach Bob Williams (BW): Zalmico's work ethic is unbelievable. He'll fit right in with current "Benny's" on the team like John Green. Other "Benny's" [Benny = basketball nut--a grinder] include (Michael) Bryson, (Kyle) Boswell, Big Al (Williams), Sam (Beeler), Taran (Brown)...
Zalmico has a long history of a high work ethic throughout high school and at Venture College. He works out and is in the gym 6 hours a day. I talked with Ventura College Athletics Director [Will Cowen?], and he said when he opens up the gym, Zalmico is there at 6 am performing ball-handling drills and taking extra shots.
Then, he's off to a weight-lifting session, before running more shooting drills, this time in game-type simulations. In the afternoon, it's regular practice. At night, he will come in for extra shooting.
Zalmico has the skill set we look for in a point guard. The biggest thing with him is HE WILL DO WHATEVER HE NEEDS TO DO TO WIN [emphasis Bob's]. He can defend, rebound, pass, score off the dribble, or shoot from the perimeter. He affects the game in a wide variety of ways. He has the mindset to be a defensive stopper, and exudes confidence, which is a much-needed piece for our team.
Much like [former Gaucho] Derrick Allen, he is charismatic and physical, although Zalmico had more success at the junior college level. The big thing with Zalmico is he has a confidence that teammates notice.
At 6'1" and 190 pounds, Zalmico is solid and strong enough to guard either guard position. After his verbal commitment to UCSB, Zalmico attended about five home games, and observed that UCSB needed some toughness on the perimeter. He is a student of the game, and will bring that toughness to the team next season.
I also talked with the Ventura Dean of Athletics [Tim Harrison?] and the consensus is Zalmico is a tough kid with leadership qualities. Coach Joey Ramirez is an up-and-coming coach, a great coach who is demanding, tough, and charismatic. He gets his teams to execute.
GH: Let's talk about Alex Hart.
BW: First off, Alex is long. He is also surprisingly a good athlete. He has a very good skill set; he can bounce it, pass it, but most of all, his shooting stroke is unbelievably good for a 6'10" player. He's only 17, and won't turn 18 until December. If he were in the US, he'd still be a senior in high school. You can imagine his improvement will be significant these next few months. Will he redshirt? We hope so. He needs to improve his strength and increase his muscle mass. He will need to adjust to the speed and physicality of the game [at the Div. 1 level].
GH: His high school coach Dino Gini told Gaucho Hoops that several schools were after him. He said he consulted with other coaches, some of whom were former Gaucho players or coaches, and every time UCSB was brought up, the responses were universally positive, and that played a role in his decision to attend UCSB. Sounds like Alex is a good get.
BW: Yes, he did receive several offers and we look forward to helping him develop at UCSB.
GH: Let's talk about Eric Childress.
BW: Eric is very skilled, and very fundamentally sound. He's very competitive, a good defender, and a really good passer. He can also drive the lane. He was highly recommended by some AAU coaches, and there were some comparisons made to Casper Ware [former Long Beach State and Big West Player of the Year]. At this point, the one thing he lacks is vocal leadership, but that's something he will work on.
GH: Word has it that most of the players will take Summer Session A off, and return to campus for Summer Session B.
BW: Yes, they return in August.
GH: Good, we can revisit the roster later this summer. Thanks for the interview, Coach.
Coach Bob Williams (BW): Zalmico's work ethic is unbelievable. He'll fit right in with current "Benny's" on the team like John Green. Other "Benny's" [Benny = basketball nut--a grinder] include (Michael) Bryson, (Kyle) Boswell, Big Al (Williams), Sam (Beeler), Taran (Brown)...
Zalmico has a long history of a high work ethic throughout high school and at Venture College. He works out and is in the gym 6 hours a day. I talked with Ventura College Athletics Director [Will Cowen?], and he said when he opens up the gym, Zalmico is there at 6 am performing ball-handling drills and taking extra shots.
Then, he's off to a weight-lifting session, before running more shooting drills, this time in game-type simulations. In the afternoon, it's regular practice. At night, he will come in for extra shooting.
Zalmico has the skill set we look for in a point guard. The biggest thing with him is HE WILL DO WHATEVER HE NEEDS TO DO TO WIN [emphasis Bob's]. He can defend, rebound, pass, score off the dribble, or shoot from the perimeter. He affects the game in a wide variety of ways. He has the mindset to be a defensive stopper, and exudes confidence, which is a much-needed piece for our team.
Much like [former Gaucho] Derrick Allen, he is charismatic and physical, although Zalmico had more success at the junior college level. The big thing with Zalmico is he has a confidence that teammates notice.
At 6'1" and 190 pounds, Zalmico is solid and strong enough to guard either guard position. After his verbal commitment to UCSB, Zalmico attended about five home games, and observed that UCSB needed some toughness on the perimeter. He is a student of the game, and will bring that toughness to the team next season.
I also talked with the Ventura Dean of Athletics [Tim Harrison?] and the consensus is Zalmico is a tough kid with leadership qualities. Coach Joey Ramirez is an up-and-coming coach, a great coach who is demanding, tough, and charismatic. He gets his teams to execute.
GH: Let's talk about Alex Hart.
BW: First off, Alex is long. He is also surprisingly a good athlete. He has a very good skill set; he can bounce it, pass it, but most of all, his shooting stroke is unbelievably good for a 6'10" player. He's only 17, and won't turn 18 until December. If he were in the US, he'd still be a senior in high school. You can imagine his improvement will be significant these next few months. Will he redshirt? We hope so. He needs to improve his strength and increase his muscle mass. He will need to adjust to the speed and physicality of the game [at the Div. 1 level].
GH: His high school coach Dino Gini told Gaucho Hoops that several schools were after him. He said he consulted with other coaches, some of whom were former Gaucho players or coaches, and every time UCSB was brought up, the responses were universally positive, and that played a role in his decision to attend UCSB. Sounds like Alex is a good get.
BW: Yes, he did receive several offers and we look forward to helping him develop at UCSB.
GH: Let's talk about Eric Childress.
BW: Eric is very skilled, and very fundamentally sound. He's very competitive, a good defender, and a really good passer. He can also drive the lane. He was highly recommended by some AAU coaches, and there were some comparisons made to Casper Ware [former Long Beach State and Big West Player of the Year]. At this point, the one thing he lacks is vocal leadership, but that's something he will work on.
GH: Word has it that most of the players will take Summer Session A off, and return to campus for Summer Session B.
BW: Yes, they return in August.
GH: Good, we can revisit the roster later this summer. Thanks for the interview, Coach.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Interview with Ali Parvaz, High School Coach for 2013 UCSB Signee Eric Childress
Ali Parvaz is the head varsity basketball coach for Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, CA. The Olympians, led by 2013 UCSB signee Eric Childress--the subject of our interview, finished the season with a 23 - 9 record, 7 - 3 in the Bay League. Leuzinger reached the semifinals of the 2013 CIF Southern Section Championships (Division 3AA), and the second round of the 2013 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships (Division III).
Childress, 6'0" and 175 pounds, is a point guard who averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.5 steals per game.
Gaucho Hoops (GH): First off, thanks for granting this interview, Coach Parvaz. Some of these questions are from Gaucho fans, so feel free to elaborate as you please. Let's get it started.
Regarding Eric Childress: many talented players come out of the Los Angeles area. Whose game does Childress emulate most of all the recognizable names out there?
Ali Parvaz (AP): If I have to give you a recognizable name for Eric's game, it would be Chris Paul. A true point guard who is pass first, but can score when needed. He is an outstanding athlete who can get in the paint and draw in the defense, finish above the rim, or make outside shots when open.
GH: Was this signing out of the blue by Eric or do other kids at Leuzinger High consider playing at UCSB?
AP: It was out of the blue in the sense that UCSB was not one of the schools that was really recruiting Eric throughout his season; they came into play at the beginning of Spring AAU season. But once we got up there [to UCSB] and met the coaches and the team, UCSB had more to offer than the other schools.
GH: When UCSB is mentioned in the Los Angeles AAU circuit, what is the description?
AP: As a high school coach, I'm not too involved with the AAU circuit. But the school and location have great reputations beyond basketball. Each year I see a few LA athletes going to UCSB and I am able to follow their careers and like what I see. Last year when UCSB signed Aamahd Walker from Culver City, I was impressed. We played Aamahd a few times and I felt he was a good player and would help any D1 program (unfortunately he was hurt this past season, so we will have to wait and see).
GH: Where does UCSB rank compared to other west coast programs, both mid- and high-major? What are the strengths of UCSB, and what are the weaknesses?
AP: I feel like the Big West as a whole is down right now. I see the WCC and the Mountain West putting out more top 25 teams and more NCAA tourney teams and would like to see more Big West Schools in there as well. I feel that there are really good players in California that are leaving the state each year; I would like to see more kids stay in state. Among the Big West however, UCSB is going to be competitive and fight for that tourney spot year after year.
Now, off the court, UCSB blows the other schools out of the water. Great academics, awesome location, a true college town/college atmosphere that you are not getting at other Big West or most WCC schools.
GH: Do you foresee a redshirt for Eric? It'll ultimately be his decision, but what are the pros and cons for him redshirting?
AP: One thing I will tell you about Eric is that he is the most competitive player I have ever coached. Whether it is a game, practice, conditioning session, or a private work out, he is going to compete. He is going into the fall with the notion of competing for a starting spot; he will not concede anything. I think by the time November comes around, if he is one of the top 8 players in the rotation he will have to play.
That being said, one of the things we liked about UCSB is that they do have a lot of returning players and Eric has time to wait (if needed) until he is actually ready to contribute at a high level. If the coaching staff thinks it is best for him to redshirt, there are advantages as well. The extra year to get accustomed to college life can be very valuable. He can work out with the team and coaches, while getting his academics on the right track and learning how to live on his own. Eric understands that he has to understand the big picture in regards to his college career, and he is going to work hard no matter what.
GH: For the record, what did you like about how UCSB recruited Eric?
AP: Of all the schools that I talked to about Eric, and there were quite a few, I really liked UCSB's honesty and insight in the process. There were no games or deception (which I can't say about some other schools). Coach [Bob] Williams and Coach [Matt] Stock were very up front and open about what they were looking for, and Coach Stock is an amazing recruiter. He did a great job communicating with me, Eric and Eric's mother the whole way. When I took Eric up there for his unofficial visit, I was impressed with the entire coaching staff and the players on the team. After the unofficial, Coach Williams really sold Eric on the school and I think Eric had his mind made up at that point.
GH: It sounds like the UCSB coaching staff did a good job on recruiting Eric. What could UCSB have improved upon in the recruiting process?
AP: The process as a whole was frustrating to me, not just on UCSB's part, but the recruiting process in general. I took over at Leuzinger the summer after Eric's freshman year and knew nothing about any of the players. Thirty minutes into the 1st practice I knew he was a D1 player.
So I have this kid, who is a great athlete, a great student, and a great person. He doesn't drink, do drugs, or hang out with the wrong crowd. In my opinion, schools should be lining up, and the process took a lot longer than expected. I watched Eric play against some of the best guards in the state for 3 years and he went from holding his own as a sophomore to outplaying most of them. But he is not 6'4" so he goes on the back burner in the process. I feel coaches miss out on some really good players out here; I'm not sure what they are looking for sometimes. And one of the worst parts is that I had 3 different east coast schools on campus before anybody from California came by.
I think California coaches need to do a better job identifying and getting to know student-athletes earlier and not just look for 6'4" 'athletic' guys and 6'9" post players.
GH: What negatives were brought up about UCSB from other schools in their quest to sign Eric?
AP: The #1 thing that came up was the quality of play in the Big West. I did not hear too many negatives about UCSB as much as conference strength, strength of schedule, TV coverage etc.
GH: As you might know, the UCSB class of 2012 has several players playing professionally. Orlando Johnson is in the NBA with the Pacers, James Nunnally is with the Bakersfield NBDL team, Jaime Serna is in Spain, and reserve Greg Somogyi is in Hungary after being one of the last players cut by the NBA Lakers. Did that weigh on Eric's decision? Does the UCSB coaching staff have a reputation for developing future pro players?
AP: I don't think that matters too much. These days, with advanced scouting and the numerous professional opportunities overseas and domestically, if you are good enough, then you will get the opportunity somewhere. That should not weigh too heavily in the process. You can tell the [UCSB] coaches have a great deal of pride in the players that went there and their success professionally. I believe that college is supposed to prepare you for life after college, and if that is in basketball, great; if not, you need a good education and opportunities in the professional world and UCSB definitely provides that.
GH: Does UCSB have a good reputation for taking care of its student-athletes during and after their playing days as Gauchos?
AP: I believe they do. I had a conversation with former Gaucho PG Jacoby Atako, and he had nothing but good things to say about his time at UCSB and his relationship with the coaching staff after his playing days. My younger brother is a UCSB alum ('06) and he was friends with many of the players on the team and keeps in contact with a few, and most of them are happy with the experience for the most part.
The big picture is Eric getting a college degree and preparing himself for life after basketball...if that degree comes from a good academic school like UCSB, it will only enhance his opportunities.
GH: What are Eric's biggest challenges as he transitions to Div. 1 level competition?
AP: The first thing is the size and speed of the players. Eric has a good frame for a high school athlete, but needs to get in the weight room to bang bodies with D1 athletes.
GH: In what area do you expect early success with Eric?
AP: He is fast and athletic, and that will translate at the college level. He also has a high basketball IQ and will pick up the system quickly.
GH: What are his strengths?
AP: see above, and:
Childress, 6'0" and 175 pounds, is a point guard who averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.5 steals per game.
Gaucho Hoops (GH): First off, thanks for granting this interview, Coach Parvaz. Some of these questions are from Gaucho fans, so feel free to elaborate as you please. Let's get it started.
Regarding Eric Childress: many talented players come out of the Los Angeles area. Whose game does Childress emulate most of all the recognizable names out there?
Ali Parvaz (AP): If I have to give you a recognizable name for Eric's game, it would be Chris Paul. A true point guard who is pass first, but can score when needed. He is an outstanding athlete who can get in the paint and draw in the defense, finish above the rim, or make outside shots when open.
GH: Was this signing out of the blue by Eric or do other kids at Leuzinger High consider playing at UCSB?
AP: It was out of the blue in the sense that UCSB was not one of the schools that was really recruiting Eric throughout his season; they came into play at the beginning of Spring AAU season. But once we got up there [to UCSB] and met the coaches and the team, UCSB had more to offer than the other schools.
GH: When UCSB is mentioned in the Los Angeles AAU circuit, what is the description?
AP: As a high school coach, I'm not too involved with the AAU circuit. But the school and location have great reputations beyond basketball. Each year I see a few LA athletes going to UCSB and I am able to follow their careers and like what I see. Last year when UCSB signed Aamahd Walker from Culver City, I was impressed. We played Aamahd a few times and I felt he was a good player and would help any D1 program (unfortunately he was hurt this past season, so we will have to wait and see).
GH: Where does UCSB rank compared to other west coast programs, both mid- and high-major? What are the strengths of UCSB, and what are the weaknesses?
AP: I feel like the Big West as a whole is down right now. I see the WCC and the Mountain West putting out more top 25 teams and more NCAA tourney teams and would like to see more Big West Schools in there as well. I feel that there are really good players in California that are leaving the state each year; I would like to see more kids stay in state. Among the Big West however, UCSB is going to be competitive and fight for that tourney spot year after year.
Now, off the court, UCSB blows the other schools out of the water. Great academics, awesome location, a true college town/college atmosphere that you are not getting at other Big West or most WCC schools.
GH: Do you foresee a redshirt for Eric? It'll ultimately be his decision, but what are the pros and cons for him redshirting?
AP: One thing I will tell you about Eric is that he is the most competitive player I have ever coached. Whether it is a game, practice, conditioning session, or a private work out, he is going to compete. He is going into the fall with the notion of competing for a starting spot; he will not concede anything. I think by the time November comes around, if he is one of the top 8 players in the rotation he will have to play.
That being said, one of the things we liked about UCSB is that they do have a lot of returning players and Eric has time to wait (if needed) until he is actually ready to contribute at a high level. If the coaching staff thinks it is best for him to redshirt, there are advantages as well. The extra year to get accustomed to college life can be very valuable. He can work out with the team and coaches, while getting his academics on the right track and learning how to live on his own. Eric understands that he has to understand the big picture in regards to his college career, and he is going to work hard no matter what.
GH: For the record, what did you like about how UCSB recruited Eric?
AP: Of all the schools that I talked to about Eric, and there were quite a few, I really liked UCSB's honesty and insight in the process. There were no games or deception (which I can't say about some other schools). Coach [Bob] Williams and Coach [Matt] Stock were very up front and open about what they were looking for, and Coach Stock is an amazing recruiter. He did a great job communicating with me, Eric and Eric's mother the whole way. When I took Eric up there for his unofficial visit, I was impressed with the entire coaching staff and the players on the team. After the unofficial, Coach Williams really sold Eric on the school and I think Eric had his mind made up at that point.
GH: It sounds like the UCSB coaching staff did a good job on recruiting Eric. What could UCSB have improved upon in the recruiting process?
AP: The process as a whole was frustrating to me, not just on UCSB's part, but the recruiting process in general. I took over at Leuzinger the summer after Eric's freshman year and knew nothing about any of the players. Thirty minutes into the 1st practice I knew he was a D1 player.
So I have this kid, who is a great athlete, a great student, and a great person. He doesn't drink, do drugs, or hang out with the wrong crowd. In my opinion, schools should be lining up, and the process took a lot longer than expected. I watched Eric play against some of the best guards in the state for 3 years and he went from holding his own as a sophomore to outplaying most of them. But he is not 6'4" so he goes on the back burner in the process. I feel coaches miss out on some really good players out here; I'm not sure what they are looking for sometimes. And one of the worst parts is that I had 3 different east coast schools on campus before anybody from California came by.
I think California coaches need to do a better job identifying and getting to know student-athletes earlier and not just look for 6'4" 'athletic' guys and 6'9" post players.
GH: What negatives were brought up about UCSB from other schools in their quest to sign Eric?
AP: The #1 thing that came up was the quality of play in the Big West. I did not hear too many negatives about UCSB as much as conference strength, strength of schedule, TV coverage etc.
GH: As you might know, the UCSB class of 2012 has several players playing professionally. Orlando Johnson is in the NBA with the Pacers, James Nunnally is with the Bakersfield NBDL team, Jaime Serna is in Spain, and reserve Greg Somogyi is in Hungary after being one of the last players cut by the NBA Lakers. Did that weigh on Eric's decision? Does the UCSB coaching staff have a reputation for developing future pro players?
AP: I don't think that matters too much. These days, with advanced scouting and the numerous professional opportunities overseas and domestically, if you are good enough, then you will get the opportunity somewhere. That should not weigh too heavily in the process. You can tell the [UCSB] coaches have a great deal of pride in the players that went there and their success professionally. I believe that college is supposed to prepare you for life after college, and if that is in basketball, great; if not, you need a good education and opportunities in the professional world and UCSB definitely provides that.
GH: Does UCSB have a good reputation for taking care of its student-athletes during and after their playing days as Gauchos?
AP: I believe they do. I had a conversation with former Gaucho PG Jacoby Atako, and he had nothing but good things to say about his time at UCSB and his relationship with the coaching staff after his playing days. My younger brother is a UCSB alum ('06) and he was friends with many of the players on the team and keeps in contact with a few, and most of them are happy with the experience for the most part.
The big picture is Eric getting a college degree and preparing himself for life after basketball...if that degree comes from a good academic school like UCSB, it will only enhance his opportunities.
GH: What are Eric's biggest challenges as he transitions to Div. 1 level competition?
AP: The first thing is the size and speed of the players. Eric has a good frame for a high school athlete, but needs to get in the weight room to bang bodies with D1 athletes.
GH: In what area do you expect early success with Eric?
AP: He is fast and athletic, and that will translate at the college level. He also has a high basketball IQ and will pick up the system quickly.
GH: What are his strengths?
AP: see above, and:
Shooting the basketball, competitiveness, defense.
GH: What about his necessary improvements?
AP: Shooting off the dribble....He has to get stronger with the ball and take care of the ball better. That will come with the weight room and practicing against bigger players.
GH: What's Eric like as a person? As a player (coachability, etc.)? Is he a gym rat? Were academics important in his choice of schools?
AP: Eric is an amazing person. Great morals, hard worker, really good student. He is soft spoken and kind of quiet, but when he opens up, he is very likeable. Definitely a gym rat, loves working on his game and very coachable. Really understands the game and plays to win.
Again, a great student. And Academics were probably the #1 factor (or close to it). He worked too hard in the classroom over the last 4 years to sacrifice his academics in his college choice.
GH: What do you believe are keys for him to reach his upside?
AP: The key is to really understand the big picture. This is a 4 or 5 year process. Getting better in each off season improving his weaknesses and working hard on the court and in the classroom.
GH: What feedback did you receive from him on his visit to UCSB?
AP: I was with him during his unofficial. But chose not to go with him on his official visit. During the visit Coach Stock called or texted me at the end of each day, and I talked to Eric each evening. On the last day, Eric called me and told me he really enjoyed everything and could see himself going there. Turned out to be the best fit of his choices and he made the commitment to be a Gaucho! We are all very excited and looking forward to an exciting future for Gaucho basketball.
GH: Great interview, Coach Parvaz, and the Gaucho nation appreciates your insight in getting to know Eric better. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule, good luck in rebuilding Leuzinger into a power again, and we wish you the best.
GH: What about his necessary improvements?
AP: Shooting off the dribble....He has to get stronger with the ball and take care of the ball better. That will come with the weight room and practicing against bigger players.
GH: What's Eric like as a person? As a player (coachability, etc.)? Is he a gym rat? Were academics important in his choice of schools?
AP: Eric is an amazing person. Great morals, hard worker, really good student. He is soft spoken and kind of quiet, but when he opens up, he is very likeable. Definitely a gym rat, loves working on his game and very coachable. Really understands the game and plays to win.
Again, a great student. And Academics were probably the #1 factor (or close to it). He worked too hard in the classroom over the last 4 years to sacrifice his academics in his college choice.
GH: What do you believe are keys for him to reach his upside?
AP: The key is to really understand the big picture. This is a 4 or 5 year process. Getting better in each off season improving his weaknesses and working hard on the court and in the classroom.
GH: What feedback did you receive from him on his visit to UCSB?
AP: I was with him during his unofficial. But chose not to go with him on his official visit. During the visit Coach Stock called or texted me at the end of each day, and I talked to Eric each evening. On the last day, Eric called me and told me he really enjoyed everything and could see himself going there. Turned out to be the best fit of his choices and he made the commitment to be a Gaucho! We are all very excited and looking forward to an exciting future for Gaucho basketball.
GH: Great interview, Coach Parvaz, and the Gaucho nation appreciates your insight in getting to know Eric better. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule, good luck in rebuilding Leuzinger into a power again, and we wish you the best.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Eric Childress and Alex Hart Verbally Commit to UCSB; Lewis Thomas Transfers Out
The UCSB Gaucho Locos message board indicates two high school class of 2013 recruits have verbally committed to the Gauchos.
Sophomore forward Lewis Thomas has announced his intention to transfer out.
Eric Childress, a 6'0" guard out of Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, CA intends to sign a national Letter of Intent to play for UCSB starting 2013. Childress averaged 16.1 points per game, 4.4 assists per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and 3.5 steals per game.
Alex Hart, a 6'11" forward from Immaculata Catholic Regional High School in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, also verbally committed to play basketball for UCSB starting 2013.
Sophomore forward Lewis Thomas has announced his intention to transfer out.
Eric Childress, a 6'0" guard out of Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, CA intends to sign a national Letter of Intent to play for UCSB starting 2013. Childress averaged 16.1 points per game, 4.4 assists per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and 3.5 steals per game.
Alex Hart, a 6'11" forward from Immaculata Catholic Regional High School in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, also verbally committed to play basketball for UCSB starting 2013.
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