MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
The Fly Williams thread prompted me to create this thread. Streetballers are a unique athlete. There are many streetballers that could perhaps have been some of the top players in NBA history but never went down the NBA or ABA path, some out of choice and some not, some who never survived the streets and others who got caught up in crime and addictions.
Many NCAA coaches viewed streetballers as a risk secondary to the environment they grew up in, poor academics, and other factors so many were not recruited. In addition, many players were looked at as "projects" as they weren't used to playing the "team" aspect ball and had difficulty adjusting to the team concept. There was the fine line of utilizing said players "streetball" skill in the team game. Could a coach curve a players style to the team game but also allow some of the player's street ball skills to show through? That would be the challenge for a college coach and play into the decision to recruit streetballers.
Some NCAA teams have had players with a streetball history. For instance, Jamal Tinsley had a streetball background and was a joy to watch play when he used some of his streetball skills. It worked out for Iowa State and he turned out to be a pretty good player and stayed out of trouble.
I was just curious. I think Connie Hawkins had the streetballer playing background but that never panned out at Iowa. Who has Iowa had on the team who had the "streetballer" playing background. Players from the inner city streets of New York, Chicago, Philly, etc.?
Many NCAA coaches viewed streetballers as a risk secondary to the environment they grew up in, poor academics, and other factors so many were not recruited. In addition, many players were looked at as "projects" as they weren't used to playing the "team" aspect ball and had difficulty adjusting to the team concept. There was the fine line of utilizing said players "streetball" skill in the team game. Could a coach curve a players style to the team game but also allow some of the player's street ball skills to show through? That would be the challenge for a college coach and play into the decision to recruit streetballers.
Some NCAA teams have had players with a streetball history. For instance, Jamal Tinsley had a streetball background and was a joy to watch play when he used some of his streetball skills. It worked out for Iowa State and he turned out to be a pretty good player and stayed out of trouble.
I was just curious. I think Connie Hawkins had the streetballer playing background but that never panned out at Iowa. Who has Iowa had on the team who had the "streetballer" playing background. Players from the inner city streets of New York, Chicago, Philly, etc.?
