PART two of building your team is actually about recruiting, and saying such, it is important to exactly know what you are looking for. Although we have seen several types of team offenses evolve throughout the years, the concept of basketball positions basically remain the same.

This is particularly true in basketball being played in communities and schools. The tallest member of the class, even if he is way off the size of Shaquille O’ Neal, would always be picked as center. The point guard role would always be reserved for the quickest and often the smallest person in class.

Basketball coaching nowadays, at least in the professional level, is starting to veer away from these stereotypes. Today you’ll see a seven-footer in Dirk Nowitzki shooting a trey, although this is no surprise as decades ago, Lakers point guard Magic Johnson even played center at the time when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got injured.

Tall centers are aplenty in US, European, Middle-East and Chinese basketball, and this concern hits us even more in the international area. A typical center in a local scene stands around 6’5” to 6’6” in the early years, although a player of that size could now play guard in the National Basketball Association.

In recent years, there was the emergence of Filipino players who are taller than the average but are nowhere as strong and as talented as their foreign counterparts. I would like to see the day when a player with the height of an EJ Feihl move like an Alvin Patrimonio or a Benjie Paras.

So back to our topic, what should a coach look for in a center? Among these are:

Height. When you are in a league where a tall center is the norm, then you would necessarily look for a tall player to fit the bill.

Upper-body strength. Playing in the shaded lane entails a lot of jostling and shoving against players of the same size so upper-body strength is very important.

Rebounding ability. Is the prospect an aggressive rebounder both defensively and offensively? Being the tallest player in the team, this responsibility is automatically hoisted upon him.

Defensive and shot-blocking ability. This is related to defense. Does he have the ability to intimidate and force an opposing player to change his shot? Does he consider the shaded lane as his exclusive domain and jealously guard it from enemy intrusion?

Scoring ability at close and midrange. His height often gives him the advantage in scoring position inside and as such, we often see the bread-and-butter post-up play. A center often uses power lay-ups, short hooks, jump shots and off-the-glass hits at pointblank range as his main weapons. Nowadays, a center could even possess the ability to hit the three-point shot.

Passing ability. Although traditionally the prime option in basketball, a center must know the game instinctively well to know the movements of his teammates and know when to pass when he is contained.

Some coaches cite strong hands, quickness, athleticism and jumping ability as necessary, but I think the things I’ve mentioned above are the most essential.

Now, the next question is: Do we find all of these abilities in one individual alone? Sadly not. As mentioned earlier, most Filipino players do have size but oftentimes lack the other essential qualities.

So, in the process, we make do with what we see in scouting trips. It takes a good eye and perception to know if a tall player could be developed into a quality center who befits the position. We have heard of so many project players but only a few develop their potentials to become centers to reckon with.

At worst, tall players without hard work and dedication to become one just live off their size. Too bad.

*****

THIS week’s mail came from Josuah T., who wrote:

Dear coach,

My son, who is tall, is often designated to play as center. Could this stump his growth as a cager to play other positions like guard when he advances in the game further?

Dear Josuah,

Tall players often do get picked as centers because of their size. But it is important to get your son enrolled in a basketball facility or be under a capable and patient coach to teach him fundamentals necessary whatever position he may play. These days, the ability to play multiple positions is an advantage. His experience as a center would give him the idea on how to position for a rebound and how to score underneath, abilities that would be a plus when he plays a position other than center in the future.

Coach E

<em>(<a href=”http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/05302007/sports06.html “>Original Article</a> was published last May 30, 2007 at the <a href=”http://www.businessmirror.com.ph” target=”_blank”>Business Mirror</a> Sports Section in the column Ask Coach E.)</em>