Post by dex on Mar 5, 2015 10:07:37 GMT -5
Cooley is so freakin smart the way he's handled Shamgod from the getgo thru this coming Saturday
digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/ProJo/
Shammgod took long route back to PC
38-year-old left PC after ’97 season, then played in China before returning
By Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer
NEWARK, N.J. — Eighteen years after leaving Providence College in his rearview mirror, God Shammgod is getting ready to depart the right way.
Shammgod, now 38, has been a student at PC for the last three years. He’s split his time in the school’s Leadership Fellows program and helping Ed Cooley and his staff with individual instructions for players as an undergraduate assistant coach. Shammgod famously left PC after his sophomore season back in 1997 and landed in the second round of the NBA draft.
After a long pro career primarily spent in China, he’s now set to graduate in May and will be part of the Friars’ Senior Day festivities this Saturday.
“You never thought you’d see that day come, right?” a smiling Shammgod said before PC’s game at Seton Hall.
Shammgod has made up two and a half years of academic work over his three years back on campus. Most PC students have no idea who the husky man in the sweat pants is sitting in the back of their classrooms but one surprised Shammgod earlier this year.
“A girl in my class came up to me and said, ‘Oh, I used to date your son,’’’ he said. “You can’t do much better than that. That put me back years.”
Shammgod said he’s worked closely with Prof. Matthew Eriksen on his academic work. “It’s a lot of work on being a great leader and providing self-help. I’d like to coach,” he said.
S h a m m g o d s a i d h e returned to school to earn a degree but wasn’t sold on the coaching part. The success of the Friars over the last two seasons has changed his tune, however.
“The success in helping (Bryce) Cotton and now Kris (Dunn) and LaDontae (Henton) has me excited,” he said. “I get a lot out of that.”
Shammgod said when he was a 19-year-old sophomore he made “a lot of bad decisions,” including leaving college for the NBA. The New York City ballhandling legend regularly receives emails and calls from high school and college hotshots who see his moves on YouTube videos. He says he talks to them all and serves as the voice of reason that he didn’t have during his time at Providence.
“I can be a mentor and bridge the gap between young and old guys,” Shammgod said. “When I was at Providence I never sat down and talked to Ernie D (DiGregorio). I never talked to Lenny Wilkens on the phone until I was in the NBA. That stuff can mean a lot. No telling what would have happened if I talked with Lenny Wilkens before I decided to leave.”
Tourney picture
With the win, the Friars’ Big East Tournament seed moves a little more into focus.
The Friars are tied with Georgetown and Butler for second place with an 11-6 record. If they beat Butler in the regular-season finale Saturday, they’ll secure the second seed. PC would finish ahead of the Bulldogs with a win and even if the Hoyas close out their season with a win at home against Seton Hall, PC would merit the higher seed due to a season-sweep of Georgetown.
PC’s 11 wins ties the school’s Big East record set in 2001 and ’04. Those regular season finishes were a bit better, however, because they featured just 16 games.
“Having 11 Big East wins is really hard,” said coach Ed Cooley. “We’re excited. Our league is really, really hard so the fact that we have 11 wins and can continue to improve is big for us. I don’t know if there is a more competitive league in the country.”
Desrosiers back on floor
Carson Desrosiers bounced back after missing the previous two games with a sore left knee to contribute 19 key minutes. The 7-footer only had two points and two rebounds but was a defensive anchor in the middle of the zone defense the Friars deployed throughout the second half.
“Carson did a really good job,” Cooley said. “That’s what a fifth-year senior is supposed to do, get you over the hump on the road.”
Desrosiers played the bulk of the second half, as did Dunn, Henton, Junior Lomomba and Ben Bentil. Asked if at any point did he see the group tiring, Cooley pointed to all of the timeouts in college basketball as the perfect crutch his team needed.
“They’re not tired,” Cooley said. “If they’re tired, they need to play another sport. Play tennis.”
digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/ProJo/
Shammgod took long route back to PC
38-year-old left PC after ’97 season, then played in China before returning
By Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer
NEWARK, N.J. — Eighteen years after leaving Providence College in his rearview mirror, God Shammgod is getting ready to depart the right way.
Shammgod, now 38, has been a student at PC for the last three years. He’s split his time in the school’s Leadership Fellows program and helping Ed Cooley and his staff with individual instructions for players as an undergraduate assistant coach. Shammgod famously left PC after his sophomore season back in 1997 and landed in the second round of the NBA draft.
After a long pro career primarily spent in China, he’s now set to graduate in May and will be part of the Friars’ Senior Day festivities this Saturday.
“You never thought you’d see that day come, right?” a smiling Shammgod said before PC’s game at Seton Hall.
Shammgod has made up two and a half years of academic work over his three years back on campus. Most PC students have no idea who the husky man in the sweat pants is sitting in the back of their classrooms but one surprised Shammgod earlier this year.
“A girl in my class came up to me and said, ‘Oh, I used to date your son,’’’ he said. “You can’t do much better than that. That put me back years.”
Shammgod said he’s worked closely with Prof. Matthew Eriksen on his academic work. “It’s a lot of work on being a great leader and providing self-help. I’d like to coach,” he said.
S h a m m g o d s a i d h e returned to school to earn a degree but wasn’t sold on the coaching part. The success of the Friars over the last two seasons has changed his tune, however.
“The success in helping (Bryce) Cotton and now Kris (Dunn) and LaDontae (Henton) has me excited,” he said. “I get a lot out of that.”
Shammgod said when he was a 19-year-old sophomore he made “a lot of bad decisions,” including leaving college for the NBA. The New York City ballhandling legend regularly receives emails and calls from high school and college hotshots who see his moves on YouTube videos. He says he talks to them all and serves as the voice of reason that he didn’t have during his time at Providence.
“I can be a mentor and bridge the gap between young and old guys,” Shammgod said. “When I was at Providence I never sat down and talked to Ernie D (DiGregorio). I never talked to Lenny Wilkens on the phone until I was in the NBA. That stuff can mean a lot. No telling what would have happened if I talked with Lenny Wilkens before I decided to leave.”
Tourney picture
With the win, the Friars’ Big East Tournament seed moves a little more into focus.
The Friars are tied with Georgetown and Butler for second place with an 11-6 record. If they beat Butler in the regular-season finale Saturday, they’ll secure the second seed. PC would finish ahead of the Bulldogs with a win and even if the Hoyas close out their season with a win at home against Seton Hall, PC would merit the higher seed due to a season-sweep of Georgetown.
PC’s 11 wins ties the school’s Big East record set in 2001 and ’04. Those regular season finishes were a bit better, however, because they featured just 16 games.
“Having 11 Big East wins is really hard,” said coach Ed Cooley. “We’re excited. Our league is really, really hard so the fact that we have 11 wins and can continue to improve is big for us. I don’t know if there is a more competitive league in the country.”
Desrosiers back on floor
Carson Desrosiers bounced back after missing the previous two games with a sore left knee to contribute 19 key minutes. The 7-footer only had two points and two rebounds but was a defensive anchor in the middle of the zone defense the Friars deployed throughout the second half.
“Carson did a really good job,” Cooley said. “That’s what a fifth-year senior is supposed to do, get you over the hump on the road.”
Desrosiers played the bulk of the second half, as did Dunn, Henton, Junior Lomomba and Ben Bentil. Asked if at any point did he see the group tiring, Cooley pointed to all of the timeouts in college basketball as the perfect crutch his team needed.
“They’re not tired,” Cooley said. “If they’re tired, they need to play another sport. Play tennis.”
