For those of you who keep talking about Stith transferring...read this

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/johnnies_pops_t8mGqSaGRoyi8ze6XXFYYI

Not a big Robbins fan, but great article by him about Stith.


"I remember last season Coach Lavin and Coach [Mike] Dunlap called me into the office and they said, 'Malik, you work harder than anyone on the team. Have you ever thought about grabbing a teammate and working out?" recalled Stith.

"I realized that I was selfish," he added. "I wasn't being a good teammate. It was a bad habit I had to break."

He broke it with a polo mallet. When Lavin began bringing in those highly rated freshman recruits, Stith was the one getting numbers and texting them.

When Harrison, Greene, Pointer and Achiuwa recently arrived for summer school, Stith led film sessions, answered questions and help organize workouts. Pops knows best.

The role veterans play as a liason between the staff and new players is so crucial.  Stith is essentially the coach during the summer and reports progress of the other players back to the coaching staff. 

This kid's value to the team can't be measured.  He is setting the tone as the hardest worker out there and he has the experience to keep the youngsters prepared for what's next.

I saw Stith and GG working out about a month ago and Stith was definitely taking a leadership role. During the workout Stith was working hard and encouraging and talking to GG. I am sure he is doing a very similar job with all the other recruits that are now on campus. He may not be the best player on the team but he's a hard worker and seems like a good kid and leader for these freshman.

You have got to admire his work ethic. Hopefully with so much talent around him running the offense will come more naturally to Stith. We have got to know that even if he doesn't start he's going to see time.

I think Polee made a huge mistake. He could have been a great leader here, and he threw it away. So many college basketball recruits expect to be the go to guy right away, but if you look at the players who play professionally, often the role players on great teams are just as sought after as the stars on average teams.

He's 22 years old already?

I think Polee made a huge mistake. He could have been a great leader here, and he threw it away. So many college basketball recruits expect to be the go to guy right away, but if you look at the players who play professionally, often the role players on great teams are just as sought after as the stars on average teams.

Polee heard Sampson's footsteps.  I thought he really could have been something if he stayed.  I'll forever be grateful to him for opening the floodgates. To get a top 100 kid 3000 miles away in LA after a few weeks on teh job...it put everyone on notice that Lavin wasn't messing around. 

He's 22 years old already?

Afte he won the North Carolina State Championship, he prepped at Bridgton.  They won the NEPSAC and the national championship with Stith starting at point.  The kid is a freaking winner.

Some kids need to be players - racking up numbers - they see their future in roundball - on the court.  Transfer if they don't get minutes, or don't play the position they think they should, or feel they are are being used "wrong" (ie - hurting their pro chances).   

But some kids realize there can be a future in Hoops off the court.  If Malik has the vision to see him self someday on the sidelines of a college team, why would he consider transferring?   Is he going to find a better learning/Training experience than working with Steve Lavin, Gene Keady, and Mike Dunlap?  Is he going to learn trainging and conditioning and skills development from someone better than Rico Hines?  If he wanted, could he  learn the intricacies of High School and AAU ball from someone better than Mo Hicks?

And is he going to get the chance to work with better talent on the court in both practice and games at any other school?  Let's be honest - the schools that can come CLOSE to the the sheer talent level SJU will have this season aren't going to ACCEPT a transfer from a kid wth Malik's talent level.

By his senior year tho, he has a chance to be part of something extremely special.   And something like "final four" looks really good on a resume...

Thank you Marillac for posting the article, I for one greatly appreciate it.
As someone who has coached young men leadership, or absence thereof is key and no doubt Malik provides leadership and a good role model. He is exactly what this team needs over the next two seasons.

 Good find Marillac.  Thanks for posting.  Stith will be a great asset to this years squad, whether it be on the court or on the bench , or in practice.

...some kids realize there can be a future in Hoops off the court.  If Malik has the vision to see him self someday on the sidelines of a college team, why would he consider transferring?   Is he going to find a better learning/Training experience than working with Steve Lavin, Gene Keady, and Mike Dunlap?  Is he going to learn trainging and conditioning and skills development from someone better than Rico Hines?  If he wanted, could he  learn the intricacies of High School and AAU ball from someone better than Mo Hicks?....

"

Excellent thoughts. I hope Stith reads this.

9 freshman can be like the blind leading the blind and among other things Stith can act like a Combat Engineer in the Marines and point out landmines for them to avoid when off the court.

Some kids need to be players - racking up numbers - they see their future in roundball - on the court.  Transfer if they don't get minutes, or don't play the position they think they should, or feel they are are being used "wrong" (ie - hurting their pro chances).   

But some kids realize there can be a future in Hoops off the court.  If Malik has the vision to see him self someday on the sidelines of a college team, why would he consider transferring?   Is he going to find a better learning/Training experience than working with Steve Lavin, Gene Keady, and Mike Dunlap?  Is he going to learn trainging and conditioning and skills development from someone better than Rico Hines?  If he wanted, could he  learn the intricacies of High School and AAU ball from someone better than Mo Hicks?

And is he going to get the chance to work with better talent on the court in both practice and games at any other school?  Let's be honest - the schools that can come CLOSE to the the sheer talent level SJU will have this season aren't going to ACCEPT a transfer from a kid wth Malik's talent level.

By his senior year tho, he has a chance to be part of something extremely special.   And something like "final four" looks really good on a resume...

Agree CR.  In addition, he might not be the most skilled guy around, but he has helped us on the court a few times as well, and it is great having an upperclassmen PG returning.  He's a serviceable kid and one has to love his fire and attitude. If we're going to gel as a team this season, we're going to need Stith.  I don't think Polee was that type of leader.  He wasn't ready to lead yet.  Stith certainly is.

You usually just can't load up a roster with 13 stars and have it work out well.  You need guys like Stith to fill the last few spots...guys that aren't solely relying on playing basketball as their future....guys that won't sulk because they are playing behind others and will play hard regardless of the situation.

Paris was like that as well.  Some guys you have to start because their egos are too fragile--perhaps Polee was like that. 

Just like Paris, I think Stith has a career on the sidelines.

I saw Stith and GG working out about a month ago and Stith was definitely taking a leadership role. During the workout Stith was working hard and encouraging and talking to GG. I am sure he is doing a very similar job with all the other recruits that are now on campus. He may not be the best player on the team but he's a hard worker and seems like a good kid and leader for these freshman.

Working out as in weights or on the court?  If the latter, any observations?

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/johnnies_pops_t8mGqSaGRoyi8ze6XXFYYI


"I realized that I was selfish," he added. "I wasn't being a good teammate. It was a bad habit I had to break."

If he keeps this up, maybe a coaching career could be in his future.

I like Malik's "take no prisoners" mentality while on the court.  That goes a long way in having the rest of the team follow suit. 

Just like companies have corporate cultures, our team will start to build a culture that will define us for years to come.  I can see Malik as providing a role model for the mental toughness we want from our players.

He also is the only true PG on the team.

He also is the only true PG on the team.

Ultimately doesn't mean anything if the team is more successful with Lindsey or Greene running the show.

But I do find it hard to believe that someone who was the starting point guard for both a state championship team in North Carolina and a prep championship team in his postgrad year is incapable of showing more than he has so far.

He also is the only true PG on the team.

He is?!  Hmmmmmmm....