Fun article about some players joining pickup games with regular students

[maxw]

UConn men’s basketball players join regular students in pickup game; it goes exactly how you’d expect

UConn’s Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson and others joined James Bouknight in a game against regular students on campus Wednesday. It went about as well for the students as you’d expect.

www.courant.com

Reminds me of the times I played against/with some of the players on the team 30+ years ago, and how a Gilad Katz pass gave me a hairline fracture on a finger

Good to see the tradition lives on.

 

[Stinger92860]

I played against 2 D1 players, please note I am a hack, I could not believe how quick they were and 6-2.

 

[TheHorde]

There’s a long tradition of this. I remember reading about the Michigan Fab 5 hooping on outdoor courts against all comers when they arrived on campus.

 

[HCCForever]

What's Bouknight doing on campus besides playing in pickup games?

 

[Matrim55]

I played against 2 D1 players, please note I am a hack, I could not believe how quick they were and 6-2.

Even the worst guys on the team have the kind of strength and physicality your dad has when you’re 7. People don’t understand what freaks elite athletes are.

 

[RichZ]

I used to play at an open court in Bridgeport. One of the regulars was a cousin of one of the Fairfield players, and got 3 or 4 of them to come to the court (Washington Park) to play some of the games one Saturday. These guys from a marginal college program were so much better than anyone else in the park it was ridiculous. The only way it worked was if each team had one of them, and even then, they just ended up playing one on one and the rest of us just occupied space on the court.

 

[HCCForever]

I used to play at an open court in Bridgeport. One of the regulars was a cousin of one of the Fairfield players, and got 3 or 4 of them to come to the court (Washington Park) to play some of the games one Saturday. These guys from a marginal college program were so much better than anyone else in the park it was ridiculous. The only way it worked was if each team had one of them, and even then, they just ended up playing one on one and the rest of us just occupied space on the court.

Similar to my experience in an adult hockey league in Cromwell. We had a former D3 player who skated circles around us all but was a great team player and could feed us the puck wherever he wanted. They moved him up to a better league after a few games.

 

[storrsroars]

Glad nobody got injured!

 

[FreeKlaiber]

Our uconn intramural team played against different teams with Willie McCloud and Lyman. I had to cover Lyman, and the differences in levels for a scholarship player is amazing. I held Lyman to however many points he chose to get lol. Clearly I got Barros'ed

 

[John]

Jaylin's playing pickup games in crocs? That just about sums up the difference in level.

 

[Johnny Mac]

I once played against Dave Lieto in a pick up game at Northeastern. I deflected a pass off his hand out of bounds. He smacked my ass and said, "Nice d"

It was my proudest moment as an athlete.

 

[Kolumbo]

I'am actually surprised they allow the kids to play outside of practice, especially with the amount of $$ involved today. Anyone can get injured, and throw in the fact that any hatchet man can get on the court and play recklessly.

 

[John]

I'am actually surprised they allow the kids to play outside of practice, especially with the amount of $$ involved today. Anyone can get injured, and throw in the fact that any hatchet man can get on the court and play recklessly.

you can't bubble wrap them, they're kids.

 

[husky429]

I've played a lot of college players and a few pros over the years.

It's always interesting when I go to a new court to see how people treat me. I haven't touched a basketball in 2 years probably, but still. I'm 5'10, white, skinny, and wear glasses until the game starts. I don't exactly look like a baller. But at the end of the day, while you were studying or going to parties, I made 500 3s every single day for 4 years and practiced 2 hours a day on top of lifting. Now imagine doing that, but it's the best player on the best prep team that I couldn't even get onto at all. Then he gets 4 years of the best coaching available, a nutrition program, top-notch S&C, and you have a UConn basketball player.

 

[storrsroars]

you can't bubble wrap them, they're kids.

You can if you start doling out contracts.

 

[bazzdog]

Woody