Monday, December 1st, 2008

Basketball players cannot ‘Say No’ to summer league

Off-season camp trained many notable players

Don’t be fooled by its name. There is nothing you can “Say No” to about the quality of this basketball league.

The “Say No” Classic, a summer camp for college basketball players held at the USC campus, has produced many notable players. Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce, a two-time All-Star in the NBA, was once clad in a “Say No” jersey, and proved that the “Say No” Classic is a league where you can develop and hone your skills both mentally and physically in preparation for the future.

This year’s players have come from a myriad of colleges and there are many notables and upcomers. Craig Smith from Boston College, a 20-point and 10-rebound man, has made his presence felt. Freshman Hassan Adams of Arizona, a McDonald’s All-American, has shined in the league thus far.

The one name that probably would not stand out in the crowd, but who is holding his own is Michael Fey.

Yes, that Michael Fey.

The UCLA center has soared to new heights, as he is running up and down the court smoother than he has ever had. His offense has seen a Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation as he has acquired an aggressive mentality of wanting to score.

“The individual workouts I received in spring really helped me,” Fey said. “Especially the repetition and the little things that coach (Ben Howland) stressed.”

Fey’s footwork has improved immensely and the combination of posting up and then utilizing the drop step along with a smooth left-hand hook and fadeaway jumper, has made him virtually unstoppable. His defense has also stepped up as he is using that long frame effectively.

Lastly Fey is commanding the boards on both ends of the court like a 7-footer should.

“I just want to play as much as possible and continue to work hard and prepare myself for the regular season,” Fey said.

Fey has continued to show what he has learned from his training sessions and the extra time he has put in the gym has transcended to the type of numbers he has put up in this summer league. In his first three games, he has averaged an impressive 17 points per game and six rebounds.

An increase in the amount of playing time Fey will see next season is good news for UCLA’s future hopes, as Fey looks to have a breakout season and be an integral component in erasing last season’s debacle.

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Host to six UCLA players, many of the top high school prospects as well as many upcoming and returning college basketball players, the “Say No” Classic has been a Southern California tradition for the past 27 years. Whether it’s the rim-rocking, in-your-face slam dunks, or the Dikembe Mutumbo-like “not in my house” rejections, players from all across the state come here to show off their moves and stay sharp during the off-season.

The Phoenix Suns’ Bo Outlaw also spends time as a coach for one of the teams in the league, and Penny Hardaway makes many appearances.

UCLA’s Dijon Thompson, Trevor Ariza, Ryan Hollins, Janou Rubin and Brian Morrison are all in the “Say No” Classic as well.