Post by elp525 on May 9, 2011 5:20:50 GMT -5
Monday May 9, 2011
Decision meaningful for Mountaineers, Noreen
by Mike Casazza
Charleston Daily Mail
MORGANTOWN -- Kevin Jones announced Sunday he is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to West Virginia for his senior season.
"This was a good experience for me to go through the process and gain valuable feedback for my goal of playing in the NBA," said Jones, who worked out at a draft combine earlier in the day and had until midnight to withdraw. "I'm excited about coming back to West Virginia and playing with my teammates for my senior season."
This, of course, is of great significance to the Mountaineers, but holds perhaps greater implications for freshman teammate Kevin Noreen.
"He really became a mentor to me," Noreen said.
Once WVU got over its season-ending NCAA Tournament loss to Kentucky and got back into the gym for workouts, Coach Bob Huggins decided it would be a good idea to partner Jones with Noreen.
As the 6-foot-10 Noreen grew to a solid 250 pounds -- up 35 pounds from where he was when he came to school last summer and 15 pounds from where he played last season -- he also grew to be pretty close to Jones.
And that's both literally and figuratively.
"It's been great with him leading me and showing me some new things," Noreen said. "I actually see a lot of similarities between KJ and myself."
With Jones back on campus, Noreen might not have quite as large of a role as he would without Jones, but the development he's seen in just a few months will continue.
"What he's probably showed me the most is hard work," Noreen said. "He's not a finished product yet, but he's going to get there. Where I'd like to be someday is where he's at right now. The things he's showed me in drills and workouts are setting the tone for getting all that work done."
Jones played 33 and 34.9 minutes per game the past two seasons and averaged 13.3 points in 71 games -- all starts. Noreen would have led the candidates attempting to fill those vacancies, though 6-7 forwards Tommie McCune, Keaton Miles and Dominique Rutledge from the incoming recruiting class would have tried, too.
Noreen, one of only five returning scholarship players, will still factor into the immediate future. WVU graduated five seniors, including starting forwards Cam Thoroughman and John Flowers.
"It means I get another year under his leadership and his tutelage," Noreen said. "I really think we'll be a much better team with him back. Obviously, the minutes, there won't be as many to go around, but there are still minutes out there. I'm just going to have to fight for them."
Jones' decision capped an eventful weekend for the program. Aaric Murray, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound center formerly of La Salle University, announced Saturday he was transferring to WVU.
Murray led the Explorers in scoring (15.2) and rebounding (7.7) as a sophomore this past season. He blocked 143 shots in two seasons. Murray, who will be on scholarship right away, will sit out the upcoming season and then have two years of eligibility beginning in the 2012-13 season.
"Aaric runs the floor well, can jump and certainly block shots, and he is agile enough to fit our system," Huggins said. "Having Aaric practice with us and learn our system this year will no doubt help him when he is able to compete the following year. Our staff is excited to have him in our program for three years."
With Murray's arrival and Jones' decision to stay, the Mountaineers have 12 players on scholarship next season, but only 11 who can play. The NCAA allows 13 scholarship players. The signing period ends May 18, though WVU is already set to welcome six freshmen and a junior college player, as well as Murray, in the recruiting class.
Noreen's true freshman season was cut short because of knee surgery. He played seven games, but needed an operation in January to repair a ruptured prepateller bursa on his right knee.
He averaged 2.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and made 7 of his 8 field-goal attempts before he was shut down for the season. WVU expects to receive a medical redshirt from the NCAA.
Noreen is a scorer, though, and much like Jones a player who can be effective as a shooter from the outside even though his height suggests he should play inside.
"Stretch 4 (power forward) is probably how I'd describe myself," Noreen said. "KJ is a little more of an inside guy because he's got the body. And he's proven himself as an offensive rebounder, really second to none. I would have to work on that to get where he is."
Noreen's talents helped him average 38.6 points per game as a senior at Minnesota Transitions Charter School, in Minneapolis. He was named Mr. Basketball in 2010. His 4,086 career points are the most in state high school history -- he played varsity from seventh grade on -- and as a senior he had 14 games with 40 or more points and seven with 50 or more.
He's just not as good inside as is Jones, who's scored 1,165 points with the Mountaineers and has the second-most offensive rebounds in school history.
Noreen said he's as big as he can be right now, but can grow to accept more muscle when he's older and, presumably, more able down low.
"That happens in the weight room, but some guys just have that knack to find the ball," Noreen said. "Guys like KJ can read it off the glass better than others. He has that. He's definitely not the most athletic player, but there's a reason he gets those rebounds.
"And that's something I learned from him this year. You don't necessarily have to jump over everyone else to get the ball. It's more about how you position yourself and put yourself in the best spot for a missed shot and use your body to create space."
Noreen said his knee is fully recovered and he's been working out without limitations since the end of the season. He said he's rarely needed treatment after workouts or strength and conditioning sessions. The Mountaineers get a series of games and practices as part of their August trip to Italy. Noreen expects to be ready to make his move.
"I still have the mentality that when you go into something expecting a reward, it's not going to work out that way," he said. "What I have to do now is keep playing hard and show the coaches I deserve it."
Decision meaningful for Mountaineers, Noreen
by Mike Casazza
Charleston Daily Mail
MORGANTOWN -- Kevin Jones announced Sunday he is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to West Virginia for his senior season.
"This was a good experience for me to go through the process and gain valuable feedback for my goal of playing in the NBA," said Jones, who worked out at a draft combine earlier in the day and had until midnight to withdraw. "I'm excited about coming back to West Virginia and playing with my teammates for my senior season."
This, of course, is of great significance to the Mountaineers, but holds perhaps greater implications for freshman teammate Kevin Noreen.
"He really became a mentor to me," Noreen said.
Once WVU got over its season-ending NCAA Tournament loss to Kentucky and got back into the gym for workouts, Coach Bob Huggins decided it would be a good idea to partner Jones with Noreen.
As the 6-foot-10 Noreen grew to a solid 250 pounds -- up 35 pounds from where he was when he came to school last summer and 15 pounds from where he played last season -- he also grew to be pretty close to Jones.
And that's both literally and figuratively.
"It's been great with him leading me and showing me some new things," Noreen said. "I actually see a lot of similarities between KJ and myself."
With Jones back on campus, Noreen might not have quite as large of a role as he would without Jones, but the development he's seen in just a few months will continue.
"What he's probably showed me the most is hard work," Noreen said. "He's not a finished product yet, but he's going to get there. Where I'd like to be someday is where he's at right now. The things he's showed me in drills and workouts are setting the tone for getting all that work done."
Jones played 33 and 34.9 minutes per game the past two seasons and averaged 13.3 points in 71 games -- all starts. Noreen would have led the candidates attempting to fill those vacancies, though 6-7 forwards Tommie McCune, Keaton Miles and Dominique Rutledge from the incoming recruiting class would have tried, too.
Noreen, one of only five returning scholarship players, will still factor into the immediate future. WVU graduated five seniors, including starting forwards Cam Thoroughman and John Flowers.
"It means I get another year under his leadership and his tutelage," Noreen said. "I really think we'll be a much better team with him back. Obviously, the minutes, there won't be as many to go around, but there are still minutes out there. I'm just going to have to fight for them."
Jones' decision capped an eventful weekend for the program. Aaric Murray, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound center formerly of La Salle University, announced Saturday he was transferring to WVU.
Murray led the Explorers in scoring (15.2) and rebounding (7.7) as a sophomore this past season. He blocked 143 shots in two seasons. Murray, who will be on scholarship right away, will sit out the upcoming season and then have two years of eligibility beginning in the 2012-13 season.
"Aaric runs the floor well, can jump and certainly block shots, and he is agile enough to fit our system," Huggins said. "Having Aaric practice with us and learn our system this year will no doubt help him when he is able to compete the following year. Our staff is excited to have him in our program for three years."
With Murray's arrival and Jones' decision to stay, the Mountaineers have 12 players on scholarship next season, but only 11 who can play. The NCAA allows 13 scholarship players. The signing period ends May 18, though WVU is already set to welcome six freshmen and a junior college player, as well as Murray, in the recruiting class.
Noreen's true freshman season was cut short because of knee surgery. He played seven games, but needed an operation in January to repair a ruptured prepateller bursa on his right knee.
He averaged 2.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and made 7 of his 8 field-goal attempts before he was shut down for the season. WVU expects to receive a medical redshirt from the NCAA.
Noreen is a scorer, though, and much like Jones a player who can be effective as a shooter from the outside even though his height suggests he should play inside.
"Stretch 4 (power forward) is probably how I'd describe myself," Noreen said. "KJ is a little more of an inside guy because he's got the body. And he's proven himself as an offensive rebounder, really second to none. I would have to work on that to get where he is."
Noreen's talents helped him average 38.6 points per game as a senior at Minnesota Transitions Charter School, in Minneapolis. He was named Mr. Basketball in 2010. His 4,086 career points are the most in state high school history -- he played varsity from seventh grade on -- and as a senior he had 14 games with 40 or more points and seven with 50 or more.
He's just not as good inside as is Jones, who's scored 1,165 points with the Mountaineers and has the second-most offensive rebounds in school history.
Noreen said he's as big as he can be right now, but can grow to accept more muscle when he's older and, presumably, more able down low.
"That happens in the weight room, but some guys just have that knack to find the ball," Noreen said. "Guys like KJ can read it off the glass better than others. He has that. He's definitely not the most athletic player, but there's a reason he gets those rebounds.
"And that's something I learned from him this year. You don't necessarily have to jump over everyone else to get the ball. It's more about how you position yourself and put yourself in the best spot for a missed shot and use your body to create space."
Noreen said his knee is fully recovered and he's been working out without limitations since the end of the season. He said he's rarely needed treatment after workouts or strength and conditioning sessions. The Mountaineers get a series of games and practices as part of their August trip to Italy. Noreen expects to be ready to make his move.
"I still have the mentality that when you go into something expecting a reward, it's not going to work out that way," he said. "What I have to do now is keep playing hard and show the coaches I deserve it."
