02-24-2011, 12:06 AM
Redshirt Kelvin Gaines eager for green light
10:16 PM, Feb. 23, 2011 |
Written by
Bill Koch
bkoch@enquirer.com
University of Cincinnati center Kelvin Gaines would love to be on the basketball court with his teammates competing in the Big East, but for now he's content to work on his game and wait for next season.
Gaines, a 6-foot-10 freshman from Jacksonville, Fla., is being redshirted this season so he can work on his footwork and offensive skills, leaving him with four years of eligibility beginning next season.
"Of course I would like to play," Gaines said, "but I see the big picture."
Gaines played last season with current UC freshman Justin Jackson at Arlington Country Day in Jacksonville, averaging 10.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.2 blocked shots per game. He didn't expect to be redshirted this season until he saw the level of competition at UC.
"I kind of realized I was a little behind," Gaines said. "I was never an offensive player, really. I'm more of a defensive player. But I've improved in areas and I've still got room for more. I think I could play right now and do pretty good, but I'm just waiting for next year to get here and be ready when my time comes."
UC coach Mick Cronin has seen improvements in Gaines' body, thanks to his work with strength coach Dave Andrews, and in his offensive skills as a result of his work with assistant coach George Jackson.
"He's getting a lot of extra individual instruction," Cronin said. "He gets extra agility work, strength work and then individual work on his offense."
Gaines still needs to improve what Cronin calls his "volume of intensity."
"He's a tough guy," Cronin said, "but we want to stretch out his volume so that he can play harder for a long period of time, so that he can show his athleticism on every play. He'll make two really good plays in a row, then he needs a rest. It's not football. You can't go back to the huddle. You've got to keep playing.
"He makes some plays that are unbelievable at times, but then he's got to run down the other end and sustain it."
Gaines is following the path guard Sean Kilpatrick took last season when he was redshirted. A year later, Kilpatrick entered Wednesday averaging 10.3 points per game.
"You see how good he's been playing this year so I guess it actually helped him too," Gaines said.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110...t|Sports|s
10:16 PM, Feb. 23, 2011 |
Written by
Bill Koch
bkoch@enquirer.com
University of Cincinnati center Kelvin Gaines would love to be on the basketball court with his teammates competing in the Big East, but for now he's content to work on his game and wait for next season.
Gaines, a 6-foot-10 freshman from Jacksonville, Fla., is being redshirted this season so he can work on his footwork and offensive skills, leaving him with four years of eligibility beginning next season.
"Of course I would like to play," Gaines said, "but I see the big picture."
Gaines played last season with current UC freshman Justin Jackson at Arlington Country Day in Jacksonville, averaging 10.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.2 blocked shots per game. He didn't expect to be redshirted this season until he saw the level of competition at UC.
"I kind of realized I was a little behind," Gaines said. "I was never an offensive player, really. I'm more of a defensive player. But I've improved in areas and I've still got room for more. I think I could play right now and do pretty good, but I'm just waiting for next year to get here and be ready when my time comes."
UC coach Mick Cronin has seen improvements in Gaines' body, thanks to his work with strength coach Dave Andrews, and in his offensive skills as a result of his work with assistant coach George Jackson.
"He's getting a lot of extra individual instruction," Cronin said. "He gets extra agility work, strength work and then individual work on his offense."
Gaines still needs to improve what Cronin calls his "volume of intensity."
"He's a tough guy," Cronin said, "but we want to stretch out his volume so that he can play harder for a long period of time, so that he can show his athleticism on every play. He'll make two really good plays in a row, then he needs a rest. It's not football. You can't go back to the huddle. You've got to keep playing.
"He makes some plays that are unbelievable at times, but then he's got to run down the other end and sustain it."
Gaines is following the path guard Sean Kilpatrick took last season when he was redshirted. A year later, Kilpatrick entered Wednesday averaging 10.3 points per game.
"You see how good he's been playing this year so I guess it actually helped him too," Gaines said.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110...t|Sports|s