By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Forward Austin Croshere was the first draft pick ever
by new Pacers coach Larry Bird.
Under Bird’s Wing
Austin Croshere has solid skills,
By Cindy Luis
a humble attitude and a sweet jumper
... sound familiar?
Star-BulletinHE'S straight out of "Hoosiers," which is -- no surprise -- his favorite movie. Hard working. Blue-collar. Right out of the same mold as Larry Bird, his rookie head coach.
Indiana is going to love this guy.
The Indiana Pacers already do.
Austin Croshere came to the rookie camp early each day and stayed late. He plans to get to fall training camp a month early to work out with the coaches.
Croshere, a 6-foot-9 forward out of Providence, is here at the Pete Newell Big Man Camp to learn. And learn to get better.
At yesterday's session at the Special Events Arena, Croshere was first in line to try every new drill. A little head fake and up over camp coach Tim Grgurich.
Swish.
A drop-step back to just within the 3-point line, about 10 feet out, tough angle.
Banked it in, off the glass. Twice in a row.
A nifty quick step with reverse pivot while being overplayed by coach Kiki Vandeveghe.
Uh huh, jam!
Croshere is a quick learner.
"Austin's been tremendous," said Pacers assistant coach Rick Carlisle, a member of the Big Man Camp staff. "He's a basketball receptical. He's really into it and really wants to be a good player.
"At our camp in July, he was the first guy there and we had to kick him out of the gym every day."
All Croshere has ever asked is for a chance to prove he could play in a place that wanted him. Providence College was such a place where the lightly recruited Croshere blossomed into an All-Big East selection.
He sees the same opportunity playing for Bird. Croshere was Larry Legend's first ever draft pick -- No. 12 in the first round. He doesn't want to disappoint his new coach.
"I couldn't ask for a better place to play," Croshere said. "They seem to think I have talent. It's going to be a lot of hard work but I'm willing to work.
"Being Coach Bird's first pick ... it's a great feeling to have someone like him want me. I can't wait to get started, get a better idea of what he wants out of me. The sooner I can get over the fact that I'm playing for a legend the better off I'll be."
Before the draft, Croshere was one of three players brought in for a workout in front of the Pacers' coaching staff. He, Michigan's Maurice Taylor and Johnny Taylor of Tennessee-Chattanooga went at it for 45 minutes.
"They all looked good," Bird told the Indianapolis Star-News. "But Austin to me was a step ahead of the other guys. He has the ability. Now he has to do a lot of work and learn how to defend the wing. I saw a lot of things in the workout."
Bird saw a lot of himself out there. Croshere is an outstanding shooter. He set a Big East single-season record for free throw percentage (.933).
He's unselfish. He's intelligent. He has solid all-around skills.
"I'm looking forward to this camp," Croshere said. "I've worked with Coach Newell in the past and a lot of the things he teaches, I believe in. I've gotten to where I am by having good skills and I look forward to improving the skills I do have."
Croshere grew up in West Los Angeles. His father went to UCLA but the Bruins weren't interested in the kid from Crossroads School.
"If UCLA had recruited me with any intensity, I would have gone there," he said. "But things happen for a reason and it worked out for the best. Providence had a reputation of getting the most out of players' abilities. That's what I'm all about."
Croshere is also just 22 and rich. He signed a three-year, $4,084,440 contract (the maximum allowed under the rookie salary structure), becoming the earliest first-round signee ever for the Pacers.
Croshere hasn't spent much of the money but figures he has some debts to pay off. His plans include a sizeable donation to the Santa Monica (Calif.) Boys Club, where he started playing basketball.
He also is establishing a fund to build an academic center for Providence athletes and is donating money to an Indianapolis charity related to Alzheimer's Disease, an illness his grandfather died of.
The only item he's bought so far is a new Lexus for his mother's birthday, which is today. The new car replaces her 1965 Volkswagen Beetle.
"Every once in a while it (the money) hits me," Croshere said. "But it hasn't changed our family. Like my mom's birthday. We would have gone out to dinner (Saturday) regardless of how much money I had. It might have been a $7 a plate dinner versus $30 but we would have gone out to dinner.
"That's one of adjustments I know I'll have to make. The NBA lifestyle is different from college. It's like my position (small forward). It's not entirely new to me but it's new enough. But I have a luxury most draft picks don't have. I have Coach Bird and (newly acquired all-star forward) Chris Mullin to learn from."
At Sunday night's orientation meeting Croshere was in the front row, taking notes and taking it all in. A little later, he was signing autographs for youngsters, asking each one for their first names.
The NBA fans are going to love this guy.
