DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Cal junior Conor Famulener, the shortest participant at Pete Newell's Big Man Camp at 6-foot-6, slam dunked during a camp session this week.
Courting greatness Players with simple dreams, simple hopes. Most with simple names scrawled with a felt marker on the backs of their Pete Newell Big Man Camp T-shirts.
College post players learn
their high-altitude trade
at Pete Newell Big Man Camp
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comChris, Byron, Adam, Matt. How does any one of them stand out among the rest of the trees on the Kekuhaupi'o Gym court?
Once in a while, there's a name that warrants a double take. Aloysius, Amit, Josiah, Uche, Haim.
But when the norm is 6-foot-9, what's to differentiate between a player from Southern California and Southern Union Community College? Between UCLA and Cabrillo College?
How does one become more than just another "big guy?"
Is it the yellow shoes? Those are standard issue at Cal, and Conor Famulener wore them this week, as well as the label as the shortest player -- 6-6 -- in the collegiate camp.
"I feel short, but I don't think I really am the shortest one here," said Famulener, an incoming junior. "I'm a legit 6-6. A couple of guys put down 6-8, but they're not. Yes, I believe in truth in advertising.
"I'm here because our team is going to be small this year. We don't have a lot of big men and I'm thinking I'll get more minutes than last year. I don't know what Coach (Ben) Braun has in mind, but I want to be ready for whatever he does."
Famulener got a "good job" several times from Newell, the camp founder and former Cal coach. There was a "good defense" from Newell during a one-on-one drill against Brandon Crump of Tennessee.
"It's a Cal tradition to send the big men here," Famulener said. "Coach Newell has come to our practices before, helped us out with breaking down the fundamentals. He's great for the game."
Famulener is one of two Golden Bears in the camp, three if you count Nick Vander Laan, who transferred to Virginia after the 2000-01 season.
The other Cal participant is 6-10 Amit Tamir, an incoming sophomore from Israel. Tamir is a former teammate of Hawaii center Haim Shimonovich, who is also in this week's camp.
"We're good friends and we were roommates on our under-22 national team," Tamir said. "We've played against each other since I was 15.
"It's my first time to Hawaii. On one side, I'm here to work. On the other, the island is laid-back and I want to relax. I'm trying to get both of them done."
Shimonovich has two goals as well: get better and score more. He started every game for the Rainbows last season, but averaged just 7.1 points.
"I'm feeling pretty good out here," said the 6-10 Shimonovich, attending his second camp. "It's funny being with a lot of guys taller than me. Being tall is nice, but you learn you need to have other things.
"We lose 40 points from our team (with Predrag Savovic, Mindaugas Burneika and Mike McIntyre no longer eligible), and what I need to do is score more. Coming here, you see another level of play. To play professionally is everyone's dream."
Crump saw the future when chatting with Vincent Yarbrough, his teammate on the Volunteers last season. Yarbrough is in the pro session as a rookie for the Denver Nuggets.
"Hopefully next year or the year after I'll be there, too," Crump said. "I know I need to get a little bigger, put on a little more weight. Coming here is an opportunity to get better, be the best you can be.
"I respect Coach Newell. I'm here to get better."
It will take more than good genes and a well-known father to make it to the next level. Josiah Johnson, the son of former UCLA great Marques Johnson, knows that.
"There's no pressure on me," Josiah Johnson said. "I use my father and my brother (Kris, a pro player overseas) to help me. I get advice from them to improve myself.
"Coach Newell is an exceptional coach. Anything he tells you is obviously going to be the truth. I'm just trying to get better."
Newell's camp is a teaching camp. The players added new shots to their repertoire, from a little dropstep at the free-throw line, to a left-handed baby hook from the baseline.
All the players wanted was that nod from a Kiki Vandeweghe or a Stu Lantz or a Marc Iavaroni. It's a simple recognition that's the next step toward a dream.
Note: The camp wasn't only for players. The first female on the staff is Wendy Anae, who takes over as Kahuku head girls varsity basketball coach this season.. "Women's basketball is played below the rim and footwork is the key," Anae said. "I'm here to learn from the best and there is so much to learn."
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Pete Newell posed with Kahuku coach Wendy Anae for a recent photo. Anae is the first female on Newell's staff.
... In 1986, junior defensive tackle Al Noga, made school records that still stand with 17 sacks, 31 tackles-for-loss and six forced fumbles on his way to being named Associated Press first-team All-American. UH went 7-5 and coach Dick Tomey left after the season to become the coach at Arizona. Noga went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins in the NFL.
Today, Noga lives in Honolulu and is an assistant coach for the Hawaiian Islanders arena football team.
