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Ferry says Hickson, Jackson have potential with hard work
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Saturday, Jun 28, 2008
CLEVELAND: In professional basketball, the rule is that you can never have too many big guys.
After Thursday's NBA Draft, the Cavaliers find themselves with riches at that position thanks to the selection of forwards J.J. Hickson in the first round and Darnell Jackson via a trade with the Miami Heat.
The Cavs introduced the two Friday at Quicken Loans Arena. With the additions, the Cavs have six big men on their roster, which doesn't bother General Manager Danny Ferry.
''It's what most NBA rosters have. I think we have a blend now of guys with experience and some guys who can grow and learn and hopefully turn into real NBA players and be part of the rotation,'' he said. ''I think that both of these guys, if they work hard, have a chance and an opportunity, hopefully, at some point to be rotational players and establish themselves as real NBA players.''
Hickson, 19, earned Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman and honorable mention all-conference honors at North Carolina State, where he played for former NBA coach Sidney Lowe. He plays an athletic game but needs to develop more strength, according to scouting reports. Hickson, 6-foot-9, 242 pounds, averaged 14.8 points and 8.5 rebounds during his freshman season.
''It helped me a lot. I looked at it as a learning experience and everything that Coach Lowe said and I responded the best way I could,'' he said when asked about playing for a coach with pro experience. ''I'm just ready to come in and do whatever's asked of me.''
Experts considered this draft to be deep with big men, but Ferry said Hickson grabbed his attention early.
''He was a guy who was in college as a freshman who — in the ACC — was commanding double-teams every night. He's got to learn to raise it another level now — this level, a higher level,'' he said. ''That's going to be a challenge for him. He made the first transition (to college) pretty well. This transition (to the pros) may be harder because it comes so quick. I do believe if we do the right things, eventually he'll have the opportunity to
establish himself as a real NBA big.''
Jackson uttered words that Northeast Ohio's basketball fans love to hear — playing here is a dream come true.
The Cavs acquired Jackson, 22, in a trade with the Heat along with the rights to his University of Kansas teammate Sasha Kaun, who elected to begin his pro career in Russia. As a senior, Jackson, 6-8, 250 pounds, averaged 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds, a team high.
Unlike a lot of players who find their way to the NBA, Jackson didn't begin shooting hoops until the ninth grade.
''I don't know what it is about this place. Ever since I started playing basketball and LeBron (James) started playing here, I said that I would just love to run in the open court with him,'' Jackson said, ''just the way he carries himself as a player and a father.''
Jackson is described as a gritty, energetic player with the ability to generate his own offense. He endured a series of personal tragedies while in high school and college and at one point came close to quitting.
''During my junior year, I told Coach (Bill) Self that I should go home because ever since I'd been there things have been going downhill,'' Jackson said. ''He told me you can't control what happens in your life and everybody goes through it. When I went back to school, I just made up my mind that I was going to turn that negative into a positive, and I just stuck with it ever since.''
That shows a mental toughness that coach Mike Brown likes in his players.
''Like Darnell said, he's going to bring toughness and energy. He's an older guy so obviously there's some maturity there,'' he said. ''Hickson is obviously a young, talented guy who has a chance to be very good in this league. Not only is he talented, but he's skilled also and when you combine those he's a player with skill. He's got nice size and nice athleticism.''
But will they be able to do what Brown asks of his players first and foremost — play defense? ''On the collegiate level it's good enough. We'll see what they have to do when they have to guard the big boys,'' Brown said with a laugh.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/.
CLEVELAND: In professional basketball, the rule is that you can never have too many big guys.
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