Festus Ezeli Interview on Real Gm

[ScoobyDoo]

Does anyone think this guy can't be, at worst, a more athletic, mobile version of Kendrick Perkins? A tough, physical defensive, rebound minded center to put in the middle.

Will work great with KG guiding him. Also, if JuJuwan Johnson pans out he's the perfect compliment to Johnson's finesse - a real bruiser on the block.

If he can rebound and defend, that would be a great bookend piece of a fast break Rondo lead team.

I really like what the kid has to say in this interview as well. Just sounds like a tough, smart kid with a solid head on his shoulders.

Draft Interview: Festus Ezeli Of Vanderbilt
By: Michael Scotto
Jun 25, 2012 12:26 PM EDT

Until the summer of 2007, Festus Ezeli never played traditional organized basketball. All that changed when Ezeli drew attention from college recruiters while playing AAU basketball for the Sacramento Pharaohs that summer.

Ezeli eventually chose Vanderbilt over Florida, Connecticut, West Virginia, Minnesota, Pacific, UC-Santa Barbara, Nevada, Creighton, South Florida and UNLV.

“I chose Vanderbilt because it was a great academic institution. Being there for four years, I definitely grew by being able to manage my time taking care of my school work,” said Ezeli. “On the court, my coach (Kevin Stallings) was one of the main reasons why I chose the school. He’s very passionate about the game. He’s a great teacher and he really taught me. When I got there I was pretty much a kid in every aspect of the word and I would be late to a lot of things or lose my stuff. He helped me grow as a man. He was kind of like a father figure with me.”

According to Ezeli, Stallings groomed him from a raw and unpolished player into a serviceable center that can block shots and score inside.

“My whole game pretty much started at Vanderbilt,” said Ezeli. “He really helped develop me as a player. The part of the game he really helped me develop the most was my defense because that’s the part of my game that stands out a lot. He gave me a lot of defensive principles while I was down there. He polished me in that sense because I never had a coach really before him.”

Thanks to his education from Vanderbilt professors and the lessons learned in practice with Stallings, Ezeli feels ready for life in the NBA on and off the court.

“I got my degree. That’s first and foremost, so I know I’m ready for anything else. Basketball is a hobby and I know that it’s going to end someday and I know I’m ready for life outside basketball as well. I’m older as well, so I’m probably a little more mature. Spending four years helped me by going through more things like adversity than some guys. I think I’m a little more prepared."

The education for Ezeli continues on the basketball court with his agency, Billy Duffy Associates, in Santa Barbara.

“We’ve been working on my footwork, working on my offense, my hands, and working on rebounding skills. We’ve been working on my all around game really,” said Ezeli.

The work in Santa Barbara has paid off for Ezeli after a solid showing at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

“I just went out there and showed them what I bring to the table, which is defense," said Ezeli. "I have a pretty good motor, I run hard, and I’m just a big presence in the paint really. I play defense and I can score on the block. I also have a developing jump shot. I just showed them everything I could and it was a good showing."

According to sources, Ezeli has moved back into the late first round for teams looking to add depth in their frontcourt.

“I know I’m a late first round guy. I think there’s been talk of the second round, but a lot of it was just talk about my health and people wondering if I was healthy or not. When I show them I’m healthy I think I’ll be a late first round draft pick,” said Ezeli. “You could see towards the end of the year I was back to my normal self. I was jumping and rebounding like I usually do."

The Celtics, Warriors, Bulls, Heat, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Hawks, Magic and Pacers have been amongst the teams to work out Ezeli.

According to Ezeli, if one of those teams drafts him, he’ll be worth a guaranteed contract as a first round selection.

“I really work hard, that’s what I do. I’m always going to work to improve. I’m going to do whatever my coaches ask of me to do. Ask my coach, he’ll tell you whatever he asked me to do I did. If a coach asks me to run through a wall, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to play hard for them and I’m going to do my best out on the court,” said Ezeli.

On draft night June 28th, Ezeli’s basketball journey that began in the summer of 2007 with the AAU Sacramento Pharaohs will take an unexpected turn for the better.

“I’m excited. It’s a blessing to be a part of this process. I know if look back five years ago when I started off at Vanderbilt and look forward, I never thought I was going to be here. I’m just looking forward to landing with whatever team I end up at,” said Ezeli.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/blog/221682/Draft_Interview_Festus_Ezeli_Of_Vanderbilt#ixzz1yqTKHUzU


The more I see and hear about this kid, the more I like him. He could be a sleeper, especially considering how far he's progressed while only playing about 4-5 years of truly organised ball.

Has anyone see lots of this guy on the court? Can he be a more athletic Perkins and a long term defensive anchor for us?   
 

[LooseCannon]

“I got my degree. That’s first and foremost, so I know I’m ready for anything else. Basketball is a hobby and I know that it’s going to end someday and I know I’m ready for life outside basketball as well. I’m older as well, so I’m probably a little more mature. Spending four years helped me by going through more things like adversity than some guys. I think I’m a little more prepared."

Sounds like the kind of guy who would follow the Kobe-like method of never intentionally trying to draw charges because he plans on being able to walk in his old age and doesn't want to screw up his back getting knocked down.  Does "basketball is a hobby" mean that he's not going to be trench warrior in the post who will sacrifice his body for the team?

[j804]

“I got my degree. That’s first and foremost, so I know I’m ready for anything else. Basketball is a hobby and I know that it’s going to end someday and I know I’m ready for life outside basketball as well. I’m older as well, so I’m probably a little more mature. Spending four years helped me by going through more things like adversity than some guys. I think I’m a little more prepared."

Sounds like the kind of guy who would follow the Kobe-like method of never intentionally trying to draw charges because he plans on being able to walk in his old age and doesn't want to screw up his back getting knocked down.  Does "basketball is a hobby" mean that he's not going to be trench warrior in the post who will sacrifice his body for the team?

or like Bosh not wanting guys to land around him if he goes for a loose ball because he has to provide for his family

[ScoobyDoo]

From nbadraft.net -
"Strong post-defender, able to hold his positioning ... Improved his footwork offensively in the post, using an effective drop step to set up an over shoulder hook ... Willing to do the dirty work, defending and rebounding".

From Draft Express.com -
"Extremely tough and capable of getting up and down the floor in a hurry in transition"
&

"Defensively, Ezeli is far more useful at this point, managing to emerge as a pretty effective player for Vanderbilt in stretches last year both as a man to man and team defender. He works extremely hard on this end, competing aggressively to deny his man position, and using his length to contest shots around the paint. Ezeli blocked a decent amount of shots last year, and should be able to improve even more in this area as he continues to grow into his frame and develops his feel for how to operate on the court. He already shows good timing, toughness"

From NBA.com -

Strengths:
*NBA body and strength
*Mobility
*Good shot blocker
*Great work ethic

Weaknesses:
*Still trying to get comfortable offensively
*Still learning the nuances of the game
*Has to improve touch from free-throw line

&

But NBA scouts had already seen what he’s capable of doing and are well aware of his willingness to be coached and to work hard on his own.

Key statistics:
10.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.2 tpg, 2.0 bpg, 23.2 mpg, .539 FG, .604 FT

Cool statistic:
Ezeli finished as Vanderbilt’s all-time leading shot blocker with 204. That easily surpassed Will Perdue’s old standard of 157.

Reminds me of:
Kendrick Perkins

Interesting,I hadn't seen the Kendrick Perkins comparison until looking for quotes on him just now.

I'm not saying the guy is Shaquille O'Neal. But he has a 7'6" wing span, looks to be a better athlete than Perkins, is 265 and they say he has a great work ethic...

With skill and athleticism focused on the other four position, I'm just wondering can the kid be an anchor in the middle, and a reasonably priced one at that.

This is why I'd love to see us buy one more first round pick and take this kid, along with two other quality players at #21 & #22.

If we could secure one more pick, I'd be happy if we coudl come out of this draft with something along the lines of:

Jeff Taylor / Royce White and Ezeli

Depending on who's still available with our picks if we stand pat.  

Unless we think we can get an absolute home run by moving up, I'd like to get three quality young guys to add to our current group.    

[Yogi]

“I got my degree. That’s first and foremost, so I know I’m ready for anything else. Basketball is a hobby and I know that it’s going to end someday and I know I’m ready for life outside basketball as well. I’m older as well, so I’m probably a little more mature. Spending four years helped me by going through more things like adversity than some guys. I think I’m a little more prepared."

Sounds like the kind of guy who would follow the Kobe-like method of never intentionally trying to draw charges because he plans on being able to walk in his old age and doesn't want to screw up his back getting knocked down.  Does "basketball is a hobby" mean that he's not going to be trench warrior in the post who will sacrifice his body for the team?

In one paragraph,
1.  Festus Ezeli is compared to Kobe Bryant.
2.  Planning on being able to walk is implied to be a bad thing.
3.  A mans commitment to his team is questioned because he described basketball as the hobby it is.  It might become his profession for a few years, but for the vast majority of his life it will be his hobby, no?
Those are some interesting thoughts.

[SHAQATTACK]

I'll take him ....."IF" can't get Melo ( my sleeper pick) to leave teams who skipped him crying  in a couple years.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yeah SHAQATTACK, agreed.

6'11", 265, good athleticism, can be coached? I'm interested.

My problem is I just don't have enough footage on either Melo or Ezeli to make an educated guess on them.

Some people say Melo is a ding dong or has no motor? Others say he could be a real game changer in the middle defensively.   

[Celtics4ever]

Melo only benched 9 times that means he is weak.  His max vert is 31" not very good as well.  Ezeli benched 18 times and can jump 34" and played in a better conference.  The SEC in general outdid the Big East.

[clover]

I'd take Ezeli over Melo.

[celticinorlando]

I take any big over melo.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Good size, athletic, strong post defense, good shot blocker ... all good things.

Good post scorer — something we need desperately.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yeah, again, without having seen him much, I've liked what little footage I have seen and also what I've heard and read about Ezeli. If he could become a bit more athletic Perkins type for us, I'd be more than happy - really hard to find tough 7 footers who like to protect the rim and play physical on the block. 

[ChampKind]

Love Festus. I went to Vandy and now I run SBNation's Vanderbilt blog, so I've gotten the chance to follow his career in Nashville for the past five years. Here's what I had to say about him last week:

Festus is definitely an intriguing player. He came to Vanderbilt as a mystery, a guy who had only been playing organized basketball for one year. He snuck onto the Rivals' Top 150 thanks solely to his size and athleticism. At 6'11 and 250 pounds, he had been one of Nigeria's most intimidating high school soccer goalies before moving to California to live with an uncle.

He redshirted his freshman year in Nashville and joined 2008's recruiting class of Jeffery Taylor, Lance Goulbourne, etc. Unlike those guys, he didn't get the chance to play right away on a rebuilding squad. He played behind All-SEC center A.J. Ogilvy for the first two years of his college career, and it was pretty clear that he was a raw player. While he could rebound and defend, he was a magnet for both fouls and three-second violations. He was a beast in practice, but had difficulty translating that into games, which made him just a rotation player for a team that needed interior toughness.

He got his chance to blossom when Ogilvy left after his junior year to pursue a professional career. While questions surrounded Ezeli's ability to take over A.J.'s spot, there wasn't much concern from inside the Vandy camp. Festus rewarded that confidence with a breakout junior season. While his defense was still light years ahead of his offense, the work he had put into his game was paying off. Ezeli had developed a few nice post moves, increased his ability to get to the rim (and finish STRONG), fouled less, and improved his free throw shooting. He averaged 13 pts/6 rebounds/2.6 blocks that season while shooting nearly 60% from the field.

Expectations were high for his senior year, but outside circumstances threw a wrench in his plans. He was suspended for six games after letting a friend pay for a meal and a night's stay in a hotel room over the summer, and then suffered a knee injury that would cost him 10 games early in the season. That knee injury would lead to other complications, as compensating for one bum knee quickly developed into problems on the other. It's likely that his rush back to the court - sadly necessary after Vandy started their season 6-4 - contributed to these problems. As a result, he never really got back to 100% in his senior year.

Still, he was effective - particularly against Kentucky. Kevin Stallings keyed in on Ezeli as Vandy's best chance to beat the Wildcats, so we got to see lots of isolation between Ezeli vs. Anthony Davis in their meetings. Aside from Davis's otherworldly 28-11 in the teams' second meeting, Ezeli and Davis matched up very well, with Ezeli's strength going up against Davis's finesse. Ezeli ended up averaging 15 points, six rebounds, and two blocks per game versus the Wildcats in '11-12.

So what does Ezeli bring to the NBA? He's got a big, muscled frame and he's developed the skills to use his strength as a weapon on both ends of the court. He's an above-average athlete who, when healthy, has the timing and jumping ability to erase shots defensively. His rebounding numbers weren't huge at Vandy, but that was because the team's defensive sets counted on Ezeli to be the pivot point of the help defense, drawing him out of the paint to block shots and leaving him out of position for rebounds. He was, however, a solid offensive rebounder who can be an asset in the paint not only for grabbing missed shots, but for keeping defenders away from wings who are driving into the lane.

Offensively, he's still raw after only six years of true basketball experience. He's shown the ability to grow in leaps and bounds, but he's also going to be 23 years old when the NBA season starts. He developed a few reliable post moves, including a tricky up-and-under and a hook shot that was streaky but unstoppable when he was feeling it. His highlight reel will attest to his ability to finish at the rim. Ezeli goes hard and treats the basket like it slapped his mother. Whoever drafts him will ensure that their fans get their money's worth in summer league games thanks to Ezeli's quest to bend rims into metal boomerangs.

There's definitely a risk to drafting Ezeli, but the potential is there and he already has the size to contribute to a NBA team. Work ethic won't be a problem for the young man, and a team that has a defensively minded coach like Tom Thibodeau could work wonders with him. I can't see him filling a power forward slot, but he's got the size/strength to be a throwback center and the athletic ability to get up and down the court without slowing down an offense.

Also, here's what we said about him and his importance as a player going into the season: http://www.anchorofgold.com/2011/11/9/2549444/vanderbilt-basketball-season-preview-an-ode-to-festus-ezeli

I don't mean to spam the forums with my links, so if that's inappropriate, mods can feel free to remove them.

[Yogi]

Festus is great but he has one glaring weakness.  He can't rebound.  He's not a natural rebounder and that is not something that is easy to fix. He'd probably peak at 7 rebounds a game in 5-6 years. 

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

There's definitely a risk to drafting Ezeli, but the potential is there and he already has the size to contribute to a NBA team.

Sounds like he could be a real find, and he already has the size we desperately need.

Work ethic won't be a problem for the young man, and a team that has a defensively minded coach like Tom Thibodeau could work wonders with him.

Good work ethic? Defensive minded? Fits Boston perfectly.

I can't see him filling a power forward slot, but he's got the size/strength to be a throwback center and the athletic ability to get up and down the court without slowing down an offense.[/i]

Definitely a center? Meaning his presence would allow KG to move back to PF, something KG wants, and would perhaps help entice him to return? Sign me up.