Ron Bailey, West Virginia News

FLOWERS LOOKS TO BLOOM FOR WVU IN ‘09-’10

by RON BAILEY

August 27, 2009 – The Jabbo Kenner League concluded this month, and afforded hoops aficionados in the Washington D.C. area an opportunity to see and assess many of their favorite college and pro basketball players. The pages of i95Ballerz.com and NBE Basketball Report carry some of that coverage.

One Big East player that competed was West Virginia 6-foot-7, 215-lb, junior forward John Flowers. What jumps out at you about Flowers is his development since attending high school at St. Mary’s Ripken (MD); both physically and skill set-wise.

John was always a very competitive player, the type that while as an All-Met in the DC area rebounded, defended, passed and scored – he was a performer that through hard work positively impacted games. A well known gym rat, Flowers knew what he needed to work on and did so.

That self-understanding remains in John as a Mountaineer, as during Kenner action he noted “I have to continue working on shooting and ball handling”. As a smart player would – Flowers is good in the classroom also, having earned a “3.0 GPA” – John used the league to display improvement in those areas: Though not Curly Neal (for those not in the know, a great Harlem Globetrotter dribbler), he got to the rim, while also pulling up for mid-range jumpers. There were times where John also shot out to three-ball territory.

Of course he displayed toughness, a pre-requisite for Bob Huggins led players at WVU, as the coach “doesn’t like soft players” according to John. Flowers personified that ethos rebounding at Kenner. “At West Virginia, we are told ‘Do whatever you have to do to get the ball’ said John regarding cleaning the glass. “Swim moves, box out, whatever.”

In general, Flowers indicated the Mountaineer creed as “Make them hate to play against you”.
John’s a good fit in the program, but ironically was initially recruited to WVU by John Beilein, a coach known for his rather unique 1-3-1 defense and an offensive attack predicated on cutting and spacing, rather than brute force and effort. Beilein took the job running Michigan’s program after Flower’s senior season, leaving the young guy with a decision to make; ask to be released from his Letter-of-Intent, or stay at West Virginia.

Differentiating between the two coaches’ systems, Flowers noted: “He (Beilein) had a more structured system…running sets every time down. Huggins gives you more freedom. And it’s definitely more physical”.
“I thought about leaving for a week” recalled Flowers of that period in 2007. “He (Huggins) came to my house and told me I would improve.”

While it’s clear Flowers has developed at West Virginia, the program has likewise matured, just ask John. “We’re going to be a young team…but we might be top 10 in the nation” he noted, while internally, he expects “a battle for playing time.”

Of the Mountaineer program, John indicated no regrets, saying “I play a role”, before later sharing “This is a great place to be.”

Based upon his class room success and on-court improvement, it would be hard to argue with his conclusion.

Extras:
Flowers’ mom, Pam Kelly, was a and two time All-American (’80 and ’81) at Louisiana Tech. He has hoops in his genes.

Flowers on the Kenner League: “It was good competition, I can’t complain.”

Where does he work out when in the Waldorf, MD area, his home? (John used to travel all over Southern Maryland in high school, including balling at military institutions). “My back yard and Thomas Stone (High School, his first high school home).”

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Another recent WVU article to check out: NBE Staff Support Series: Josh Eilert, WVU

Also, here is our West Virginia Summer Report.
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