USU men’s basketball walk-on tryouts held
More than 20 hopeful basketball players were on hand for Tuesday evening’s walk-on tryout for the USU men’s basketball team. Lance Beckert, Director of Basketball Operations, conducted the tryout that lasted a little over an hour.
For several attendees, the tryout was over before it began due to the requirement of a student-athlete tryout waiver that was to be submitted to no later than 72 hours prior to the tryout date. There were 18 players left who were then given a rundown by Beckert as to what they were getting themselves into. Beckert made very clear to the players that their role, should they be chosen at the end of the tryout, would consist of nothing more than scout team duties in team practices. He also said that the last two years that the basketball team has held this tryout that no player was selected to be a part of the scout team.
Beckert was clear as to what the team was looking to find out of the group of players there to try out.
“The best player,” Beckert said. “If there’s an outstanding athlete, or a good basketball player or someone with a good mind for the game, then he’d be perfect for our scout team.”
Every player was given a number and corresponding jersey for Beckert to identify them by during the tryout and were then lined up by height from tallest to shortest and split into two squads.
The players then began the actual tryout with a series of basic basketball drills. After nearly ten minutes of layup drills and three-man-weave jump shots the two squads ran in a rotation of a non-stop fast break 3-on-3 drill.
After more than 15 minutes of the fast break drill, the players were given three minutes to climb to the top of the Spectrum stairs for a quick water break at the nearest fountain and be back down to the court.
The two squads then began 5-on-5 team play that lasted for the remainder of the tryout, with Beckert serving as both coach and referee to the game.
At 11 minutes past 7 p.m. Beckert blew his whistle and instructed all of the players to take a seat on the floor in front of him. Beckert called out the names of a handful of players, thanked them for their time and effort, and wished them well on their way out.
For all but two of the remaining players, Beckert called each of them out by name one at a time and asked them about their playing experience in high school and also determined what their remaining eligibility would be should they choose to try out again next year.
For the last two players Beckert spoke gave a rundown of their possibility of being on the scout team.
“I thought there were two players that were good enough to be on our scout team,” Beckert said. “I’ll bring that information back to coach and I’ll let him make a final decision.”
Beckert said the main attributes that he was keeping an eye out for was a player who was athletically in shape, and someone who could handle the ball without turning it over.
Josh Greenwell, a freshman majoring in pre-medical biology, was one of the hopefuls on hand to try out for a his chance to be a part of Aggie basketball.
“I just thought it’d be a fun experience,” Greenwell said. “At least just take a chance really.”
Greenwell played varsity basketball for three years at Oakley High School in Idaho and figured that the walk-on tryout was at least worth the time on a Tuesday night.
“Take a shot,” Greenwell said. “The worst he can do is say no.”
Despite being cut, Greenwell said he plans on attending the tryout again next season. “I thought that was a blast just to get to play with some good talent as far as walk-ons go,” he said.
For everyone outside of the two players who Beckert saw as potential candidates for the scout team, the dream is already over for this year. Even for those remaining two players, the dream very well could end the same soon. If they are in fact chosen they will begin practice on Friday when the basketball team begins official team practices. Whether or not a player is indeed selected, Beckert expressed his thanks for all the participants.
“I appreciated everybody that came out,” Beckert said. “It takes a lot of courage to come out and try out for a team. It’s a tough situation and I think they need to stand tall.”