LINCOLN -- Krayton Nash carries dual roles as both head basketball coach and dean of students at St. John's Northwest Military Academy, of Delafield, Wis., and seeks to develop talent.
Shandon "Biggie" Goldman, a 2015 Lincoln graduate, is one of an incoming class Nash hopes to develop between August and next May in preparation for entering college. Nash heard about Goldman by word of mouth from a college coach visiting St. John's and was impressed with a video of Goldman playing high school basketball at Lincoln. Nash phoned Goldman and kept in touch with Goldman eventually visiting St. John's in the spring.
Sophomore Year 2012-2013
7.5 points
2.6 rebounds
1.0 blocks
67-185 3-pointers for 36.2 percent
77-210 field goals for 36.7 percent
Junior Year 2013-2014
11.5 points
5.0 rebounds
2.57 blocks
73-176 3-pointers for 42 percent
106-236 field goals for 45 percent
Senior Year 2014-2015
15.9 points
8.6 rebounds
2.94 blocks
2.7 assists
1.58 steals
68-196 3-pointers for 34.7 percent
172-379 field goals for 45.4 percent
"We built the relationship and we're more than happy to have him," Nash said.
Nash, who played for current Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan as a collegiate athlete, uses a similar system when coaching basketball which has landed Goldman a full athletic scholarship at St. John's.
"They style of play is a style where you can have multiple guys on the floor who can dribble, pass and shoot," Nash said, explaining Ryan likes to have players who are interchangeable on the court. "When you have a big guy such as who has the ability to pull another big guy out [away from the basket] it works to your advantage. He [Goldman] does have that element to his game."
Developing a low-post game and being able to play with his back-to-the-basket is a dimension Nash seeks to enhance in Goldman's offensive arsenal.
"That's one thing we are going to work on because 'Biggie' is 6-feet-9," Nash said. "And not only offensively being in the low-post more but also being able to defend the low-post, knowing how to watch a guy, knowing what moves he makes so he [Goldman] can be successful. If he becomes a prime-time player he's not going to come off the floor."
Nash perceives Goldman as having potential to play at professional level if he develops a solid all-around proficiency to go along with his already superb skills of 3-point shooting and ball-handling. Rebounding is also on Nash's agenda in training, not only individual players, but as a team concept.
"I expect him to rebound, not just because he's 6-feet-9. If I have a 5-feet-9 guard on the floor I expect him to rebound, also. We're going to rebound as a team," Nash said. "With his abilities, I don't see no reason why 'Biggie' can't grab 10 rebounds a game. I just think he's talented enough to do that."
Goldman will either be St. John's tallest player or right there with another depending upon recruitment of a foreign big man. One of Nash's favorite players was Dennis Rodman (6-feet-7), whom he noted led the NBA in rebounding. Nash says rebounding is not all about size.
"Charles Barkley is basically only 6-feet-4 and he was out there out-rebounding everybody. It's all about positioning and reading the rim, knowing how to position yourself to be in the best position to get the rebound," Nash said.
As the discussion turned to Moses Malone, one of the top offensive rebounders in his hey day, Nash noted, "Moses, if he didn't like the position he was in [when he caught the ball and turned facing the goal], he would bounce the ball off the backboard, catch it and put it in."
Last weekend Goldman and his parents visited the Clemson campus in South Carolina. Going in Goldman made no bones about being intrigued by the possibility of playing college basketball for the Tigers. The university is located 833 miles from his hometown of Evansville and a 12-hour drive his family could make to cheer him on during home games. Goldman is being recruited as shooting power forward, who can pull defenders away from the basket because of his long-range proficiency and has said he could possibly commit.
Goldman improved as he got taller in high school. As a 6-feet-4 sophomore he averaged 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks, having the most impact as a shooter making 67 of 185 3-pointers for 36.2 percent and 77 of 210 field goals overall for 36.7 percent. As a junior Goldman measured 6-feet-7 and became more of an impact player averaging 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.57 blocks. He made 73 of 176 attempts beyond the 3-point arc for 42 percent and 106 of 236 field goals for 45 percent. With the bulk of the team graduated, Goldman carried the load as a 6-feet-9 senior averaging 15.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.94 blocks, 2.7 assists and 1.58 steals. His presence was evident everywhere he went on the court although his 3-point shooting dipped to 34.7 percent facing constant double and triple teams on 68 of 196 shooting. Goldman's overall field goal percentage remained consistent as he connected on 172 of 379 shots for 45.4 percent.
Sports on 08/19/2015