Aminu Growing In Leaps and Bounds
One reference site I checked attributed to Al McGuire the quote ``The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.’’ I’m sure Al said it, but I really doubt he was the first. I know for certain he wasn’t the last.
Along about this time last season we were all wondering if Al-Farouq Aminu would even become a sophomore at Wake Forest, or would he take his immense talents to the NBA. I’m glad the returned, for the sake of the Deacons, for him, and for me.
Aminu, who leads the ACC in both rebounding and offensive rebounding, has clearly taken advantage of the year to improve his game, and that, in turn, has made Wake a much better team. And personally I’ve profitted because I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Farouq even better. I was impressed with him last season, but he is clearly a different kid now, wiser, more mature and more comfortable in his own skin. His personality, surprisingly madcap for someone who carries such a serious demeanor, is really coming out. Ish Smith said the two are always cracking each other up.
“He’s a trip,’’ Smith said. “Farouq’s a trip. He’s been like that since his freshman year too.
“Actually we got the impression (that he was quiet and serious) when he came on his visit. His mom came up and hugged me and I met (older brother) Alade through playing against him, and his little brother (Wajid) is hilarious, always joking, having a ball. I remember him being quiet, and kind of looking around. But as soon as he got comfortable with us, we were like `Who is this dude?’ And I have a ball with him. We joke around all the time.’‘
Farouq recognizes that he has grown in many ways since arriving at Wake, which is what any college student should expect.
“I think that’s just growing up,’’ Aminu said. “Now I kind of like know who I am. I think out of high school, I thought I knew who I was. I don’t want to say I was trying to be somebody else, but it was like I wasn’t 100 percent sure about myself. I think it’s kind of hard to be out of high school. But now I know myself straight up and down and I know what I will do and I know what I wanted do. Now I’m comfortable so I don’t worry about how somebody might judge me because I know who I am.’‘
We’re running a piece on Aminu in tomorrow’s Journal which will address his future after this season. There are no bombshells in the story, so don’t lose any sleep in anticipation. He hasn’t ruled out returning for a junior year, but I haven’t really talked to anyone who expects him to be able to turn down the kind of money he can command two years in a row. But Coach Dino Gaudio said the best thing is that the question of whether Aminu will stay or go hasn’t been an issue for the team one way or another.
I hope you check it out. Selfishly I’d love to see him back next year, but my take is we should just appreciate him—as a player and a person—as long as he is here.
“He’s a heck of a player and we’ll be watching him awhile on TV,’’ Smith said.
Back to the main page.
By Dan Collins on 02/25/2010 (3:48 pm)
Comments
Keep in mind, the NBA has a rookie salary scale. If AFA is projected as a top 5 or 10 pick this year, his financial position only improves marginally next year even if he stays and becomes Player of the Year. His decision looks to me like a simple case of big risk, small reward.
Dave O on 02/28/2010 (6:05 pm)
Dan - I know that AFA has been highly regarded since before his arrival at Wake Forest. But I’m among the minority that thinks that he has such a long way to go in his skill development that he shouldn’t be considered a first round NBA pick. So often young players are drafted on potential, and he might have been able to get by on that out of high school (had the one-year college requirement not been in place) or after last season since he could have claimed that he didn’t get the chance to show his skills with Teague and Johnson dominating the offense. But this year should have been his year. He may be leading the Deacs in rebounding, but the guy is an awkward mess on offense. He can make some acrobatic shots and quick moves. But he is more likely to hoist an unwise 3 or charge on a fast break or turn the ball over by dribbling into traffic. Many young players have great athleticism and tremendous potential, “upside” as the scouts like to call it. But I really think that AFA should have shown a lot more than he has (e.g. the second half against Virginia Tech, the whole game against Carolina) if he was ready to make the jump to the pros. He’ll probably leave, and I can’t blame him at all for taking the money. But in my mind he is not even close to being ready for the next level.
Matt on 02/27/2010 (10:22 pm)
Losing Calls on Deacs’ Own Home Floor
In the Carolina game Saturday it looked as if Wake was getting beat in “position zone” calls on its own home court, something that the other three ACC teams from the state of North Carolina rarely do.
By this I mean that the message seems to be: it’s okay for Wake Forest players to have calls go against them on turnovers, fouls and out-of-bounds plays even if an opposing player is responsible for the outcome of what happened. I.e., these examples: not getting credit for a clean steal on defense; losing an out-of-bounds call when a Wake player actually was fouled as the ball was going out of bounds; and not getting defensive calls against opponents when a Deacon player is improperly impeded in an offensive pattern.
These are not just basketball problems but may be larger university problems. So the first thing WFU should do is quit cozying up to certain in-state schools in political competition in order to be considered a “good guy school” vis-a-vis some “bad guy school” such as Duke (as portrayed by others).
Davidson’s basketball team often encounters similar problems in key games, especially when trying to reach the Final Four, so both schools should consider whether being a “good guy school” in academic or political coalitions against “we-don’t like-them” schools yields a sufficiently satisfactory fate when you’re in a big game against a UNC or N.C. State.
Don’t be afraid to stand for truth, justice and fair play for all colleges and universities in the state of North Carolina, then perhaps this will help send a message that Wake Forest expects at least an even break on officiating in basketball games on its own home court!
[Remembering that great “Lady Sports Writer” for The Journal.]
David P. McKnight on 02/27/2010 (5:39 pm)
Everything I read about him makes me like him more. I am at the point where I want him to do what he thinks is best for him (and, with his objectives and background, that could mean sticking around another year or two), not what’s best for Wake Forest. Looks like we will have another class act player in the NBA pretty soon.
WakeFan on 02/26/2010 (6:35 pm)
I, too, would love for Farouq to stay another year. He could help the incoming freshmen so much! I have never seen his expression change on the court but once or twice and a poker face is great while playing. I’ll understand completely if he opts for the NBA and be glad for him but I love watching him play for the Deacs and am wishing for one more year without getting my hopes up. Finish the year on a great note Chief!! Go Deacs!!
Ken Green on 02/26/2010 (1:11 pm)
Aminu has been great for WF and vice versa. I don’t expect him to return and, truth be known, would question why he would turn down guaranteed millions for another year and the potential risk of injury. As hard as it is, I can’t think selfishly about this. Thanks for what you’ve given us, and if this is it, best wishes for a long and successful NBA career.
Jim on 02/26/2010 (10:05 am)
Great piece Dan. Farouq has been a beast on the boards this year and it surely has helped Wake win some games. Yeah we all know he could “benefit” from staying another year at Wake but you just can’t blame or expect him to come back after the year he’s having. I for one would like to see him for one more year as a Deac but I’ve been proud to see him grow and mature as a player and love rooting for him. I think we all know he could definitely work on his shooting and his handles but lets be honest if he has a chance to go high in the draft and make a ton of money would you stay in school? Good luck Farouq I know I’m rooting for ya no matter what. Would love to see you next year but completely understand if decide to go live your dream. Go Deacs!!
Cliff Daniel on 02/26/2010 (4:34 am)
Country,
Selfishly, I hope Aminu stays one more year but understand he may need to take advantage of the opportunities @ the next level sooner rather than later.
However, the young man may improve his value by remaining another year or two. Sure did not hurt Tyler Hansbrough or Tim Duncan.
It will also help the “Chief” from a marketing standpoint if he achieves All America status which would likely come next year with that much heralded frosh class coming in.
For the Chief; One knows how much you may be worth now… What one does not know is how much will you be worth next year or two years from now??? Think about it!
Tom on 02/25/2010 (9:01 pm)
Proud to have Faroug represent WFU.
jcg on 02/25/2010 (8:02 pm)
Dan,
Darn, you column up great potential obituaries, too. So, I like U, will go on appreciating and enjoying until then.
Bobby
bobby h griffin on 02/25/2010 (5:36 pm)
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