McDonald: Hill a prototypical Spur

[timvp]

Hill a prototypical Spur: College coach recounts examples of toughness, talent, loyalty, desire
By Jeff McDonald
Express-News

Late Thursday night, the Spurs made George Hill from IUPUI the 26th pick in the NBA draft, leading all of San Antonio to ponder just two simple questions.

Who? And, from where?

Ron Hunter, Hill's coach at the obscure Indianapolis college, has this word of advice for Spurs fans when it comes to their new rookie point guard: Remember the name, if not the school.

“I've always said some guys have ‘it' and some guys develop ‘it,'” Hunter said. “This guy was born with it. People have no idea how talented this kid is.”

The Spurs, who chose Hill over a handful of more highly touted guards from more prestigious basketball schools, apparently agree.

A little-known player from a little-known college, Hill will arrive in San Antonio with a chance to earn backup minutes behind Tony Parker at the point, and a chance to score points for overlooked mid-major players everywhere.

“I always think it's harder coming from a mid-major,” Hill said Friday. “You always have to prove more.”

Officially known as Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, IUPUI will be confused with neither Indiana nor Purdue when it comes to basketball prowess.

The school began playing Division-I ball only eight seasons ago. It had never had a player drafted into the NBA before the Spurs called Hill's name Thursday.

Hill's selection represents something of a gamble for the Spurs, who under the NBA's rookie salary structure must guarantee him about $1.7 million over the next two years.

To take him, the Spurs passed over more prominent big-school guards like Kansas' Mario Chalmers and Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts, who four months ago were battling it out at the Alamodome for Final Four glory — a stage Hill couldn't have hoped to sniff playing at IUPUI.

Had things broken differently, however, Hill could have wound up playing for college basketball royalty as well.

Coming out of Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis, Hill entertained scholarship offers from Temple and Indiana. He could have played for back-to-back national championship teams at Florida.

Instead, he chose to remain in Indianapolis, the city in which he was born and raised. He opted to stay, in part, to be near his great-grandfather Gilbert Edison, whose health was failing.

“I wanted to stay close to home so he could see me play, if he ever got better,” Hill said.

Hill's great grandfather never got the chance. He died two months after Hill inked his letter-of-intent.

Hill's loyalty was IUPUI's gain: As a fourth-year junior last season, Hill starred in obscurity, averaging 21.5 points per game and garnering Player of the Year honors in the Summit League.

“He's a very, very committed kid,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. “He works hard, he's tough. More than anything, he's really grounded. Those type of guys and (coach Gregg Popovich) tend to work well together.”

The Spurs, however, coveted Hill for more than just his winning personality. They think he can play a little basketball, too.

One NBA scout, after watching Hill up close for much of the year, said he thought the guard could have started for any college team in the country.

Hunter surveys Hill's gifts — the stunning quickness, dogged finishing ability and beyond-his-years basketball a en — and sees a slightly more famous Spurs point guard.

“For the last few years, I've said he reminded me of Tony Parker,” Hunter said.

Hill, whose brother James Singleton spent two seasons with the L.A. Clippers from 2005 to 2007, always has been a natural athlete.

At Broad Ripple, Hill was asked to try out for the school soccer team, even though he had never played before. He wound up earning all-state accolades as a goalie that season.

“He's a freak of nature,” Hunter said. “He's a guy that could play three-straight NBA games, then go out and run a mile — and run it in five minutes.”

To Hunter, two moments from Hill's IUPUI career will always top the highlight reel.

One came last season against Massachusetts. Hill had struggled in the first half against Gary Forbes, a future Atlantic-10 Player of the Year and a player at the time rumored to be an NBA prospect.

“If you think you're a pro,” Hunter told Hill in the halftime locker room, “you have to be able to play with this guy.”

To that point, Hill had scored only four points. He finished with 30, leading his team to victory in the second half.

Another watershed moment came two years ago, during an early season game against Fairleigh- inson in South Carolina.

Hill had been hobbled with a stress fracture in his foot, but he begged to play anyway. Hunter eventually relented, but didn't expect much out of his injured star.

Playing on one leg, and without having touched a ball in weeks, Hill scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. A few days later, team doctors would shut the guard down for the rest of the season, and he took a medical redshirt.

IUPUI lost that game and its star, but a local legend was born.

“I knew right then how special this kid is,” Hunter said.

It wasn't the only truth Hunter learned that night.

“I also knew I wouldn't be getting him back for his senior year,” he said with a chuckle.

Earlier this week, the Spurs put the finishing touches on that realization. They targeted Hill from the get-go of the draft, telling him in the days leading up to it to expect a call if he remained on the board at No. 26.

The Spurs were somewhat surprised Hill lasted so long. Probably, team officials surmised, his availability had a bit to do with the anonymity afforded him at IUPUI.

“That late in the draft, most often, there are unusual cir stances for a great player to land there,” Buford said. “Probably, this is one of those where he was at a small college, didn't play against the best teams all the time, and didn't get much attention.”

The way his college coach sees it, Hill should enjoy his anonymity while it lasts.

“George Hill is a blessing,” Hunter said. “You have no idea how the Spurs bettered their program by picking this kid up.”

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...l.3feba72.html

[timvp]

Had things broken differently, however, Hill could have wound up playing for college basketball royalty as well.

Coming out of Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis, Hill entertained scholarship offers from Temple and Indiana. He could have played for back-to-back national championship teams at Florida.

Pretty good set of school recruited him.

“He's a very, very committed kid,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. “He works hard, he's tough. More than anything, he's really grounded. Those type of guys and (coach Gregg Popovich) tend to work well together.”

“He's a freak of nature,” Hunter said. “He's a guy that could play three-straight NBA games, then go out and run a mile — and run it in five minutes.”

This kid sounds like the anti-Beno. He may or may not end up being good but he at least will likely be the type of player Pop could trust.

Hill, whose brother James Singleton spent two seasons with the L.A. Clippers from 2005 to 2007, always has been a natural athlete.

WTF?

I never read that in any scouting report. Singleton is one of best pure athletes I've seen on a basketball court.

Earlier this week, the Spurs put the finishing touches on that realization. They targeted Hill from the get-go of the draft, telling him in the days leading up to it to expect a call if he remained on the board at No. 26.

The Spurs were somewhat surprised Hill lasted so long.

I wonder if this is spin, truth or both.

[Blackjack]

Damn timvp...

I was just in the process of posting this!

[remingtonbo2001]

George Hill has sleeper written all over him.

[Guajalote]

Had things broken differently, however, Hill could have wound up playing for college basketball royalty as well.

Coming out of Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis, Hill entertained scholarship offers from Temple and Indiana. He could have played for back-to-back national championship teams at Florida.

Instead, he chose to remain in Indianapolis, the city in which he was born and raised. He opted to stay, in part, to be near his great-grandfather Gilbert Edison, whose health was failing.

Hmm. This sounds like someone else I know of in Spurs history. Maybe you've heard of a fellow named David Robinson.

I live in Indy and while I was watching a sports report from the local Fox affiliate here, I saw a preview of an upcoming story about Hill visiting a friend that he'd gone to high school with at Broad Ripple High School. The segment doesn't aire until Sunday, but it looks like something that he was doing because it was the right thing to do.

I'm liking this guy more and more each day. I hope he can play. I'll be looking forward to many more years with him on the Spurs.

[Blackjack]

Another watershed moment came two years ago, during an early season game against Fairleigh- inson in South Carolina.

Hill had been hobbled with a stress fracture in his foot, but he begged to play anyway. Hunter eventually relented, but didn't expect much out of his injured star.

Playing on one leg, and without having touched a ball in weeks, Hill scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. A few days later, team doctors would shut the guard down for the rest of the season, and he took a medical redshirt.

You got a love a kid with that kind of toughness.

I heard him say today that Monta Ellis is the guy in the league that he's most similar to. I don't think he's quite that explosive, but he's a much better shooter and seems to have a better BBIQ.

The more I find out about this kid, the more I like him. And with Pop saying he expects a rookie to make us better right away.....

Maybe they did find another gem.

[lefty]

From thwe videos I've watched, I agree on the toughness part

[Mister Sinister]

Hmm. This sounds like someone else I know of in Spurs history. Maybe you've heard of a fellow named David Robinson.

I live in Indy and while I was watching a sports report from the local Fox affiliate here, I saw a preview of an upcoming story about Hill visiting a friend that he'd gone to high school with at Broad Ripple High School. The segment doesn't aire until Sunday, but it looks like something that he was doing because it was the right thing to do.

I'm liking this guy more and more each day. I hope he can play. I'll be looking forward to many more years with him on the Spurs.

[T Park]

I heard him say today that Monta Ellis is the guy in the league that he's most similar to. I don't think he's quite that explosive, but he's a much better shooter and seems to have a better BBIQ.

Dudes doing alleyoop dunks and driving down the lane throwing it down.

I'd say that makes him explosive

[Guajalote]

Honored his commitment to the Navy, could have opted out of playing for the Spurs and gone to the Lakers/Celts/etc. Instead, did the right thing and went to the Spurs.

[Mister Sinister]

Honored his commitment to the Navy, could have opted out of playing for the Spurs and gone to the Lakers/Celts/etc. Instead, did the right thing and went to the Spurs.

I know that, dude. It was a joke. Probably should have just gone with "Who the 's David Robinson?"

[T Park]

Yeah the more you read about Hill, it may be boring and some have wanted some "at ude"

but Hill looks to be nothing but class and has his head screwed on straight.

Can't not root for this kid.

GO GEORGE HILL!!!!

[Blackjack]

Dudes doing alleyoop dunks and driving down the lane throwing it down.

I'd say that makes him explosive

I said quite as explosive. I wasn't saying he was some stiff.

Monta is one of the most explosive players I've ever seen at his size.

There's no shame in being "not quite" as explosive as Ellis.

[T Park]

Eh we will see.

[TDMVPDPOY]

we see how it goes

but this is cheaper than compared to splitting the MLE on a backup PG...like duhorn for example

[Harry Callahan]

Did you notice that Buford said "great" player, not good or very good. Popovich seemed more demonstrative in his praise of Hill - Pop was saying don't expect too much from our 1st pick before the draft. Interesting. They really liked this guy. There was also something in the article I saw somewhere in ST about him being in their (the Spurs) top 15 players - good thing there is a rookie scale this year because his agent would use that against the Spurs.

It will be nice to have (unlike last year) a #1 who is TRULY excited to be coming here.

[Steve-O-Matic]

Purportedly the Lakers were in love with Hill and were looking for ways to get him in the first round. IUPUI runs the same triangle offense as LA.

[MagnusKrauss]

i'm beginning to like the kid too.

so when's summer league?

[wildbill2u]

Pop's usually so reserved and careful when he talks about draft picks--but he sounds positively giddy about this year's bunch, especially Hill. I can't ever remember a year when he said that two of the three draftees will probably contribute to the team as rookies.

Have faith. Go Rookies Go!

[bigfundamental21]

I can't wait to see this kid in a Spurs uniform. Seems like we may have gotten a steal!

[Spurs Brazil]

In the draft night I was like WTF, how we pick Hill instead of Chalmers but after listen Pop, R.C, Hill and now his college coach talking I fell good about this kid.

I think he can hel us and be a solid backup PG

[AFBlue]

I can't wait to see this kid in a Spurs uniform. Seems like we may have gotten a steal!

That's what this article is trying to make you believe. I especially liked the comments by Buford where he was almost shocked that such a great player fell to them...when he was no where on anyone's big board anywhere near the first round.

I remain skeptical....he's got alot to prove.

[mrspurs]

imo hill doesnt get enough time to figure much out and be helpful by the end of next season, unless........we find another big, and or option next to tim, to help free up some of the pressure the team will have by losing games teaching hill our system.(like the games we wasted teaching mighty mouse)......even guys like CP3 took a season to really start showing their stuff....i know you cant compare hill and CP3, but thats the guys who are gonna be going at it pretty soon...im sure the FO has someone tim can depend on next to him,(not in a spur uniform yet) hopefully before the season starts....if they dont...this hill guy wont even matter imo.....

[AFBlue]

imo hill doesnt get enough time to figure much out and be helpful by the end of next season, unless........we find another big, and or option next to tim, to help free up some of the pressure the team will have by losing games teaching hill our system.(like the games we wasted teaching mighty mouse)......even guys like CP3 took a season to really start showing their stuff....i know you cant compare hill and CP3, but thats the guys who are gonna be going at it pretty soon...im sure the FO has someone tim can depend on next to him,(not in a spur uniform yet) hopefully before the season starts....if they dont...this hill guy wont even matter imo.....

Two years is the minimum time...you can extend that through team options for up to 4 or maybe even 5 years.

But you gotta pay.

[exstatic]

I said quite as explosive. I wasn't saying he was some stiff.

Monta is one of the most explosive players I've ever seen at his size.

There's no shame in being "not quite" as explosive as Ellis.

Monta Ellis can't ing shoot. I'll take an inch or two less on the vertical, if that's even the case, for a pure shooting stroke.