Jordan Hill: Growing Up in New York
By: Tommy Beer Last Updated: 11/23/09 7:33 AM ET | 281 times read
Adjust font size:Nowadays, there are very few certainties when it comes to the New York Knicks and their future. With a roster that features seven players with expiring contracts, very little is set in stone for this storied franchise, as management adheres rigidly to their cap-clearing ways. However, one of the rare players whom New Yorkers can feel comfortable getting attached to is rookie power forward Jordan Hill, as he is one of the few Knicks that is expected to stay on the roster past next summer. Thus, Knicks fans are hoping that Hill will become an integral part of the group that turns the franchise's fortunes around.
Selected eighth overall by Knickerbockers GM Donnie Walsh last June, Hill was a highly touted low-post force coming out of the University of Arizona. Jordan finished his three-year career at Arizona ranked among the school's career leaders in points, rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage. As a junior, he averaged career-highs of 18.3 points (on 54% shooting) and 11 rebounds per contest, which earned him all All-Pac-10 honors. He also was named to the conference's All-Defensive team.
When Hill was on the board at #8, the Knicks happily snapped him up. Head Coach Mike D'Antoni, eager and enthused, stated: "Jordan Hill, we think, can be really good. He's relentless on the offensive boards and has a lot of offensive skills that remind the coaching staff of (Amar'e) Stoudemire when he first came in. He has a great work ethic right now and seems to be bright and willing to do whatever it takes to be a great player."
And Hill's initial introduction to the NBA went quite well; he averaged team-high's 14.4 points and 8.2 rebounds over 33 minutes in five games for the Knicks 2009 Las Vegas Summer League squad.
However, Hill's first few weeks of regular season NBA action have been less fruitful. Due to a glut of big bodies up front, Coach D'Antoni has not been able to provide Hill with consistent or predictable playing time, which is just one of the many differences between being a collegiate superstar and a first-year pro. And although he believed he was mentally prepared for the adjustment from the pro to the college game, Hill freely admitted that the changes have been challenging when he spoke with HOOPSWORLD on Sunday afternoon before the tip-off of the Knicks/Celtics game at Madison Square Garden.
"I knew it would it be different, but I didn't know it would be THIS different," Hill said with a smile. "But it's something all rookies go through I guess, so I just follow the veterans, ask questions of the staff, and hopefully it will get easier."
Asked if there was one veteran he leaned on primarily, Hill explained that it was truly a team effort: "Everybody helps each other out. That's how our team is - everybody helps each other out when they need help. It can be Al Harrington; it can be Jared Jefferies; it could be Eddy Curry. I just ask any of the vets that have been here longer than me, and they know what they've been through, so they help me out."
And fortunately for Hill, the Knicks also drafted Florida State combo guard Toney Douglas last June as well. Hill and Douglas have been friendly with each other since their high school days, when they competed against each other in the AAU basketball circuit in Atlanta. Having Douglas around has certainly been helpful for Hill, as Toney is obviously familiar with what the young power forward is going through. And Douglas – who has seen more playing time and opportunities early on - is certainly impressed with how Hill has handled himself.
"Jordan has been great. He is always in the gym working and getting better every day. It's a different level now and he will have his opportunity, he just has to make sure he is ready when his name is called," Douglas told HOOPSWORLD.
Earlier in the season, during the team's first few contests, Hill did receive some court time and he showcased some of his impressive skills. For instance, back on November 13th in a home contest against the Warriors, Hill scored 10 points by converting on all five of his field goal attempts. However, big man Eddy Curry returned to the team following that game. And, considering the team would love to trade Curry and his enormous contract, D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh are going to make sure Curry sees as many minutes as he can handle. Thus, an already tight minutes crunch was exasperated – and Hill has been left on the outside looking in, receiving a DNP-CD the last two games.
Nevertheless, Jordan has taken this situation in stride, as he has been in similar circumstances previously and understands it is the nature of the beast for the league's neophytes.
"It is just part of being a rookie," said Hill. "I look back on my freshman year in college and it was the same way, you know. I had to play behind veteran forwards that had been in school longer that me, so I just tried to keep learning and keep working hard."
Hill's fellow rookie, Toney Douglas, echoed similar sentiments: "It is part of being a rookie. I feel like he'll handle it just fine. He's a rookie and he's got other guys in front him but at the same time he just has to keep working hard in practice like he's been doing and you gotta show up because you never when your name will be called." Douglas continued: "You never know what might happen. So I just tell him to always be ready and stay encouraged and don't get down."
And, to his credit, Hill is doing just that. "For me myself, I just try to get better every day. Go out there and keep working hard, help my teammates and my team in any way possible when they need me. You know, just go out there and play my game. Just play basketball," said Hill.
Looking back on his first few weeks as a pro and his initial taste of the NBA, HOOPSWORLD asked Hill if there was one particular aspect of the adjustment that has been most difficult. Hill stated summarily, "Just everything." Hill explained: "I mean there are different calls in the NBA then there were in college. The shot clock is shorter then in college, so you got to keep your eye on the shot clock. Everything. Everything is different… the travel. I have to get used to traveling, playing back-to-back games. But it's coming along…"
On the court, Hill indicated that attempting to strike a balance between defensive aggressiveness and prudent play has also been a challenging proposition. "Defensively, it is trying to stay out of foul trouble. But I try to stay real aggressive and make sure I play hard. Sometimes I'll end up make mistakes, but I have to learn from those mistakes. I still have to play hard and bring that energy."
Although Knicks fans haven't seen as much of – or as much from - Hill as they might prefer, the Knicks believe they have a solid foundation in place. With Hill maturing and developing behind the scenes, and a cast of young teammates stepping up as well, the post-2010 future is promising. As Toney Douglas explains, "Me, Jordan, Wilson (Chandler), and Galllo (Danilo Gallinari) – we are all going be back here next year. I don't know who else is going to be back, but I feel like we all have a bond. We all have to work, it starts with us. Especially when next year comes because we don't know who is going to stay or leave. So we have to have the mind set to be mentally and physically ready and be gym rats and always get better and improve our game."
Donnie Walsh, Mike D'Antoni, and basketball fans all over New York are hoping that Jordan Hill proves himself a cornerstone of the franchise's future. So far, they like what they see…
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About the Author: TOMMY BEER
Tommy Beer is a Senior NBA Writer and Fantasy Basketball Editor for HOOPSWORLD. An active member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association, he has been covering the NBA and the New York Knicks for the past four seasons. He has been featured as an analyst on ESPN Radio, USA Today, and NBA Radio on Sirius.
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