Photo by: ECU News Services
ECU Finishes Off Week Two Of Practice
October 14, 2018 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The ECU men's basketball team concluded its second week of practice Saturday afternoon on Rogers-Whitaker Court inside the Smith-Williams Center and there has been no shortage of intensity in any of first dozen sessions under Coach Joe Dooley.
"We've got great intensity every day and even though days may not be perfect, the effort and the energy is has been there and that's what you've got to rely on," senior Justice Obasohan explained. "We've been going hard and putting in extra work."
Obasohan, who will be representing the Pirates at the American Athletic Conference media day event in Philadelphia Oct. 14-15, is the only four-year senior on the team. He played in a career-high eight games last, averaging just under nine minutes and two points per game after seeing action in just eight total games as a freshman and sophomore for a mere eight total minutes.
A three-time member of The American All-Academic Team, Obasohan noted a couple of distinct differences between the end of last season and the start of the new one.
"We're a lot more serious and we're a lot more productive with the time we're in the gym. When we're in here, we're going hard."
The Pirate freshmen have also taken note of how dynamic practices are at the Division I level, particularly DeShaun Wade, who recommitted to the Pirates after being released from his NLI in April.
"In high school, practices weren't as intense," he said. "Every second of the day in practice you are always going as hard as you can. It wasn't really like that in high school. You can't take any plays off here."
Wade was a two-time all-selection The Miller School in Charlottesville, Va., and led it to the 2018 state championships, averaging 13.4 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Another freshman that is getting adjusted to the rigors of college basketball is Jayden Gardner of Wake Forest, N.C.
A two-time all-state performer and three-time conference Player-of-the-Year, Gardner averaged 24.3 points and 13.9 rebounds per game as a senior leading Heritage High School to a 25-5 overall record with the conference regular season and tournament titles and an appearance in the state championship game.
One of three players to sign with ECU during the 2017 fall signing period, Gardner has quickly come to understand what a practice under Coach Dooley requires.
"It's amazing," Gardner said. "The way he's running practice and the intensity level and the focus level he's asking us [to maintain]. We've got to be locked in and focused at all times. No let ups."
ECU will take Sunday off as Dooley and Obasohan travel to Philadelphia to participate in The American's annual media day activities before returning to the court to begin its third week of practice Tuesday.
The Pirates open the new campaign with three consecutive home games with the first against Delaware on Nov. 6 at approximately 7:45 p.m. following the women's basketball season opener against the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore at 5:30 p.m.
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Season tickets for the 2018-19 campaign are currently on-sale through the ECU Online Ticket Center and can also be purchased by calling the ECU Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-DIAL-ECU (342-5328).
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"We've got great intensity every day and even though days may not be perfect, the effort and the energy is has been there and that's what you've got to rely on," senior Justice Obasohan explained. "We've been going hard and putting in extra work."
Obasohan, who will be representing the Pirates at the American Athletic Conference media day event in Philadelphia Oct. 14-15, is the only four-year senior on the team. He played in a career-high eight games last, averaging just under nine minutes and two points per game after seeing action in just eight total games as a freshman and sophomore for a mere eight total minutes.
A three-time member of The American All-Academic Team, Obasohan noted a couple of distinct differences between the end of last season and the start of the new one.
"We're a lot more serious and we're a lot more productive with the time we're in the gym. When we're in here, we're going hard."
The Pirate freshmen have also taken note of how dynamic practices are at the Division I level, particularly DeShaun Wade, who recommitted to the Pirates after being released from his NLI in April.
"In high school, practices weren't as intense," he said. "Every second of the day in practice you are always going as hard as you can. It wasn't really like that in high school. You can't take any plays off here."
Wade was a two-time all-selection The Miller School in Charlottesville, Va., and led it to the 2018 state championships, averaging 13.4 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Another freshman that is getting adjusted to the rigors of college basketball is Jayden Gardner of Wake Forest, N.C.
A two-time all-state performer and three-time conference Player-of-the-Year, Gardner averaged 24.3 points and 13.9 rebounds per game as a senior leading Heritage High School to a 25-5 overall record with the conference regular season and tournament titles and an appearance in the state championship game.
One of three players to sign with ECU during the 2017 fall signing period, Gardner has quickly come to understand what a practice under Coach Dooley requires.
"It's amazing," Gardner said. "The way he's running practice and the intensity level and the focus level he's asking us [to maintain]. We've got to be locked in and focused at all times. No let ups."
ECU will take Sunday off as Dooley and Obasohan travel to Philadelphia to participate in The American's annual media day activities before returning to the court to begin its third week of practice Tuesday.
The Pirates open the new campaign with three consecutive home games with the first against Delaware on Nov. 6 at approximately 7:45 p.m. following the women's basketball season opener against the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore at 5:30 p.m.
Â
Season tickets for the 2018-19 campaign are currently on-sale through the ECU Online Ticket Center and can also be purchased by calling the ECU Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-DIAL-ECU (342-5328).
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Players Mentioned
Tuesday, March 03
Thursday, February 26
Tuesday, February 17
Thursday, February 12
