Hopefully, Hawai‘i will have another Derrick Low soon
March 28th, 2008 by WesCHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kinda sad to see Derrick Low’s college career come to a close last night, especially on an unusually poor shooting night by almost the entire Washington State team.
But, as coach Tony Bennett said, “What a run” it’s been the past four years.
For myself, and I’m sure many other basketball fans from Hawai‘i, it has been thrilling watching Low break through new barriers and scale new heights and live out the dreams of thousands of local kids who imagined themselves playing in the Pac-10, in the NCAA Tournament, in the Sweet 16, be mentioned by Dick Vitale, featured in Sports Illustrated’s March Madness issue and on ESPN, make the cover of college basketball preview magazines.
As disappointing as last night was, at least Low was able to soak in and appreciate the Sweet 16 moment a little before the game started.
“It’s just incredible, that’s what it’s all about,” Low said, sitting in the Bobcats Arena locker room about 45 minutes after the game. “To come out, look at the arena, the kind of setting, the NBA arena, the atmosphere, all the fans. It seemed like we were playing out in heaven, playing in the sky. That’s just crazy, I mean, you grow up watching North Carolina play, wanting to go there as a little kid. And I look at myself, I finally get to play against them, against a legendary coach, Roy Williams, and you see the Tar Heel mascot running around.
“So that was pretty neat. I got to see a little bit of it. But I’m just thankful.”
It will be difficult for any local kid in the near future to duplicate the kind of success and experience that Low achieved the past four years. But as a cab driver here told me on the way from the airport to the hotel, “somebody has to be the first.”
The driver was from Nigeria, but said he went to college in Houston about the same time Akeem Olajuwon was playing for the “Phi Slamma Jamma” Final Four teams. At the time, he said, other Nigerians thought Olajuwon — then known as “Hakeem the Dream” — was crazy to take up basketball.
“But when he went pro and started making millions,” the driver said, “a lot of Nigerians wanted to play basketball, too.”
For Low, hopefully his storybook career will inspire others to follow his path, or at least try harder to improve as a basketball player. I remember when I was a college basketball fanatic in high school, one of the players I followed was Chris Mullin of St. John’s. In one Sports Illustrated article, Mullin mentioned how he had “trained like a prizefighter” in preparation for one high school season.
I took that to heart, and before my senior season I actually would jump rope in front of the house next to the garage. It not only helped my conditioning, but it increased my spring.
When asked if he thinks another kid from Hawai‘i someday might be able to experience all the things he has, Low said, “I hope so.”
“It’s not easy, but hopefully they’ll see that you gotta make sacrifices and it’s gonna be hard. But if they really want it, then that’s what they gotta do.
“But hopefully, one day …”
March 28th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Let’s not forget about Julan Sensley. That guy was pretty good too.
I’m pretty sure Rashaun Broadus also played in the NCAA’s.
The Derrick Low love is unprecedented for his level of athlete. One of my friends tried calling up the Sports Animals radio show the other day to ask why the disparity in hype between Derrick Low and Rose Bowl Wazzou QB Jason Gesser. He was promptly hung up on.
I’m sure that if you asked long-time Cougar fans in Pullman about the significance of the two aforementioned athletes to the program, Jason Gesser (all-time QB wins leader at school of Rypien, Bledsoe and Leaf, Co-Pac 10 Offensive Player of the Year, only one of two local kids ever to finish in Top 10 of Heisman voting) would almost unanimously trump Derrick Low.
I know you are kind of with me on the Gesser thing Wes, and there is nothing you can do about it now, but I still find this very curious.
thanks for writing the blog- but I must say that this new site in general really, really sucks.
March 30th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
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March 30th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Thanks, Wes, for awesome coverage of DLow Goes to the Sweet Sixteen. I know there’s no shortage of critics who want to disown every local prep star who goes away to school and finds athletic success on the mainland. But a burning question in the minds of those who really care about Hawaii HS sports always relates to how we stack up with the mainland.
We know the answer in football and volleyball. We have a pretty good sense in sports like baseball and soccer. But basketball has been such an unknown. Okay, it’s taken perhaps Hawaii’s greatest of all time to make a splash on the national stage, but his success can only open doors for those who follow by giving some credibility to the level of hoops played in Hawaii.
Way to go Derrick and thank you Wes.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Wes,
What’s up with Jeff Portnoy? I responded to his dissing Derrick Low and he wipes out my blog from his site…oh well, that’s why I don’t listen to his show!
April 1st, 2008 at 10:26 am
Wow, Derrick took what seemed to be a leap of faith (going to WASU) and look where it got him. Again, Congrats to Derrick and his family on a magical college career. I only wish him the best on his next journey.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Wes,
Congrats to D. Low and family, you done good. Back to current events, the ILH Baseball Division is really heating up. What a good story line… any suggestions? haha
thanks
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Hey nice write up Wes,
D.Low is a great ball player and Hawaii may never see a player like him for a while…
However, throughout the islands I have seen excellent basketball players especially in the ILH. Kamehameha, Punahou and Iolani all have great basketball players and programs. Speaking of Kamehameha, this past season they had a young team, and a great core of Juniors had to step up. I think this Kamehameha ball club is going to be giving Punahou a run for the money next year because of star Juniors Pi’i Minns, Auwae Derego and Brandon Dumlao. These kids are great players and have the ability to put up a D.Low type season their senior year.