https://setonhall.rivals.com
By JP Pelzman
Anyone who saw Takal Molson practicing with Seton Hall during his sitout year immediately saw the intensity and preparation he brought to every possession, every drill, both on offense and defense.
Put it this way--the Buffalo native wasn’t just winging it.
Sorry about that.
But Molson’s determination is a huge part of his game, and if anyone wonders whether the former Canisius College star can make the leap from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to the Big East, know this: Molson thrives on proving people wrong.
When Molson was a sophomore at St. Mary’s in Lancaster, N.Y., “I had an incident with a college coach who told me to my face I would never be a Division 1 basketball player. I was more of a football player then, and that fueled me to become the best basketball player I could be.”
At Canisius, Molson averaged 14.8 points in two seasons with the Golden Griffins, including 16.9 points as a sophomore in 2018-19. He announced his intention to transfer after that season.
“I was just looking for something different,” said Molson, who believed he belonged at a high-major program. When he visited Seton Hall, he spoke with coach Kevin Willard and assistant Duane Woodward, and Molson appreciated their candor.
“They didn’t make everything out to be all peaches and cream, like some (coaching staffs) were,” he said, “and I think that pretty much drew me toward them.”
Molson also became fast friends with Sandro Mamukelashvili on that visit.
“I picked the right spot to be in,” he added. “Coach Willard's going to help me improve and get to the next level.”
“I'm very confident,” he said when asked about his ability to handle the step up in competition. “I have high expectations in myself.” Molson’s goal? To be first-team All-Big East.
During his transfer year, Molson says, “I was working on getting back to being a combo guard--increasing my ballhandling, my decision-making, improving my jump shot.”
Molson averaged 2.6 assists and 2.1 turnovers as a freshman, but dropped to 2.0 assists and 2.6 turnovers as a sophomore. His three-point shooting percentage fell from 36.9 percent to 26.8 over that same span.
“I don’t think it was a slump,” he says. “I think I was just forced to take tough shots. That’s pretty much why my percentage went down.”
Seton Hall hopes Molson can be a difference-maker at the defensive end, much like the Pirates’ most recent transfer guard, departing senior Quincy McKnight.
“I take pride in my defense,” Molson said. “I’m an ex-football guy and I wanted to play safety if I played football at the collegiate level. I'm just one of those guys who wants to do anything to win. It doesn’t have to be scoring. You can find other ways.”
As for the team, “I think the chemistry is going to be great,” he said. “I think this year there won’t be too much of a dropoff.”
Molson has tried to pattern his game after that of NBA superstar Russell Westbrook, currently with the Houston Rockets, citing “his passion for the game and how he goes about approaching the game” as what he likes most about Westbrook.
Molson, a quarterback and safety in high school, says he feels that experience “helps me all-around (in basketball). It helps me read things, see things before things happen. And as a quarterback, you facilitate,” as does a point guard.
And he says, it has made him fearless on the court. “In football, you have to be,” he said.
There were two things Molson missed during his first winter away from Buffalo.
Believe it or not, one of them was snow. It was an unusually mild winter around here.
“It was kind of weird,” he admitted. “I actually look forward to the winter.”
Of course, the other missing ingredient was Buffalo wings. “That’s pretty much what we eat all the time,” Molson said with a laugh.
When asked for his personal favorites, Molson eschewed the more famous Anchor Bar and Duff’s Famous, instead naming Carbone’s Pizza, Kelly’s Korner and Wing Kings as his go-to eateries. His preferred sauce? Sweet Cajun.
As for what the 2020-21 Pirates will cook up, Molson said, “In my opinion, we could be as good as, or better than last year because we’ll be better defensively, I think.”
And when asked specifically about himself, he replied, “I'm the type of player that’s going to do everything possible to help Seton Hall get the win, whether it’s scoring, passing, rebounding. Just expect me to play hard.”
In other words, blue-collar, and a full day’s work. As Buffalo as a spicy wing.
By JP Pelzman
Anyone who saw Takal Molson practicing with Seton Hall during his sitout year immediately saw the intensity and preparation he brought to every possession, every drill, both on offense and defense.
Put it this way--the Buffalo native wasn’t just winging it.
Sorry about that.
But Molson’s determination is a huge part of his game, and if anyone wonders whether the former Canisius College star can make the leap from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to the Big East, know this: Molson thrives on proving people wrong.
When Molson was a sophomore at St. Mary’s in Lancaster, N.Y., “I had an incident with a college coach who told me to my face I would never be a Division 1 basketball player. I was more of a football player then, and that fueled me to become the best basketball player I could be.”
At Canisius, Molson averaged 14.8 points in two seasons with the Golden Griffins, including 16.9 points as a sophomore in 2018-19. He announced his intention to transfer after that season.
“I was just looking for something different,” said Molson, who believed he belonged at a high-major program. When he visited Seton Hall, he spoke with coach Kevin Willard and assistant Duane Woodward, and Molson appreciated their candor.
“They didn’t make everything out to be all peaches and cream, like some (coaching staffs) were,” he said, “and I think that pretty much drew me toward them.”
Molson also became fast friends with Sandro Mamukelashvili on that visit.
“I picked the right spot to be in,” he added. “Coach Willard's going to help me improve and get to the next level.”
“I'm very confident,” he said when asked about his ability to handle the step up in competition. “I have high expectations in myself.” Molson’s goal? To be first-team All-Big East.
During his transfer year, Molson says, “I was working on getting back to being a combo guard--increasing my ballhandling, my decision-making, improving my jump shot.”
Molson averaged 2.6 assists and 2.1 turnovers as a freshman, but dropped to 2.0 assists and 2.6 turnovers as a sophomore. His three-point shooting percentage fell from 36.9 percent to 26.8 over that same span.
“I don’t think it was a slump,” he says. “I think I was just forced to take tough shots. That’s pretty much why my percentage went down.”
Seton Hall hopes Molson can be a difference-maker at the defensive end, much like the Pirates’ most recent transfer guard, departing senior Quincy McKnight.
“I take pride in my defense,” Molson said. “I’m an ex-football guy and I wanted to play safety if I played football at the collegiate level. I'm just one of those guys who wants to do anything to win. It doesn’t have to be scoring. You can find other ways.”
As for the team, “I think the chemistry is going to be great,” he said. “I think this year there won’t be too much of a dropoff.”
Molson has tried to pattern his game after that of NBA superstar Russell Westbrook, currently with the Houston Rockets, citing “his passion for the game and how he goes about approaching the game” as what he likes most about Westbrook.
Molson, a quarterback and safety in high school, says he feels that experience “helps me all-around (in basketball). It helps me read things, see things before things happen. And as a quarterback, you facilitate,” as does a point guard.
And he says, it has made him fearless on the court. “In football, you have to be,” he said.
There were two things Molson missed during his first winter away from Buffalo.
Believe it or not, one of them was snow. It was an unusually mild winter around here.
“It was kind of weird,” he admitted. “I actually look forward to the winter.”
Of course, the other missing ingredient was Buffalo wings. “That’s pretty much what we eat all the time,” Molson said with a laugh.
When asked for his personal favorites, Molson eschewed the more famous Anchor Bar and Duff’s Famous, instead naming Carbone’s Pizza, Kelly’s Korner and Wing Kings as his go-to eateries. His preferred sauce? Sweet Cajun.
As for what the 2020-21 Pirates will cook up, Molson said, “In my opinion, we could be as good as, or better than last year because we’ll be better defensively, I think.”
And when asked specifically about himself, he replied, “I'm the type of player that’s going to do everything possible to help Seton Hall get the win, whether it’s scoring, passing, rebounding. Just expect me to play hard.”
In other words, blue-collar, and a full day’s work. As Buffalo as a spicy wing.
