Staying with Derm Player
The first time I met Derm was on a Sunday in central NJ. PirateSal and I drove there for a tournament game to watch Jeremy Hazell play with his HS team Patterson School. Hazell was a three star player who frankly Sal and I never heard of. But that Sunday morning he looked like a 5 star player.
Across from where we were sitting Gonzo and Player were in the stands. Hazell looked so good in the first half that the two coaches, each beaming, came over to talk to Sal and I. Gonzo knew us both but Derm did not. First words out of Bobby's mouth was what do you think of 'Hey zel'? I said Bobby it's 'Ha zell'. Bobby says don't tell me his name I recruited him and it's 'Hey zel'. I knew Gonzo was wrong but I also knew you did not argue with him so I let it go.
Later after the game I spoke to Derm for the very first time and he told me I was right and Bobby was wrong. He also told me that was the first time that Bobby had ever seen him play and accepted Player's word to sign him sight unseen.
Later that day Sal and I came on the board ecstatic to describe what we saw and we each said that Jeremy would be a star in the Big East.
I'm sure most readers just laughed. But once they saw for themselves in person Hazell's talent they didn't laugh anymore.
The first time I met Derm was on a Sunday in central NJ. PirateSal and I drove there for a tournament game to watch Jeremy Hazell play with his HS team Patterson School. Hazell was a three star player who frankly Sal and I never heard of. But that Sunday morning he looked like a 5 star player.
Across from where we were sitting Gonzo and Player were in the stands. Hazell looked so good in the first half that the two coaches, each beaming, came over to talk to Sal and I. Gonzo knew us both but Derm did not. First words out of Bobby's mouth was what do you think of 'Hey zel'? I said Bobby it's 'Ha zell'. Bobby says don't tell me his name I recruited him and it's 'Hey zel'. I knew Gonzo was wrong but I also knew you did not argue with him so I let it go.
Later after the game I spoke to Derm for the very first time and he told me I was right and Bobby was wrong. He also told me that was the first time that Bobby had ever seen him play and accepted Player's word to sign him sight unseen.
Later that day Sal and I came on the board ecstatic to describe what we saw and we each said that Jeremy would be a star in the Big East.
I'm sure most readers just laughed. But once they saw for themselves in person Hazell's talent they didn't laugh anymore.
