Born and raised in North Carolina, Hassan Whiteside came into the draft under a lot of radars. Coming into the process you may have heard the name, or seen the triple-double box scores, but beyond that few knew about him. Through the process he’s had his ups and downs, and now with the draft just a day away his future is about to become his present.
Hassan Whiteside is regarded as one of the top big men in this year’s draft, and a potential lottery pick despite his position in most mocks currently. The 7’0” center from Marshall University burst onto the scene in his freshman, and only, season for the Thundering Herd when he just missed a triple-double, going for 14 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 blocks in a win against Ohio University’s Bobcats on November 28. Shortly after this game, Whiteside solidified himself as the inside force for his team and went on to average 5.4 blocks per game for the season.
Not only can he alter shots in the paint, Whiteside’s incredibly long reach and wingspan allows him to score easily over most defenders and haul in a good number of rebounds. Whiteside ended the season with three triple-doubles; his first coming at home versus Brescia, followed by two against Central Florida (one at home and one on the road). The triple-double he posted against Brescia was the first in Marshall University’s 49-year history.
Highly recruited out of high school, Whiteside chose Marshall over schools like Kentucky, UConn, Xavier, and Louisville because, according to Whiteside “[he] never visited a school that showed a stranger so much love [like Marshall].” Throughout Whiteside’s entire life he has been regarded as an underdog, so he felt that attending a school like Marshall would allow him to help a fellow underdog get on the map and he did just that.
Whiteside is a special prospect that is frequently compared to Marcus Camby, but that comparison isn’t entirely accurate. Camby doesn’t possess the outside game that Whiteside does. Also, Whiteside himself considers himself “KG on offense. Hakeem on defense.” Obviously two high bars to reach, but Whiteside has said repeatedly in interviews he wants to be great.
With his length and athleticism he was able to lead Division 1 in blocks, something people would have said was impossible going into last year. Now people are saying that he may be a “bust.” Whiteside is starting to make a habit of proving people wrong, and after this season is over we all may find ourselves asking, why didn’t someone take him earlier.
TRW was able to interview Hassan Whiteside on an off-day before he finished up his pre-draft workouts. Read on for the full transcript:
TRW: During high school you shot up from 6’4″ to 6’9″. What skills did you carry over and about your game changed?
Hassan Whiteside: I really think that I just changed from being a perimeter guard, more offensive oriented to being really dedicated to blocking shots and finishing around the rim. Just really becoming an all around better player, really using my height and length.
TRW: You were recruited by several top name basketball schools including Kentucky and Memphis, as well as other schools. What made you decide to go with Marshall?
HW: I really liked the coaches, the coaching staff and I had friends at Marshall already so I thought it was a really good school and really good fit for me where I could come in and make an instant impact and change history. So I wanted to come and change the way it was done around there.
TRW: How much did Coach Donny Jones leaving Marshall influence your decision to declare for the draft?
HW: I’d say like 40 to 50 percent because with him leaving I didn’t have to sit out and build a connection with another coach. I had a real good connection with that coach already.
TRW: Which NBA player or players have you modeled your game after and what have you taken from their games?
HW: I try to take a little bit of everybody’s game. I try to be real athletic like Dwight [Howard]. I try to be a real good shot blocker like Hakeem [Olajuwon]. I mostly model my game after KG, just being a mobile, slimmer, big man being able to move around the court, face up, step back for the jumper. I look at great shot blockers like Hakeem, Dikembe Mutombo, and Alonzo Mourning on the defensive end just with the timing and being a presence down low.
TRW: You trained with Hakeem Olajuwon before the draft. Can you describe what you learned from him?
HW: Just really playing big. He taught me some more back-to-the-basket moves and playing intensity.
TRW: What makes you different from the other big men in this year’s draft?
HW: I really think I bring a different aspect with my wingspan, defensive presence, and intensity I bring. I know everybody in the draft can score, but I don’t think too many big men wanna play defense.
TRW: What have you done so far to get ready for the combine and individual workouts?
HW: Playing out there with Bob Hill in San Francisco. Out there training with Frank and just working with Hakeem, just getting better, getting my body better and handles better.
TRW: How do you feel your workouts have been going so far?
HW: I think they’ve been going great, just meeting different coaches, different GMs, they’re all great guys. It’s just what they decide if they wanna take me or not.
TRW: Which players would you say you’re most excited to workout against?
HW: I don’t really try to look at the matchups, I think I’m more excited about just working out for the teams, but there’s a lot of good players out here all of them usually big men. I think I’m more excited just to play the game than anything.
TRW: You averaged 5.4 blocks a game in your only season at Marshall, and had more blocks than any Freshman in NCAA history. What, in addition to your shot blocking, do you feel you bring to an NBA team?
HW: I think I can really score the ball, get rebounds and just really make it hard for the other team to score. That’s what it starts off with; defense wins championships. I think everyone is looking at how the Lakers have the two shot blockers down low and length is where it’s at right now. I think I could really help a lot of teams out.
TRW: What is the one thing you’d like to tell your fans that no one really knows about you?
HW: Just that I’m dedicated to the game and wanna keep becoming a better basketball player. I just really take this serious man, it’s been my life’s dream.
TRW: What would you say to your critics who say you’re not mature enough for the NBA?
HW: I feel like as young as I am that college prepared me for the next level and what I’m looking to face on to the future in the NBA.
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I’m not sure why he has such a large bust potential? The way I see it if he doesn’t max out his potential, he’ll be a taller Andrei Kirilenko… like I said I don’t see it.
If he gets to what he could be, I think of him as a better shooting D. Mutumbo. His wingspan, soft hands, and athleticism alone are enough to gamble on in the draft.
I follow the Jazz and would love to see them “reach” for him.
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