From Golden Gophers To Bobcats
July 7, 2006

By LAUREN MOSKOWITZ
BobcatsBasketball.com

Some things never change.

When Maurice Hargrow steps inside Charlotte Bobcats Arena for Summer League practice, he sees familiar faces, unlike most of the Bobcats summer league roster. While many players are adjusting to a completely new set of teammates, Hargrow already has developed compatibility with some of the Bobcats personnel. Summer League Head Coach John-Blair Bickerstaff, guard Kevin Burleson and Hargrow all played college basketball at the University of Minnesota, and now they are reunited for the duration of the Orlando Summer League, which begins July 10.

Bickerstaff and Burleson played together during the 2000-01 season, when Bickerstaff was a senior and Burleson a freshman. Burleson and Hargrow were then teammates for two seasons, from 2001-03.

“This has reminded me a little bit of college,” Hargrow said. “Having them here has made my transition a little easier.”

“It’s been good just to have University of Minnesota guys around,” Burleson said. “Maurice feels like a little brother to me, and being here is a great opportunity for him.”

Despite the established camaraderie, Bickerstaff does not give his fellow Golden Gophers any special treatment or reprieves from the strenuous workouts.

“No special treatments at all,” Bickerstaff said. “If you ask them, they will both probably tell you the same thing.”

And in fact, they did.

“There’s no such thing [as special treatment],” Burleson said. “It’s the opposite. He’s harder on us because he’s seen us play and he knows our abilities, so he expects a little more out of us.”

Burleson and Bickerstaff have grown up together, as they met in elementary school when both were living in Seattle. Hargrow and Bickerstaff have known each other since Hargrow was 15, as Bickerstaff was his host on his recruiting visit to the University of Minnesota.

“He’s taken me under his wing from that day, and he’s shown me the ropes,” Hargrow said. “I definitely look up to him.”

“It’s good to see guys mature and grow, so to see Kevin and Maurice at this point in their lives is fun,” Bickerstaff said. “I think that’s one of the reasons why you get into coaching because you get to watch their games grow in addition to watching them grow as people.”

Despite the college bonds they share, they are here to work hard. Bickerstaff, an assistant coach during the regular season, is getting the opportunity to be a head coach during the summer league. Hargrow, undrafted in last month’s NBA Draft, is focusing on making an NBA roster, and Burleson is working on developing both his game and his leadership abilities during the mini-camp.

“I’ve been working out on my own getting ready for the season, but you can’t simulate what goes on in practice. It’s hard work, but hard work is what we are all about in this organization,” Burleson said.

“The two-a-days, the early treatments, the early wake-ups, it’s all been difficult,” Hargrow said. “But it’s exactly what I expected from the NBA.”

Last summer, Burleson was in the same situation Hargrow is in now, unsure about his future when the summer league concludes. He played well in last season’s summer league, the Rocky Mountain Revue, and averaged 3.8 points in 12.2 minutes. Because of his strong outings and dedicated work ethic, he solidified a spot on the Bobcats roster. He appeared in 39 games this season, including one start, and averaged 1.8 points and 1.2 assists. Now Burleson has taken on more of a leadership role during practices, in order to steer the rookies in the right direction.

“I try to keep the guys energized in the locker room and on the court because I know how difficult and new it was last year,” he said. “I know I’m one of the older guys on the summer league team, so it’s my responsibility to be a leader.”

He also has given advice to the rookies, including Hargrow.

“I have told a lot of guys that the main thing is to work hard and don’t ever slack off at all. You have to show the coaches that you can play in this league.”

Hargrow takes Burleson’s advice to heart and appreciates the guidance and support that he has given him.

“Kevin, like JB, has been a mentor to me. They have shown me a lot of the right things to do,” Hargrow said.

All three men agreed that they like being able to sit down and reminisce about college together. They joke and laugh together, and it can relieve some of the pressure that the NBA can bring. They even bring out old college nicknames from time to time.

“[Bickerstaff] still calls me ‘young fella’ like he’s been doing since we first met,” Hargrow said.

Some things never change.