PULLMAN, Wash. — Alex Crescenti talked with former Washington State men’s basketball coach Kyle Smith about his former players Jaylen Wells and Isaac Jones. Smith weighed in on their draft chances and how their success in Pullman could translate to the pros.
Alex: So we are joined by Stanford Men’s Basketball Head Coach and former Washington State Head Coach Kyle Smith, coach incredible season this past year getting the Cougs to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, two of the players that were so instrumental in getting you to that point we’re Isaac Jones and Jaylen Wells. Now, both of those guys declaring for the NBA, back in September when you started the season what kind of talent did you know that they had and did you think the NBA was possible for these two guys?
Kyle: You know I’m kind of an optimistic person by nature and I like to think of myself as someone who kind of sees the seeds of greatness in everyone. I also thought Isaac, well he passes the eye test. You watch him run and his length and his size, but Isaac was a little bit older he’s 23 years old so I didn’t know if that time passed for him, but I knew he was a good player and I shocked Jabe Mullins when I told him when we got him, I said I think he’s every bit as good as Mouhamed and he’s like no way, and I’m like it’s pretty close he’s older, he’s older. He’s older, he puts the ball in the basket, and then Jaylen we weren’t as sure, but about a week into practice I turned to my staff and said I think this guy might be an NBA player, in more so in his drive, his relentlessness, his work ethic. HIs size helps and his skill, but he’s so determined and you could kind of tell he’s just a hungry no nonsense guy. I said this guys going to keep getting better and better because of his mindset, and he’s only 20 and he behaves like a 35 year old pro. So I could see both of those guys having opportunities.
Alex: So I assume that a lot of maybe GMs and scouts reach out to you throughout this process, you’ve coached NBA players in the past, what kind of feedback have you heard if at all?
Kyle: Great, it’s been nothing but really positives. I think being in Pullman, not everyone is as hard working as they claim to be, they don’t necessarily get out and watch us as much so. We almost won the Pac-12. so I’m still the same coach, so there’s probably some other guys that had some involvement, and you know what’s funny is Isaac just keeps getting better and better. He just got married, it’s unbelievable really happy for him, but he looks leaner and he’s probably in the best shape he’s ever been in and it’s really just been these workouts and he’s got another level of athleticism when he gets himself in shape and I think we kind of surprised some people, and the Warriors were really impressed with him. Then they measured him and he’s the same size as their starting center, that’s how big we were, Kevin Looney and Trace Jackson Davis I think he’s longer than Trace Jackson Davis and maybe not quite as tall as Looney, but he’s right in that same size, so that’s been really positive and then way they handle themselves they’re just really great people, their characters really high. I think they can convey that in an interview and in these workouts, and like I said Jaylen’s just been going at it nonstop and kind of insatiable in his work ethic and his drive, and the GMs and guys have noticed that.
Alex: So I seems like have the battle of getting to the NBA is simply just, do you fit that size for the position that you play? We talk about Isaac and that massive wingspan that he has, and then Jaylen’s also pretty big for his position as well. What specifically makes their games NBA ready?
Kyle: You know you hit on some things, if you don’t have the dimensions it’s going to be tough and you’re an outlier. Isaac has a 7’3 wingspan, he has no neck…he can guard 1 through 5 and keep people in front of him with his length, and the more reps he gets there, and he puts the ball in the basket. So for him the feedbacks been if you think he can stretch his perimeter game to where he can make threes, and I do, and the way he improve himself on the free throw line. Jaylen I think he measures 6’8 with shoes on, he’s a 3 and D guy waiting to happen. He’s 6’8, he’s not necessarily as long, but he’s big, he’s 6’8 and he makes 3s and he’s strong and he’s tough he can guard guys. He can switch, he can keep guys in front of him and just the growth. He was in Division two 15 months ago, on a very I would be hard pressed to say good division two team, average division two team. To go from there to start on an NCAA Tournament team that won the first round, that finished up 22nd in the country, he’s just breaking through all kind of hurdles mentally and physically.
Alex: What are going to be the biggest hurdles in making a final roster for both these guys? I know the NBA is maybe the most difficult sport to get on the team.
Kyle: I think it’s opportunity. Fit matters, the right organization, the style of play. I’m excited the Warriors showed some interest. I do know Joe Lacob owns the Warriors and he’s a Stanford grad, so plug that great business school and his son works for him, he’s a undergrad. So they way they play they’re unique and their style of play and I think it’s neat they can see how Isaac is easy to play with, and so getting in an organization like that would be really helpful for him. I think other organizations can’t figure out what position to play him, I’m just play him he’s good and no one gets that better than Golden State with Steve Kerr. Then Jaylen, again he’s young so I think he’s got youth on his side, they’re going to give him whether it’s a two way which would be awesome. I encouraged him to go back to college just because there’s money out there and he’s obviously very determined and he’s agents representation they have some good opportunities. He’s just kind of that guy that’s so drive that he’s like I’m close. I might as well start here and he is young. So he’s kind of got youth on his side and like I said he’s going to get better and better getting reps, playing minutes what will get him there.
Alex: Have you been able to stay in contact with him, just sort of give them little pointers here and there or just text?
Kyle: Yeah just text with Jaylen. Jaylen’s pretty driven, focused and actually I know he was in Cleveland the other day and I got Coach Frankoski who works with us here now, used to be in player development side in Cleveland so we know a lot of people there and he did really well so that was great to hear and from his management there was his agent and the Pacers really like him a lot, and they got a pick there in the late 30s or something like that. So it’s nice that there’s people circling around him, good spot for him and he’s so appreciative, he’s about a two word response. Then Isaac man I was two stepping at his wedding so I got to see him up in Tacoma a little shout out to him and Melia and their journey and he’s a pretty simple guy. He loves basketball, Jesus, his wife and his dog. I’m not sure if that’s the right order, but what a wonderful human being, both of them are and Isaac’s just very, what makes him special is he goes with the flow and you can coach him hard. His self-esteem is invested in how he performs and he’s just got great perspective on everything.
Alex: What’s that like for you to see guys every year, every few years go off and try to chase that dream and some of them do end up getting selected in the 1st of 2nd round?
Kyle: I used to worry about it, but now it must be me in the sense that these guys have a chance to go to the NBA they do it, against my advice often times, but I think part of what our program is and we always explain my why is to empower others to empower themselves and they listen and they’re kind of bet on themselves guys and it’ll be here at Stanford too, but at Washington State it’s like hey you win the Pac-12, the opportunity to play against the best you want to go for it and they kind of crushed it and they want to keep it going and that’s kind of what got us success, and we lost guys Mouhamed and CJ Elleby a year before I wish they had gone, but it’s kind of like when you instill that into them they kind of buy into it. Jaylen, last guy I kind of thought would just bet on himself in this situation because he’s a really good student and I was hoping to get him into Stanford, but he’s like I’m going for it and I gave him all the necessary caution and everything else, it’s neat to see and same thing with guys I’ve coached with, that’s kind of where my joy is watching those guys progress through the business and now having guys that are right on the doorstep of being NBA players. One guy that shocked me that’s not in this process is Myles. I told him, I said he’s the guy that should have gone in this situation and got some feedback and then still have the opportunity to go back to college, but mom might have said no you’re staying in college for one more, make sure you get the degree and playing. I think there’s a reason we were good and some of these guys are obviously close.
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