Barnes, hoops coaches loving NCAA's new summer rule

By Mark Rosner

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Rick Barnes used to hear things about his players' development during the summer. Now he can see them.

Thanks to a new NCAA rule, basketball coaches can work with players on the court for two hours a week during summer school.

The Longhorns coach is thrilled about the change. It's one thing, Barnes said, to conduct drills and offer instruction during offseason workouts in the spring. It's another to coach returning players during the summer and help freshmen ? all six of whom began working out with the team on June 4 ? get a head start.

"Some guys are great doing drills and conditioning work (in the spring)," Barnes said. "But what you really want to see is how they carry over to the basketball side, how they mesh with teammates, basketball IQ. You can't see that unless you are on the floor with them."

Longhorns football coach Mack Brown is envious.

"We can't even meet with (players) on football over the summer," Brown said. "We can talk to them about their personal lives and academics, but not football. Basketball has a better rule. We're pitching to the NCAA. If you are going to pay a guy a scholarship, to me you should be able to ask him to show up and work."

Durant's star rising

Testimonials keep pouring in about the nature of Kevin Durant, the former Longhorn who is competing for Oklahoma City in the NBA finals, including one from somebody who does not really know him ? Orlando Magic senior vice president Pat Williams.

"When my cancer diagnoses was announced 18 months ago, the first person I heard from ? and I had never met him ? (was) Kevin Durant," Williams said Thursday while appearing on Colin Cowherd's ESPN radio show. "He tweeted me and wished me well."

Williams said he is "fascinated" by Durant as a leader and teammate who comes to the Orlando summer league to practice and work out with the Oklahoma City rookies.

"How could you not admire a young athlete who gets it on and off the court," Williams said. "He's a treasure."

Barnes supports that assertion.

"He is the all-time great teammate," Barnes said.

Barnes said he was wrong with one prediction about the 23-year-old Durant's ascension.

"I said to people when he was coming out of college that by the time he was 25 he would be the best player in the world," Barnes said. "I underestimated him."

Back in 2007, the skinny, 6-foot-10 Durant created a media buzz when he failed to bench press 185 pounds at the NBA pre-draft camp.

Barnes said he recalled saying at the time, "One thing I know he can do: He can put that championship trophy over the top of his head."

Contact Mark Rosner at 445-3958?Twitter: @MarkRosnerAAS

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2012 Longhorns, fyi

INCOMING PLAYERS

Player | Pos. | Ht.

Prince Ibeh | C/F | 6-10

Cameron Ridley | C | 6-10

Connor Lammert | F | 6-9

Ioannis Papapetrou | F/G | 6-8

Demarcus Holland | G | 6-3

Javan Felix | G | 5-10

A POSSIBLE STARTING FIVE

(Our best guess)

PG: Myck Kabongo, Soph.

G: Julien Lewis, Soph.

G: Sheldon McClellan, Soph.

C: Cameron Ridley, Fresh.

PF: Jonathan Holmes, Soph.

SCHEDULE

The season opener is Nov. 9, at home against Fresno State.

Texas' first big test? December should tell us a lot ? vs. Georgetown on Dec. 4, at Madison Square Garden; vs. UCLA on Dec. 8, at Reliant Stadium; at home vs. North Carolina, Dec. 19; and at Michigan State on Dec. 22.

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