Post by Lawdog on May 23, 2012 19:22:11 GMT -5
Karl Anthony Towns had just finished working out when his father broke the news. At first he didn’t believe it, and that’s understandable. It’s not every day a freshman in high school gets a chance to be an Olympian.
But that’s what happened Tuesday when the 6-foot-11 basketball phenom at St. Joseph-Metuchen was named to the Dominican Republic’s national team as it prepares to qualify for this summer’s London Olympic Games.
“I felt like a little kid in a candy store,” Karl said. “This is something you dream about but you never actually think it’s going to happen. That dream has all of a sudden come true.”
Towns, a Piscataway resident who averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks per game this past winter to help the Falcons post a 29-2 record and win the program’s first NJSIAA Non-Public A title, is eligible for the Dominican team because his mother Jacqueline was born there.
He spent part of last summer on an international tour with the Dominican Republic’s Under-17 national team and did well enough to earn a tryout for the U-19 team in New York two weeks ago. He aced that, too, and turned some important heads in the process.
“To be selected out of so many people, it’s a great feat not only for him but for St. Joes,” said his dad, Karl Towns Sr. “There’s a lot more left in the process, but the fact that he’ll be down there practicing and working out with pros, and that he has the possibility of fulfilling a dream that people spend their whole lives working for, it’s an exciting moment for myself and my wife and our family.”
The London Games are still one step away. The Dominican Republic has not yet qualified. The final three spots in the 12-team Olympic field will be filled at the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament July 2-8 in Venezuela.
Known for his advanced offensive game—particularly his 3-point shooting ability—Towns is regarded by scouting services as one of the best freshmen in the United States. He also possesses the maturity and work ethic of an older player, which is evident in his reaction to the selection.
“I can use this not just to play on an Olympic team, but I can get better playing against the best competition in the world,” he said. “I’m really happy about it, but you still have to go into it with energy and work hard. Now I have to prove I belong there.”
St. Joseph coach Dave Turco has no doubt that will happen. On the U-17 team last summer, Towns practiced and worked out with national team members and held his own.
“Last year the experience he had gave him a drive to be selected for the team this year,” Turco said. “He’s already ahead of the game as far as what’s about to happen.”
That includes the accompanying hoopla.
“It’s an unbelievable accomplishment, obviously, but he’s not a kid who gets caught up in all the glamour,” Turco said. “For him it’s going to be about seeing what he can do against some of the best basketball players in the world and getting feedback on what he needs to work on moving forward.”
It’s worth noting that the Dominican Republic coach is John Calipari, who is recruiting Towns to the University of Kentucky.
Towns Sr., who is the boys coach at Piscataway Vo-Tech, said reaction to his son’s selection has been overwhelming.
“It’s unbelievable how many people are so happy for this kid,” he said. “It’s a local kid doing something that . . . I don’t know who else has done it.”
But that’s what happened Tuesday when the 6-foot-11 basketball phenom at St. Joseph-Metuchen was named to the Dominican Republic’s national team as it prepares to qualify for this summer’s London Olympic Games.
“I felt like a little kid in a candy store,” Karl said. “This is something you dream about but you never actually think it’s going to happen. That dream has all of a sudden come true.”
Towns, a Piscataway resident who averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks per game this past winter to help the Falcons post a 29-2 record and win the program’s first NJSIAA Non-Public A title, is eligible for the Dominican team because his mother Jacqueline was born there.
He spent part of last summer on an international tour with the Dominican Republic’s Under-17 national team and did well enough to earn a tryout for the U-19 team in New York two weeks ago. He aced that, too, and turned some important heads in the process.
“To be selected out of so many people, it’s a great feat not only for him but for St. Joes,” said his dad, Karl Towns Sr. “There’s a lot more left in the process, but the fact that he’ll be down there practicing and working out with pros, and that he has the possibility of fulfilling a dream that people spend their whole lives working for, it’s an exciting moment for myself and my wife and our family.”
The London Games are still one step away. The Dominican Republic has not yet qualified. The final three spots in the 12-team Olympic field will be filled at the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament July 2-8 in Venezuela.
Known for his advanced offensive game—particularly his 3-point shooting ability—Towns is regarded by scouting services as one of the best freshmen in the United States. He also possesses the maturity and work ethic of an older player, which is evident in his reaction to the selection.
“I can use this not just to play on an Olympic team, but I can get better playing against the best competition in the world,” he said. “I’m really happy about it, but you still have to go into it with energy and work hard. Now I have to prove I belong there.”
St. Joseph coach Dave Turco has no doubt that will happen. On the U-17 team last summer, Towns practiced and worked out with national team members and held his own.
“Last year the experience he had gave him a drive to be selected for the team this year,” Turco said. “He’s already ahead of the game as far as what’s about to happen.”
That includes the accompanying hoopla.
“It’s an unbelievable accomplishment, obviously, but he’s not a kid who gets caught up in all the glamour,” Turco said. “For him it’s going to be about seeing what he can do against some of the best basketball players in the world and getting feedback on what he needs to work on moving forward.”
It’s worth noting that the Dominican Republic coach is John Calipari, who is recruiting Towns to the University of Kentucky.
Towns Sr., who is the boys coach at Piscataway Vo-Tech, said reaction to his son’s selection has been overwhelming.
“It’s unbelievable how many people are so happy for this kid,” he said. “It’s a local kid doing something that . . . I don’t know who else has done it.”