Vasquez Takes Part in Chris Paul Clinic
6/15/2008 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 15, 2008
Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez recently worked as a camp counselor at the inaugural Chris Paul Elite Backcourt Skills Clinic on the campus of Wake Forest University. Forty one high school players participated in the clinic, while Vasquez was one of 17 collegiate players invited to serve as counselors. umterps.com recently had a chance to catch up with Vasquez to talk to him about his experience at the clinic and what he's been working on this summer.
umterps.com: How did you get to be a counselor for the clinic?
Greivis Vasquez: They had a group that helped Chris put it together and they selected the best guards in the country. I was one of the guys they invited, so it was an honor to be chosen for it.
umterps.com: What were your responsibilities at the camp?
GV: I taught a station where the high school players worked on their ball handling, footwork and worked on their dribble. Chris (Paul) also gave us some drills to work on so I would have the high school guys go through those drills and give them feedback on how they did and what they needed to improve on.
umterps.com: How did you like working with the high school players?
GV: Working with the young guys was good. They had a lot of questions about moving from high school to college, so I was able to describe to them just how difficult the transition is and what they are going to face. It was a learning process both ways, for the high school players, as well as the college players. I think it was a great way to teach young basketball players. Chris really did a good job organizing the camp.
umterps.com: Were you able to interact with Chris Paul during the camp?
GV: Oh yeah, I learned a lot from Chris. He shared some of his moves with us and gave us some ideas on things that he has worked on. I gained so much from the experience down there. Everyone knows that right now he's the best point guard on the planet, so for me to have the opportunity to go down there and spend a few days with him and other top guards in the country really meant a lot. Jarrett Jack, Rudy Gay and other NBA players were there and it was great to interact with them and learn from their experiences.
umterps.com: What did you take away from the clinic?
GV: It was a great experience for me. I had a chance to work with other great guards in college basketball like Stephen Curry (Davidson), Tyrese Rice (Boston College) and Jack McClinton (Miami). Chris was there the entire time. He spoke to the high school players, as well as the college guys. We had some great pick-up games between the counselors and a few of the NBA guys.
umterps.com: What are some things you wanted to work on this summer?
GV: One of the main things I wanted to work on after the season was my quickness, but also gaining some weight. I've been working hard in the weight room to get where I want to be physically. I decided not to play with the Venezuelan national team this summer, so I've been working on getting myself ready physically for the season.
umterps.com: What do you see as your role with the team next season?
GV: I need to be a leader this season, no question. I'm willing to lead the team and do whatever it takes to have a good season. I have a lot of responsibility on the team, but I think I'm ready for it. I'll be a junior this year so I need to step up and take responsibility.
umterps.com: What does coach Williams expect from you?
GV: I talk with coach almost every day. He expects a lot, that's why I love playing for him. The biggest thing is just to lead by example and continue to get better every day so we can be a good team.
