New season, new focus for Arthur
Forward looks to add improved passing to repertoire
Sophomore forward Darell Arthur is sharpening the passing facet of his game to make him a better offensive weapon.
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
Listen to Darrell Arthur talk about his shot selection from last season, and you’ll swear you’re hearing the voice of Allen Iverson or any other NBA guard fixated on the flick of his own wrist.
“I was pretty selfish” said Arthur, a sophomore forward. “Every time I got the ball I shot it up.”
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Arthur, who’s been back playing basketball for a week after recovering from a stress fracture, wants to improve his overall game by passing more.
This isn’t the story of an injured basketball player who comes back realizing he might not have the game forever and must change his playing ways. No. Arthur knew before his stress fracture that he needed to change.
Kansas coach Bill Self told him that. Arthur, who only had 14 assists all of last season, said they spoke about him passing the ball and slowing down the pace of his game after his freshman year ended. Experience with the USA Under-19 basketball team this summer made Arthur’s decision to focus on passing even clearer.
As he practiced with the U-19 team in early July to prepare for U-19 FIBA Championship, Arthur realized he couldn’t shoot every time. Teammates such as Oregon’s Tajuan Porter, Kansas State’s Michael Beasley and Arkansas’ Patrick Beverley wanted the ball too. Arthur decided to share it.
“I understood there was more than one scorer on the team,” he said. “As one of the captains, I was trying to motivate myself to get the team the ball first and shoot last.”
Arthur never got the chance to show his newly-discovered passing skills in action. A stress fracture formed in his leg when he tried out for the U-19 team in July. Arthur didn’t feel pain for two weeks but finally saw a doctor when he could barely walk. The doctor told him he couldn’t play for at least a month and would miss the U-19 FIBA Championship.
Rehab for Arthur included daily pool workouts and the use of an electronic bone stimulator that he said helped the injury heal quicker. Now that his stress fracture is healed, Arthur is participating in individual workouts three days a week, waking up at six to run every morning and playing pick up games against his teammates twice a week.
They’ve also noticed his improved passing ability.
“He’s getting back into his groove and getting back to feeling things,” junior guard Mario Chalmers said. “He’s really going to help us.”
Help from Arthur will be important this season because of the loss of former Jayhawk Julian Wright to the NBA Draft. Arthur will likely take Wright’s spot in the lineup, meaning he’ll have to make up for his 2.2 assists per game.
Last season, that might have been a challenge for Arthur. Now? He’s ready to pass.
“I matured over the year,” Arthur said. “It’s about just looking for everybody. I’ve been keeping my mind off scoring and thinking about other things.”
—edited by Luke Morris
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