Section 2: Jimmer Fredette’s Dec. 8 Glens Falls homecoming! Jimmer’s first taste of the pros º7 Dec. 2-8, 2010 • © 2010 The Chronicle • 15 Ridge St., P.O. Box 153, Glens Falls, NY 12801 • (518) 792-1126 • chronicle@loneoak.com
Jimmer mania! Photo by Tom Sullivan Sr.
GF hero leads BYU vs. UVM at sold-out Civic Center Some steps in Jimmer Fredette’s progression Bottom left: At the age of 3, Jimmer could already handle the ball. Center: At Glens Falls High School, Jimmer set the Section 2 scoring record and led the Indians to the state championship game at the Civic Center in 2007. Right: Jimmer at Brigham Young University.
We could tell right from the start.
Jimmer Fredette Born February 25, 1989, at Glens Falls Hospital
Welcome Home, Jimmer! We’re proud to say we knew you when.
Jimmer, driving to the hoop against San Diego State last season, has achieved Division I stardom at Brigham Young University. Last spring he led BYU to its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1993. Photo courtesy BYU
B2 The Chronicle - Dec. 2, 2010
Jimmer Fredette Chronicle
The 2006-07 Glens Falls team that went 25-2 and advanced to the state championship game at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Front row, from left: Assistant coach Steve Zurlo, Jared Woodell, John Taft, Lawson Prunty, Eric Allen, Nick Hildreth, Brian Rodriguez, ballboy Tyrell Gooden and head coach Tony Hammel. Back row, from left: Assistant coach Dave Casey, assistant coach Sonny Gooden, Robert Prunty, Jimmer Fredette, Alec Conover, Taylor Luczak, Denny Wilhelm, Robby Eddy, Harrison Barton, James Brown, Andrew Patterson, assistant coach Rob Girard and athletic director Chip Corlew. Photo by Tom Sullivan, Sr.
Slam dunker in the house
Jimmer performs a reverse dunk on his first basketball hoop, which he got as a birthday present. Fredette family photo
Jimmer’s GFHS coach Tony Hammel looks back
On coaching Jimmer: “Coaching Jimmer was like driving a luxury vehicle. When he was on the floor, I was confident and comfortable knowing everything was going to run smoothly. He was one of the most level-headed, humble, respected, committed players I have ever coached. “At the time we were all so focused on achieving our goals that I didn’t really have an opportunity to enjoy how special that time was. It was one of the best times of my life and I hope Jimmer feels that way too.” Did you think Jimmer would be this good? “I knew Jimmer was incredibly talented and I knew he would do very well at the Division I level, but if you asked me then if I thought he would be one of the best guards in the United States and on
Jimmer and Rollie Massimino, the former Villanova coach and 1955 UVM graduate. Fredette family photo
✩a ✩ and the Glens Falls Common Council send Mayor John A. Diamond
✩ ✩ ✩
Warm Welcome
to the teams & fans of
Brigham Young University
and the University
✩
of Vermont!
✩ ✩ ✩
his way to a career in the NBA, I don’t think I would have said that. “I knew then that when the going got tough, I could count on him to dig down and find another gear, more strength, more leadership and more of himself to leave on the floor. Incredibly I don’t think we have seen the bottom of that well yet.” What makes Jimmer special? “In our practices we use the quote ‘The will to win is important, but the will to prepare to win is vital.’ That is exactly what makes Jimmer special and sets him apart. Winning is his goal, but he is intelligent, humble and determined enough to find a way to overcome all obstacles in his path. “He prepares to win every minute of every day. He’s like a compass, always pointing to true North. That has not made him just a great and special basketball player — that has made him a great and special human being, one I am honored and proud to say I know.”
Jimmer was ball boy for the 1999 Glens Falls team that won the Class B sectional title. Fredette family photo
Welcome
Brigham Young University &
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Jimmer! Miller
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B3 The Chronicle - Dec. 2, 2010
Jimmer Fredette Chronicle
Says family comes first
Jimmer’s older sister, Lindsay, grabbed some limelight of her own, as Miss Teen New York USA in 1998. Now 30, she lives in Utah.
From left, on the backyard deck at home in Glens Falls — brother T.J., 28, parents Al and Kay, and Jimmer, 21. Sister Lindsay (photo at left) lives in Utah. “If I was ever to do anything that was cocky, they would be all over me, my parents and my brother and sister,” says Jimmer. “They won’t let that happen...I wouldn’t let that happen either.” Chronicle photo/Gordon Woodworth
The Glens Falls Civic Center was packed
to watch Jimmer and his Glens Falls teammates battle Peekskill in the March 2007 Class A state championship game. The Indians fell, 58-48. The Civic Center will again be standing room only for Jimmer’s return as BYU plays the University of Vermont on Dec. 8. Civic Center photos by Tom Sullivan, Sr.
Jimmer converted a layup in the 2007 New York State high school title game, as teammate Taylor Luczak looks on.
Welcome
WELCOME,
BYU, University of Vermont, and Glens Falls’ hometown boy —
Jimmer Fredette
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Jimmer Fredette Chronicle Where Jimmer ranks All-Time at BYU
Jimmer could finish among BYU’s top three scorers all-time at his current scoring pace.
Career Points Rank/Name
BYU Photo
1. Danny Ainge (1977-81) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,467 2. Michael Smith (1983-84, 86-89) . . . . . . . 2,319 3. Devin Durrant (1978-80, 82-84) . . . . . . . . 2,285 4. Russell Larson (1991-95) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,885 5. Fred Roberts (1978-82) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,841 6. Jeff Chatman (1984-88) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,824 7. Mekeli Wesley (1997-01) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,740 8. Mark Bigelow (1998-99, 01-04) . . . . . . . . 1,715 9. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) . . 1,680 10. Ken Roberts (1990-91, 93-96) . . . . . . . . 1,652 Jimmer with Tom Ciaccio, the brother of Chris Ciaccio, who held the Section II scoring record until Jimmer broke it in 2007. That’s the late Glens Falls Mayor Roy Akins at left, and retired Glens Falls Athletic Director Doug Kenyon, right. Chronicle photo/Gordon Woodworth
Jimmer on coming home to play UVM at Civic Ctr.
Jimmer’s summer workouts are designed by his uncle and trainer Lee Taft
“I had a great summer,” says Jimmer. “I was able to hang out with my family and my friends and everybody that is around the area. I also worked out real hard. “My uncle, Lee Taft, (with Jimmer in the photo at right) gave me a workout that he wanted me to do all summer while I was here, so I did that. That was usually twice a day. In the mornings, we did basketball stuff, quickness, some agility, a lot of jump rope. We did that for two hours in the morning. At night, we did flexibility and lots of lifting stuff and explosive stuff and conditioning. In all, I worked out about three or four hours a day.”
1. Devin Durrant (1983-84) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866 2. Danny Ainge (1980-81) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 782 3. Michael Smith (1988-89) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 765 4. Jimmer Fredette (2009-10) . . . . . . . . . 751
Points Scored in a Game Rank/Name
BYU photos courtesy of Brigham Young University
“It’s going to be amazing. It will be a lot of fun. It will be a very special night, one of the most special nights I’ve ever had as a basketball player to play in my hometown again and to feel that emotion. “Hopefully everybody will be going crazy and hopefully it will be a good game and hopefully we will play well. That’s what we’re trying to do. Hopefully we will be able to give everybody a good show.” “I think about all of the memories I have of playing in Glens Falls and all the fans and family and friends that I’ve been involved with my whole life — the people who have really helped me get to where I am today. “I’m really excited to play this game, to see everybody and all of those familiar faces again in the Civic Center and playing in front of the hometown crowd again, just like in the sectional finals or the state finals. I am really looking forward to that and showing my appreciation to them. What will it be like to lead your team out onto the court in front of a packed house? Will you be able to block out your emotions and focus on the game? “It’s great to have all of this hype
around it and come back home and talk to everybody and have a good time, but once you get on the basketball floor, it’s just like any other game. “You have to go out there and win. If you don’t win, there’s no sense in doing it. We’re really excited to play, and we’re looking forward to having a good game and playing well and giving the fans a good show.” When you think back three years ago when you were in Glens Falls and a senior in high school, could you envision what is happening to you right now? “This is exactly what I envisioned. This is exactly where I wanted to be. I’ve always talked to my brother and my family about it. I had a goal to be on All-America lists in my junior year and be NBA-ready by my junior year, and that is exactly what I wanted to do and I felt like if I was able to do that, I would get some looks, and then by my senior year, I would have people looking at me very seriously. This is exactly how I wanted it to play out, and fortunately for me, I’ve been able to have it play out this way. “I am going to continue to work as hard as I can to get better and force people to see me out there and force people to want me on their team.”
Points Scored in a Season Rank/Name
1. Jimmer Fredette (at Az., 12-28-09) . . . 49 2. Bob Skousen (vs. UCLA, 12-2-61) . . . . . . . . . . 47 3. Jimmer Fredette (vs. TCU, 3-11-10) . . . 45 4. Dave Eastis (vs. New Mexico, 2-5-60) . . . . . . . 44 5. Timo Saarelainen (at New Mexico, 2-7-85) . . 41 6. Marty Haws (vs. Siena, 11-24-89) . . . . . . . . . 40 7. John Fairchild (vs. Arizona, 2-26-65) . . . . . . . 40 Dick Nemelka (vs. St. Bona., 12-29-65) . . . . . 40 Danny Ainge (vs. Oral Roberts, 12-23-78) . . . 40 10. Four players with . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3-point Field Goals Rank/Name 1. Jonathan Tavernari (2006-10) . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 2. Mark Bigelow (1998-99, 01-04) . . . . . . . . . . 213 3. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) . . . . 190
3-point Field Goal Attempts Rank/Name 1. Jonathan Tavernari (2006-10) . . . . . . . . . . . . 698 2. Mark Bigelow (1998-99, 01-04) . . . . . . . . . . 559 3. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) . . . . 485
Points in NCAA tourney game
Rank/Name 1. Jimmer Fredette (vs. Florida, 3-18-10) 37 Danny Ainge (vs. UCLA, 3-14-81) . . . . . . . . . . 37 3. Kresimir Cosic (vs. Utah St., 3-13-71) . . . . . . . 30
Career NCAA tournament pts.
Rank/Name 1. Danny Ainge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 2. Kresimir Cosi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 3. Jimmer Fredette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Thanks, Jimmer! Thanks for uniting this whole community in rooting for and enjoying your success. Thanks for all the thrills and excitement all these years. Thanks for leading by example and being a proud native of Glens Falls. Thanks for being a genuine nice guy. Thanks to you and BYU (and UVM) for providing one of the best moments ever in the history of the Civic Center and, actually, in the history of Glens Falls! Thanks, Jimmer. We’re proud of you!
B5 The Chronicle - Dec. 2, 2010
Jimmer Fredette Chronicle BYU beat Florida, 99-92, in doubleovertime for its first NCAA tourney win since 1993. Jimmer scored 37 points. Photos courtesy Brigham Young University
Portrait of a happy man
Star guard Jimmer Fredette at the post-game press conference last March 18, after BYU beat Florida for its first NCAA tourney win since 1993. “We got the monkey off our back,” Jimmer says.
“We went beyond the first round last year, which was great,” says Jimmer. “This year we want to go even farther and continue to progress as a team. We want to win the conference championship, which we haven’t done since I’ve been there. We want to stay in the top 25 the whole year. And I want to make it to the Sweet 16.”
A hug for Mom
after the big Florida win. Jimmer’s dad Al stands right behind mom Kay. Jimmer’s 37-point performance really put him on the radar screen nationally.
More of what Jimmer is thinking: Gordon Woodworth’s interview
Chronicle News Editor Gordon Woodworth interviewed Jimmer Fredette at length before Jimmer returned for his senior year at Brigham Young University. Here are more excepts.
Some of Jimmer’s favorites Favorite NBA player: Deron Williams. Favorite non-basketball athlete: Either Derek Jeter or Peyton Manning Favorite NBA team: NY Knicks. Always liked them. If you could pick a team to draft you: Probably the Knicks, because I’ve liked them since I was a kid, and playing in Madison Square Garden would be great. And it’s pretty close to home, so that would be a plus, to have family and friends be able to come to the games would be a good situation. How about the Celtics? Yeah, the Celtics would be great, too. You know (BYU great) Danny Ainge, right? Yes. I haven’t talked to him since the workouts. I’ve talked to his son Austin, who works for the Celtics as well. We’re good friends, and he was there when I was coming in for my freshman year. So I have good relationships with them, too, and that would be a great situation as well. Favorite sport other than basketball: Football Favorite movie: Shawshank Redemption Favorite TV show: Family Guy Favorite author: I like John Steinbeck, like The Pearl and Grapes of Wrath. Favorite actor: Robert DeNiro Favorite actress: Meryl Streep Favorite Meryl Streep movie: She’s had a lot of good ones. I liked River Wild, Doubt, Devil Wears Prada. She’s had a lot of good ones. Favorite musical group or artist: My brother Other than your brother: Joe Budden, he’s just a rapper. Best concert you’ve ever seen: I’ve never been to a concert. Really? Yes. Why not? I don’t know. It wasn’t a huge interest. I could have gone. I never had an interest,
I guess. Favorite video game: Used to be Super Mario back in the day. Favorite vacation spot: New Smyrna Beach, Florida. We used to go there as a family all the time, family vacations in spring break. My whole family would go, all of my cousins, and we would rent a place. Most memorable vacation: Probably those vacations in Florida. Those were the most fun. I used to love those. Invite any three people to dinner, living or deceased: George Washington, Chris Farley and Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Thoughts on BYU & his faith How important is your faith to you? It’s very important. It’s what you are on this planet for. You want to be a good person and do good things and try to be like Christ and do that type of work. So it’s very, very important to do that and that is part of the reason I try to do as much good as I can and not worry about the pressures of basketball as much and have things in perspective. I think it helps you out as well. Best thing about going to BYU: I think just the atmosphere, just because everybody there is in the same boat, from the same religious background (Mormon). The atmosphere is great, to have all of those college kids in the same area and everybody loves sports and loves the area and loves being around each other. Favorite course: I really like Brother Bott, religion course. Doctrine in Covenance course. College major: American history.
On life & life after basketball Toughest moment so far: One of the toughest decisions I ever made was the NBA one, whether to go to the NBA this year and come back because it’s truly life-changing. You don’t know what is going to happen. That was a really tough decision. Thirty years from now, what are you doing? Be done with basketball, hopefully retired, have a good family and some kids, and hopefully they are doing well, and kind of relax and hang out with the family and take vacations and play golf for a long time and have a good life.
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The Chronicle - Dec. 2, 2010
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JIMMER FREDETTE CHRONICLE Favorite GF memories: 20 kids playing Army tag
Jimmer’s career stats at BYU Year
GP
FG
3FG
FT
FTA
Avg.
Reb.
A
St.
Pts.
Avg.
2007-08
35
83
43
35
41
.854
37
61
27
244
7.0
2008-09
33
184
52
116
137
.847
98
135
50
536
16.2
2009-10
34
225
77
224
251
.892
105
159
41
751
22.1
2010-11
6
53
18
25
29
.862
14
29
14
149
24.8
Totals:
108
545
190
400
458
.873
254
384
132
1,680
15.6
When you think of Glens Falls, what is the first thing you think about? “Just home. Hometown. All of the memories I have. This will always be home, because I grew up in the same house, in the same place, my whole life. It’s home.” Most important thing you know? “That there is more to life than sports and basketball. You’ve got to be a good person and do the things that are right so you can accomplish what you want.” Of his confidence but not cockiness, Jimmer says, “It comes from the good upbringing, and having a good family around you. Always having them push you to be better and to always be nice to people and to take everything in stride.”
Chronicle news editor Gordon Woodworth asked Jimmer Fredette what was his favorite thing to do on a Friday night growing up in Glens Falls. “We used to play a lot of Army tag,” Jimmer said. “It’s like manhunt. We’d play in the neighborhood and we’d have about 20 kids and I used to love that. We used to play that all the time....Those were some of the best times of my life, just being out there with everybody and having a good time. No worries, no pressures. Just playin’.” Jimmer laughs.
Welcome to the Hometown Classic! Glens Falls Civic Center, Dec. 8, 2010
& GO JIMMER!
Welcome Home, Jimmer!
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Jimmer vs. Rajon Rondo & Danny Granger As one of 20 college players selected to practice in July with the USA National Team, Jimmer Fredette got a taste of NBA-level play. Photo shows Jimmer with the ball; the Pacers’ Danny Granger and Boston Celtics’ Rajon Rondo defend. Jimmer toyed with entering the NBA draft but opted to return for his senior year at BYU before pursuing a likely pro career. Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images
NBA’s Chauncey Billups: ‘I’ve been following you’
In July Jimmer Fredette was one of 20 players selected by USA Basketball to train against the USA National Team during its training camp in Las Vegas. The experience brought Jimmer into competition and conversation with NBA stars. The Chronicle asked what he heard there. “A lot of people just talked to me about my game,” Jimmer said. “Like Chauncey Billups talked to me for a little bit just about how he has been following me in college and he really, really likes my game and he said he loves to watch good college players. “He said he’s going to continue to check up on me and said I remind him of himself a little bit when he was back in college. He just told me to keep working hard and he’ll see me in the league next year. It’s fun to be able to talk to the guys and see what they think. They know who you are. They watch the games just like normal people would.”
Jimmer, driving hard to the hoop against TCU.
BYU Photo
Sports Illustrated comic boosts Jimmer Fredette & brother T.J. Sports Illustrated’s college basketball preview issue in October gave DC Comics-style treatment (at right) to 3 “Hoops Heroes.” One was BYU’s Jimmer Fredette. A 2-page comic focused on Jimmer and his rapper brother T.J.
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The Chronicle - Dec. 2, 2010
Jimmer Fredette Chronicle
The Chronicle - Dec. 2, 2010
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