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Thursday, February 10, 2000
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
TEACHING OPPONENTS SOME BASIC LESSONS
Atkins no longer an unknown for foes of Wolves
By Damon Seiters
Review-Journal
Ian Atkins wasn't exactly a well-known player at the start of the basketball season.
Atkins wasn't even a starter for Basic High School last season, coming off the bench for a Wolves squad that finished 14-12 and missed the playoffs.
But people now know Atkins' name, especially Basic's opponents. He has punished the opposition this season, leading area Class 4A schools in scoring (22.5) and rebounding (12.5).
"He probably did (sneak up on people)," Basic coach Kurt Bailey said. "But everybody knows now that we're going to go to him, and that still hasn't stopped his production."
In fact, Atkins has improved. In two games last week, he scored 63 points.
Even opponents who saw Atkins play last season might not have known the name. He was known as Ian Brown for about half of last season before deciding to take his father's last name.
"My name was changed, so it might not have been out there," Atkins said. "It could have been known as Brown because a couple colleges sent me letters, and they had Brown on them."
No matter what they call him, the 6-foot-6-inch Atkins draws plenty of attention on the court.
"They double-team him all the time," Bailey said. "At first, he didn't respond very well. But as each game has gone on, he's matured, and he's noticed that he needs to get his teammates more involved. So he's passing the ball and realizing that he's going to get it back if he's just patient."
Atkins said the defensive attention has pushed him to work harder on his basketball skills.
"I just change up my game," he said. "I go home and practice more and more so I can come out and get better. I use that to my advantage."
The Wolves are 9-14 overall and 3-5 in the Southeast Division. But Basic's sub-.500 record certainly can't be blamed on Atkins. In eight league games, he is averaging 25.1 points, including 29.3 in the three victories.
Basic lost 12 seniors from last season's squad, including all five starters. Atkins was the most prominent player returning, but Bailey said his senior didn't sit back in the off-season. Instead, Atkins worked hard to improve his game.
"He worked hard on his left hand, which has made him more of a threat underneath the basket," Bailey said.
Atkins said: "I'm taking more consistent shots and taking the ball to the hole stronger."
Bailey said Atkins is more of a factor on defense this season, averaging about three blocked shots.
"Last year, he was blocking people's shots, but he was fouling them when he was doing it," Bailey said. "This year, he's learned how to be a real shot blocker, keeping his feet more."
Although he usually is the tallest player on the floor, Atkins often uses his superior athletic ability to outrun the opposition's big people.
"The other thing he's doing better this year, too, is he runs the floor," Bailey said. "For a big man, he's got speed. He gets up and down the floor."
The 195-pound Atkins would like to take his game to the Division I level. But to do that, he will have to move to the wing.
"On my AAU team in the summertime, they had me playing the three (small forward), so I was used to it," Atkins said.
Bailey said: "The other thing that he's done, he did over the summer, is he improved his shot. He can shoot the 3, he can dribble the ball. If he gets a rebound, and he's got an opportunity to go coast-to-coast, we let him do it.
"To play out there on the perimeter at the three spot, he can do it."
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Printable version of this story
Ian Atkins, a 6-foot-6-inch center for Basic High School, has risen from relative anonymity a year ago to become a force during his senior season. He leads area Class 4A schools in scoring and rebounding, averaging 22.5 points and 12.5 rebounds for 9-14 Basic. Meanwhile, he has developed shooting and mobility skills that make him a good prospect to become an effective small forward at the college level.
Photo by Craig L. Moran.
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