Aruban post not sheepish about adding bulk, power

The headline is straightforward, to the point.

"Kieran Celaire ganador di Slam Dunk Contest."

"Kieran Celaire wins the Slam Dunk Contest."

The article is written in Papiamento, the native language of this Aruban sensation, this dunking pseudo-Dutchman. The photograph is grainy, and the article doesn't seem to generate much fanfare.

But that's basketball in Aruba.

Celaire is in Las Vegas, playing for the Las Vegas Prospects in the adidas Super 64 tournament, a sheep among wolves.

A sheep because his slight frame isn't yet suited for the American game; as such, he primarily rides the bench. Wolves, in two forms: The American power forwards who feast on his kind -- finesse, a poisonous word in basketball circles -- and the college coaches who eat the young, finding flaws in the games of 17-year-old boys.

Celaire is a 6-foot-7-inch small forward with the bulk of a stick figure. His biggest flaw is his strength -- or lack thereof.

"It's a lot harder out here, a lot more physical," Celaire said. "In Aruba, the refs call fouls a lot quicker. I'm used to getting the ball and going up; if he hits me, I get the call.

"But here I have to fight him, I have to keep pushing, because I'm not gonna get the foul."

He pushes and pushes -- imagine a gust of air battling a brick wall.

Anthony Brown's job is to bulk him up.

The Prospects coach is hosting Celaire in Las Vegas for the tournament and perhaps beyond, before he heads in the fall to Maine Central Institute -- one-time home to NBA standouts Caron Butler, Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley, among others.

Celaire came to Las Vegas by way of coach and scout Rolando Delabarrera, who was vacationing in Aruba after a scouting trip in the Caribbean. Celaire's coach scheduled an impromptu practice with Delabarrera, who eventually sent word to Brown that he'd found a gem.

"My coaches and I talk about six degrees of separation -- we think we can get it done in three," Brown said. "The call was go to YouTube, check him out. He said, 'Anthony, I'm gonna be real with you, he's raw. But he needs that experience. He's gonna get better.' "

Raw is a code word for unrefined talent. But Celaire definitely has talent. The YouTube clips reveal that. One problem, though -- that talent has been used only for the FIBA game, not the American game. A wider lane, lean big men, a passing-oriented offense.

Celaire still is getting used to the big bodies in the post, a lengthy transition.

"He says, 'Coach, was I brought out here because you thought I was good, or was I brought out here for experience?' " Brown said. "I said, 'Well, experience,' and he starts smiling. He says, 'Coach, I understand I have a long way to go. If you have a bigger or stronger guy, he can use my uniform in the big games.' What kid would do that?"

To add size to Celaire's frame, Brown keeps him on a strict diet -- as in, eat everything you see.

"In Aruba, I just really eat fish," Celaire said. "We have chicken and beef, but not that much. I eat little bits, but it's never been a big, good meal. Just snacks. Once I was here, I'm always full. There's not one moment when I'm like, let me eat."

So he chews and he stews.

With his body not quite ready for prime time, Celaire has seen sparse minutes with the Prospects. Five minutes here, three minutes there. But he learns and he bonds, forming friendships with his new American teammates.

"He's engulfed in everything," Brown said. "He's taking in everything -- they're teaching him slang words now. Look at him -- he's a big, tall, good-looking kid. He's from Aruba, they're out at a party, and where do all the girls go? Basketball is universal, and looks. He looks the part. They love him.

"Game recognizes game; it trumps everything. We can be from all over the place -- but it's, 'You can play? I can play. I can recognize it? You look real familiar now.' "

Contact reporter Jon Gold at jgold@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587.