… is another long one. Get to know this both-ends difference-maker. "He got that dog in him" - Florida Gators
Great story on a great athlete. Alijah high school resume, great in all three major sports and a top track star. Bringing his experience from FAU and him being tough as nails, “dog in him” has us excited to watch him bring toughness to a sorely lacking team. We have had some great players every year, Pullen comes to mind, but to be a dog you hate, I mean hate to lose. As a die hard Gator basketball fan, Every game I want to win. No let downs on weaker teams and a fighter who delivers on tough teams. Welcome Alijah with open arms!
Yep. Basketball can turn on a dime. You might play hard for 4/5ths of the game against a lesser opponent, and then take your foot off the gas. Next thing you know, it's tied up and you're fighting to regain momentum. The great teams of Gator lore never took their foot off the gas. They'd beat you down, and then beat you down some more until you cried.
"On game day, you have to kill the person in front of you and do whatever it takes — within the rules — to win" THIS is what we've been lacking (don't get me started on the football team) on defense. Can't wait to see him and our new look D in action Also, 5.5 rebounds per game as a 2 guard is pretty incredible p.s my favorite line on his time as a dual-threat QB, "I could throw it over you, but also juke you or run your ass over." Gotta love that swag.
He seems like a smaller version of Anthony Edwards; same type of athleticism , same swag, same no nonsense mentality.
Great article! Thanks. My favorite part: "He's going to raise the level of defense for everybody," UF assistant coach and director of player development Taurean Green said. "Starting with that guy, right there!" Green was pointing at Walter Clayton Jr.,
Alijah likens to think he plays like Damien Lilliard or Donovan Mitchell. He is a confident (and accomplished) player.
Everybody thinks about how great the 04's were on offense, but what made them great was the D. Brewer and Noah were extra special on D. Horford was a complete player and solid on D. Lee Hump could face up on the perimeter and if beat channel his guy to Noah. TG was always underrated on D. Not flashy but solid.
That group functioned so well. Don't forget that Corey Brewer's perimeter defense got teams out of their comfort zone the second they got into their halfcourt set. Again and again, you'd see them back up a few feet outside of where they normally start and the guy Corey was defending would have to receive passes even further back. Those long arms disrupted everything.
