Penney's standing tall; Kiwi makes good in
US
Evening Post;
Wellington, New Zealand; Mar 22, 2002; MIRAMS, Chris;
He's only 21, but Tall Black Kirk Penney is rapt with the opportunities he's
had so far in his basketball career. And, as CHRIS MIRAMS discovers, he's
already turning heads on the American college circuit.
ON Wednesday afternoon Tall Black Kirk Penney eased back into a chair on the
front porch of his University basketball coach's home in the American mid-east
city of Madison and couldn't stop smiling.
And when he next plays in New Zealand, hopefully in the July series against
Hungary, fans here will see first-hand why the 21- year-old is feeling pretty
satisfied and turning heads on the American college circuit.
This week the eighth-seeded University of Wisconsin team - known as the
Badgers - bowed out of the NCAA playoffs after a second- round 87-57 East
Region loss to hot-shot Maryland, a side tipped for the top four.
In getting that far the Badgers won the Big Ten championship, the first time
it had done so since 1947. Penney, in his third year at Wisconsin, was the only
starter returning from last season and the side also had a new coach. As a
result expectations weren't high and ninth in the Big Ten was the early goal.
In the end, NCAA playoff games included, the side finished with a 19-win,
13-loss record and an impressive 12-1 scorecard at home.
Penney, a point guard, averaged 32.5 minutes a game, a team high average of
15.1 points a game at an average of 45.4 percent. He pulled down an average 4.9
rebounds an outing.
"I'm very happy with the point where the team is and the progression
I've made," he said from his home in Madison.
"Coming into the year I was just a shooter but to be able to extend my
game and add weapons is exciting. Being able to post up as well as pull up
jumpers and (I'm) offensively adding things to my game that make me harder to
guard."
A lot of it he puts down to the new coach Bo Ryan, a highy successful
college coach of the 1990s in America. Ryan, Penney said, had given him the
opportunity to play inside and outside with the big men shooting the
three-pointers and the guards posting up. This season Penney had a leadership
role in the side that will be increased next year as he will be the only senior
returning. He has two years left to get his degree and now the season has
finished he is trying to get his studies back on track. He is working on a
Bachelor of Landscape and Architecture, a sector he says presents a lot of
career opportunities in America. Those career thoughts for the moment are mixed
with thoughts of turning professional and possibly even playing in the NBA.
"Once I'm done with four years college basketball I'll evaluate where
I'm at and the opportunities I have in front of me. Until then there's no point
worrying about it or getting too involved in it because it will work out
however it is going to be. I just have to play hard and get my studies done,"
he said.
"I'll have to evaluate how far I've progressed basketball-wise and if
the professional opportunities outweigh landscape architecture as a career then
I'd go for it."
He's hoping his next basketball assignment will be for the Tall Blacks at the
World Championships in August. Coach Tab Baldwin keeps in regular contact and
Penney will shortly be trying to work a compromise deal with his college coach
that will enable him to play for the Tall Blacks and fulfil university
obligations.
"I'm contracted in a way in that they (Wisconsin) are paying for my
scholarship so I have to run it past my coach. He said get all the information
together and get it to him and we'll go over it so that the time can be shared
back home and yet I can't forget my commitments here. It's just finding a
medium for everyone where they're all happy," he explained. "It (the
world championships) is such an awesome opportunity you want to be part of
it."
College ends in May and he then has to do some summer papers but will try and
tie in the Hungary tour here in July so he can play for the Tall Blacks and get
back home and see family.
Four years ago, while living on Auckland's North Shore, Penney struggled
with the decision to take up the scholarship opportunity.
While a talented player, was basketball a vehicle to better things? As he
looks back at what's happened to him since, his scorecard makes impressive
reading. He's been to the Olympic Games and last year was the leading scorer
for the Tall Blacks - 14.8 points - at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane with wins
over Brazil and Cuba.
On the college circuit he was the Big Ten's leading three-point shooter in
conference games last season, has toured Europe and then there's this season's
results.
"I'm 21 years old and the opportunities I've had so far are
unbelievable; almost ridiculous. Thinking back two or three years before any of
this started and wondering if I'm going to go to Auckland university and just
study, or is the game (of basketball) really worth pursuing because you can
lose it any day with an injury.
"To look three years back and see what's happening (to me) it's
pinch-me type material."
