Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

New climate, new transformation

New Mexico transplant Ethan Selph finds the scenery and pace of play at Springstead quite a change, and a nice one at that.

By VINCENT THOMAS
Published January 12, 2006

That gangly 6-foot-7 kid with goggles on the court is Ethan Selph. He's new to Florida and Springstead, switching terrain from desert to swamp after moving from New Mexico - Carlsbad to be specific.

"Things are a lot different here, but I like it," said Selph, a junior center. "You're a lot closer to the towns and stuff."

Carlsbad, with a population of about 26,000, was about five hours from Albuquerque and about an hour from the nearest town, Roswell. He's not exactly shy, but he isn't necessarily an extrovert. Coach Craig Swartout calls him laid-back. Swartout reckons that's Selph's style after "standing around and talking to cactuses all day."

Selph looks a little like Ashton Kutcher. That is, if you agree with those who think Philadelphia 76ers star Kyle Korver looks like Kutcher, because Selph looks like Korver. And, though Selph is new, he quickly found himself a main squeeze. His coach spilled the beans. She plays softball for Swartout.

In New Mexico, Selph said his hometown team, the Carlsbad Cavemen, stunk. Now he's part of a 10-4 outfit that isn't too far from the top of the Class 4A, District 8 standings.

The big difference with basketball in the two areas, other than his new team's ability to post a victory, is the speed of the players and scheduling. Selph said in New Mexico, his squad played about once a week, which is a little less frequently than the post-winter break, three-games per week schedule Swartout employs.

That ambitious schedule is a good thing for Selph, who is in just his second year of organized basketball. He blew out his knee as a freshman during preseason tryouts after colliding with another player and he was done for the season.

According to Swartout, every time Selph steps on the court, he gets better.

"Other kids just don't get better," Swartout said. "But Ethan has that hunger and wants to be a better ball player."

Selph's offensive repertoire is still limited and raw. So adding some post moves to go along with his "dip-in hook shot" is a major focus. And balance, too. He needs to stay on his feet.

Back in Carlsbad, Selph played football and ran track, competing in the high jump, triple jump and long jump. On the court, Selph tends to leap for rebounds or block shots (he said his vertical jump is nearing 30 inches) and stumbles once he lands. To work on his balance, he uses a contraption he bought at a sporting goods store that's basically a board placed on top of a half-sphere.

With new post moves and better coordination, Selph could be a mismatch for most opponents he would meet in the area.

"It's funny, because we talk to him all the time and have to remind him that he's 6-7," Swartout said. "If he establishes himself inside, then that opens things up for AB (Rodriguez) and (Tim) Hennigan and we get a whole lot better."

Ultimately, things are going well for Selph in Hernando County. He traded farms for strip malls, and he's liking it just fine.

Vincent Thomas can be reached at vthomas@sptimes.com or 352-848-1430.

[Last modified January 12, 2006, 01:23:25]