Inside the Hill Workouts
Ron Bailey, Publisher
(Continued)
Experience gained and the ability to impart it are central reasons for
Hill’s popularity. Just ask Tywon Lawson, Eric Maynor, Ricky Rubio,
Kenny Hasbrouck, Wayne Ellington and Gerald Henderson, who were all trained
by Hill before the 2009 NBA Draft. For the record that’s four first
round picks, and Hasbrouck, who has been invited to the Miami Heat franchise’s
training camp, and reportedly if he sticks will have a guaranteed two
year deal.
Chris Howard, Univ. of South Florida guard shoots during drills, with Hill in the background.
In addition to a slew of workouts domestically, Hill has traveled abroad
training professional, relaying those destinations as: “China (Zhejiang
Guangsha), Greece (Panionios), Israel (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Puerto Rico
(Capitanes de Arecibo), and Spain (Joventut)”.
During his career Hill also worked with the 18 or 21 and under teams of
Israel, Italy, Puerto Rico and Turkey. The Chinese National Team contracted
him as well.
Hill’s teaching style, one marked by hands on instructions and openness is also appealing to clients: That give and take, or willingness to remain open to things, is one of the things that separates Hill’s sessions from other trainers. For instance, he noted “I have even learned from the kids. They have taught me patience, and at times recognize stuff I don’t sometimes. You have to continue learning”.
A reasonable price point is yet another advantage for Hill. “I’m not trying to crack anybody over the head” laughed Haniff, who holds his workouts at Boys and Girls Club on 14th and Clifton Streets, NW, Washington, DC. “Most of the college guys are free, or negotiable (in terms of price). The pros’ cost is negotiable”. The parents of high school players and those younger are generally charged $100 a week, for six sessions slightly less than two hours long. Not surprisingly, there is a waiting list.
Proving the value of and interest in Hill’s sessions, during the last several weeks, he has trained pros like Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton - both of the Washington Wizards - Isaiah Swann (Israel) and Tywon Lawson (a long time pupil and current Denver Nugget).
Tre Kelly (right), now headed to the Oklahoma City Thunder, holds Haniff Hill in high esteem. This photo is of the one-on-one portion of a workout.
On a single day, this writer observed the likes of professionals Bryant Matthews (VA Tech/Cyprus), Tre Kelly (South Carolina/training camp of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder), and Paul Johnson (Niagara/Ireland), joining college standouts Arinze Onukau (Syracuse), Chris Howard (South Florida), and Eugene Harris (High Point), plus Harvard freshman Christian Webster. Guards were segmented with guards, and big guys worked out with their group; the bigs following the perimeter guys' session.
Kelly, who was on his way to Poland before being signed by Oklahoma City is sold on what Hill provides: “For sure he helps. Honestly, I haven’t worked with anyone better. Every aspect of offense is covered. He works on every situation, move and countermove”.
Another session saw Onukau train with Matthews and high school junior, seven foot two, 299 pound junior center, Tolulope Jordan Omogbehin. To witness Hill work with an international professional, Big East center and young, talented center was a treat, as was observing the older guys instruct and challenge Omogbehin.
Arinze Onuaku (left), Jordan Omogbehin and Bryant Matthews during ladder drills.
That last point, players helping players, is another trait of Hill’s
workouts; session-mates seem to adopt Haniff’s approach, assisting,
instructing and competing with one another. Peers helping peers is beneficial,
with Kelly noting “Everybody is trying to get better”.
Going forward, Hill is interested in teaching older guys, those weekend
warriors who still want to get better at roundball. Anyone, young or old
interested in having Haniff teach them, email hehase78@gmail.com
To even broach the aging player market illustrates Hill’s true motivation. “I just love teaching” shared Haniff on what drives him. “Give me a project where you bring someone to me and I improve them…Not just skills but overall knowledge of the game and off the floor”. With young kids, he likes to encorporate life lessons, as he “always asks kids what’s their goals beyond basketball”, stressing life is much more than hoops.
When it comes to teaching the skills requisite for roundball success, not many exceed Haniff Hill. He’s a resource that should be, and is, valued.