Cauley-Stein, Swoopes to handle Junior NBA

MANILA, Philippines — Having used to playing in front of rabid hoops fans since his college days at Kentucky, visiting Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein feels at home right here.

“I heard that fan base of hoops out here is ridiculous so I’m excited to see that, especially coming from Kentucky and Kings, like dormitories for their fans. I’m excited to see how crazy fans here are,” Cauley-Stein told Filipino reporters.

The 7-foot slotman is in town to help coach the finalists of the 2018 Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska along with WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes. The National Training Camp, featuring the top 75 boys and girls aged 10-14, will be conducted at Don Bosco Technical Institute on May 19 and at Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 20. 

Cauley-Stein and Swoopes will help identify the top eight boys and top eight girls to be named to the Jr NBA Phl All Stars and serve as coaches at the All Star Game.

He said he likes how the Jr NBA program teaches participants not just the basics of the game but also important values like respect.

“All that is good to me because it’s bigger than hoops; you don’t just use those things for hoops, you use them for everyday life and it’s good to instill those into the minds of 10, 14 year olds,” he said. 

Cauley-Stein enjoyed his best year this season, averaging 12.8 points, seven rebounds and 2.4 assists per outing. In 2017, when DeMarcus Cousins was traded to the Pelicans, Cauley-Stein was given extended minutes off the bench and stepped up big time, dropping 29 points and 19 rebounds in a 116-110 victory over Denver.

“I worked hard for that from behind the scenes so when he left, I was ready,” he recalled. “I was always working. You know what they say, stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. So when they made the trade, next game I was ready.”

The Jr NBA Phl National Training Camp finalists were selected from Regional Selection camps in Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan and Metro Manila and from the Alaska Power Camps in Manila and Subic. The search for the Coaches of the Year will also conclude at the National Training Camp, and the winning coaches will take part in the NBA experience trip alongside the Jr. NBA All Stars.