The defending G League champions, the Greensboro Swarm, held their annual open tryouts for their G League team Saturday at the Leonard J. Kaplan Center in Greensboro.
There were more than 100 players in attendance with varying basketball experience and the talent poured in from all over the country. Some players who originally reign all the way from New York, while others came from right here in our backyard, like Joe’l Pettiford, who played at UNC Pembroke last season.
The tryout gave players a chance to showcase their talents. Tryouts began with shootaround time for players to get loose before the drills and games began.
After shootaround, tryouts were opened by the new Greensboro Swarm leadership, General Manager Mike Pires and Head Coach Zach Peterson.
Pires assured all participants that all staff in attendance were there to help and support the players.
“Staff, myself, Coach, black shirts [Greensboro Swarm assistant coaches], we are all here for you," Pires said to participants before the open tryout began
After Swarm leadership introduced themselves and gave the players a lay of the land for the day, Swarm coaches led player drills, including new Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development William Twigg.
Coach Twigg is a newcomer to the Greensboro Swarm staff. He is apart of the NBA Coaches Development Program, a program that works to build the next generation of coaches.
I spoke with Twigg following tryouts and learned about his wide array of coaching experience, including the fact he has been coaching since the age of 11.
Outside of coaching since the age of 11, he was most recently coaching at the NBA G League Elite Camp. It is clear his experience will be a nice addition to the Swarm coaching staff.
After player drills (3 man weave, dribble penetration kick drills, etc.) it was time for 5 on 5, the highlight of the day for many. The players were broken up into eight separate teams. There were 4 courts in total for the teams to get their runs in.
This was a great opportunity for players like Isiah Golden and Joe’l Pettiford to showcase their talent for the GM and coaches that were in attendance.
I was able to catch up with both Pettiford and Golden after tryouts and get their POV on the day, what they were hoping to get out of the tryout, and how they enjoy the experience.
Golden quickly showed his skills as a tenacious defender and a floor general on offense.
I asked Golden about his defensive presence following open tryouts.
“For me defense is a big thing. Everyone wants to score the ball, but if you play defense, thats how a lot of teams can get out and run and get open shots,” Golden said following Open Tryouts.
Basically once the defense starts kicking in easy buckets follow.
Next, Joe’l Pettiford was a force to be reckoned with on the boards and showing eye popping athleticism, even catching a few lob dunks, and playing primarily above the rim.
Pettiford, who just wrapped up his last season at UNC Pembroke, was a force to be reckoned with on the boards. He showed eye popping athleticism, catching a few lob dunks and playing primarily above the rim.
I also asked Joe’l what he was hoping to show off to the coaches today and one thing he called out was how much impact he brings to the game. He is hoping to continue his basketball career with the Swarm following his last season at Pembroke.
Another cool part about the tryout was family members were able to attend for a fee of $5.
Family members of participants, like Seth Pettiford, were able to support their family members from the sidelines.
All in all, this was a tremendous event and a great way for the community to really come out, get involved, and meet other people in the who enjoy basketball.
Continue to follow West Franklin Media. Will will be covering the Greensboro swarm all this season.