Jobe

I spoke with Tijan Jobe by phone this afternoon, as well as Mike Burris, his coach at Olney Central C.C. I am posting much of the content from the Burris interview below. Here is the actual article.

As far as Jobe, he isn't exactly the easiest to understand over the phone, so listening to my tape recorder after the interview, it was hard to decipher everything that was said. As far as Emmanuel Negedu, many have said he and Jobe are "buddies" or even "good buddies," but that wasn't the impression I got.

When I asked if he had any type of relationship with Negedu he said, "No, not really." They know each other because of Mark Adams, the Bloomington AAU coach who brought both of them to the United States through his A-HOPE foundation. It sounded like they only recently met, but I do have him down as saying "...and that's how we start(ed) talking." Maybe they do talk, but it didn't sound like it. I apologize for not being able to post better/full quotes.

As for what Burrus had to say:

Jobe's ability to succeed under Crean:

• I don't think there's any question. Coach Crean's track record speaks volumes of what he's been able to accomplish and what he's been able to do with players. He was able to get a lot of kids who might not have been Top 100-type players and developed them into a very solid player in his system and I think Tijan's the same thing.

Why Jobe is better suited for D-1 level basketball:

• ...Junior college basketball is pretty good but it's a different kind of game. I played Division I and Division I (JuCo is "very fast paced," he said). A lot of times you don't see true post players, you see 6-5, 6-6, 6-7 guys that are skilled that are out on the perimeter shooting threes, driving the basketball, you know, try to take advantage of guys in one-on-one situations. It's a different game.
• Officiating is a different thing too (inconsistencies, he's in foul trouble a lot). He goes to the rim and he blocks a shot and bumps into him and he goes flying through a wall, at the next level you're not going to have that. He's going to be able to play a little bit more.
• He's going to be a guy who gets those guards open and he's going to be able to rebound and they're going to be able to develop some things with him. He can score a little bit on the jump hook. He averaged four points, but we only got him two shots a game. It wasn't like he was horrible by any means. He's got some things he's got to work on obviously.

Jobe's work ethic:

• The kid's a great work ethic guy; he's going to work hard everyday. If you work hard and spend time...the only thing you're going to do is get better. People who saw him two or three years ago, they can't believe how much better he's gotten in that time...his growth even from March has been tremendous.

Jobe and Olney Central's excitement:

• I think once Indiana became involved, Tijan was really excited. He's been to Bloomington a lot, he's very familiar with the Indiana program. I think it was something he wanted to do, it was just a matter of waiting for coach (Crean) to evaluate everything and see (in) what direction he wanted to head. Once he offered, I think it was a no brainer...
• He's on cloud nine. I talked to him this morning, he just got back from a four-mile run, so I know that he's going to do everything in his power to be ready to step in there and help Indiana. He's familiar with the history of the Indiana program. He hasn't been here in the (United) States very long but everybody in the world knows Indiana basketball. It's one of the five elite programs in the nation and he's very excited, and the staff we're extremely excited for him and what coach Crean is going to do with him there and what Coach Crean is going to do with the Indiana program. I grew up 25 miles from Bloomington, so I'm a Hoosier through and through and we're excited to be able to get a player over there and we're really getting excited to watch him develop...

Jobe's potential impact and leadership:

• I think Tijan is going to be a very good defensive presence. I think he'll rebound, he's going to get better, and he's going to be able to be more physical. He's going to be able to play a little bit more physical in the Big Ten. I think he's going to be able to give a presence on the block and be able to score a bit when he needs to, but be a guy that can stop those big guys in the Big Ten and rebound and help Indiana to get back to where they were.
• I know the weight coach is excited work with Tijan on a few things and I know coach is expecting him to step in and provide leadership. Being a junior he's a little bit older. I know him and the Dumes kid will be able to provide some leadership for Indiana. Tijan, he's a great character kid, he's going to work hard, he's going to make people work hard, he's going to play hard every possession, every minute, practice games and what not. I think he'll be able to step in and help.

What Jobe needs to improve:

• From an offensive standpoint, he needs to work on being able to have a little post move and he does have a little jump hook with over his left shoulder but he's going to have to develop some things. You know, go to his right shoulder, continue to work on some post moves, you know, be able to step out and knock down a 10 to 12 foot jumper. I know he does a lot of pick and pops. He's big, he might be able to set a screen and roll out and catch it and knock down that jumper. That stuff we're going to work with. He's got a couple summer classes left here to finish up and we're going to be able to work with him and do everything Coach (Crean) wants him to be able to do for next fall.

Jobe in the classroom:

• He's doing fine; you know with the typical foreign kids when they come into the states, there's a semester where they play some catch up with some classes and that's just his case. He transferred over from Butler County (C.C.) and had some classes that weren't college level and now we've had to give him college level classes and he just needs a couple classes to be able to get his degree but he's been a 3.5 student for us. He goes to class every day, does what he needs to do. He's a very solid student.

Burris' expectations:

• I think he can be a guy that--I don't want to put a number--he can be a guy that can maybe get double digits by senior year. He scored four points and four rebounds in thirteen minutes and those aren't great numbers, but if he's playing 23, 24 minutes a game... he's probably 8 and 6, 8 and 7. I think he's capable of doing some things. I wouldn't be surprised to see him average eight points, five rebounds at some point as he continues to grow and develop.

Easing some concerns:

• Presence-wise, I think he does some things that might not show up in the box score. He's going to dive on the floor, he's going to take a charge and he's going to battle down on the blocks against other bigs.
• We count rebounds by actually bringing them in and he had probably three or four more that he would tip away, get his hands on and knock it over to a teammate. He's active, you know he's not a stiff. I know people are concerned about that but he's a kid that can really run the floor and he's active and, like I said, a lot of times we're moving and seeing four out, one in motion type stuff, so he goes to check out his man (and) you've got three guys flying in on the weak side where the guys are getting the rebounds. His man wasn't getting 8 or 9 rebounds a night, he always blocked him out. He might not always come up with the rebound but he is active on the glass.