A couple alumni stories.
The first, and closest, is on Chevy Troutman visiting in Pittsburgh while off from playing European basketball.
“It’s a lot different,” he said. “I still do the pick and roll. A lot of times, I play defense on big guys, but I switch out on guards a lot. Sometimes, I’ll guard the best wing player or shooter because I’m versatile.
“I went overseas to explore my face-up game. It’s a lot more fun. It’s a little more freedom for me. I basically call my shots. I’m one of the leaders. It’s nice.”
In Italian Serie A each team is allowed three American players. Adapting to a different style of basketball was challenging at first, but Troutman has developed into one of the league’s top players.
“The coaches over there, they let you do what you do best,” he said. “If you try something new, they don’t care too much. The Americans are supposed to be the guys that make things happen. We have a lot of pressure on us to make things happen as opposed to being in a team-oriented situation like we had at Pitt. For an American over there, it’s either you [produce] or you go home.”
Troutman is back in Pittsburgh for the next few weeks before heading back to Italy. He plays pickup games with Pitt players at the Petersen Events Center and has not ruled out playing in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Pro-Am, which continues until the third week of July.
He is in a good situation overseas with money and the game. He also doesn’t have to worry about an impending lockout in the NBA. Yet another Pitt player of recent years who seems to want to come back and be around the program.
Meanwhile, further removed in time from his playing days at Pitt, Rod Brookin is trying to get back to high school basketball coaching in his hometown.
Although Brookin’s been out of the coaching biz for a handful of years — he piloted the Burgettstown High School program for two seasons at the beginning of the century and spent one season at the Community College of Allegheny County — he’s always been tuned in back home.
“I never lost touch with what was going on in Steelton,” said Brookin, who scored 1,047 career points during a four-year run at Pitt (1986-90) that included three NCAA tournament appearances. “I knew when they were winning, I knew when they were losing, I knew when things weren’t going well.
“There’s some things you don’t forget. You may forget how to play, but you never forget how to coach the game to kids,” Brookin added. “I learned that from [former Steel-High coach] Jack Hoerner all the way up to [Pitt coach] Paul Evans. When I was at Pitt, my assistant coach was John Calipari.
“They told me you’re going to forget how to play, because you’re going to get old. So, before your mind goes, get into coaching. Looking at that, when I walk into the gym [at Steel-High], I see that scoring list up there and my name is up top. The reason why my name is there is I had great teachers.”
Good luck to Rod. He seems quite sincere about this, and wanting to help the kids beyond simply being a coach.
