It’s a privilege for us at dailybasket.it, the possibility to present to our reader this interview we made with coach Marcus O’Neil, Tilton School, some time ago. We are really grateful for his availability with us.
First, welcome at dailybasket coach O’Neil and thanks again for the time you dedicate us.
Coach O’Neil, Tilton School
Can you comment yours season until now? (Something you like and something not) It has been a great season so far. We are smaller than most of the teams we play and younger with four sophomores in our eight man rotation. Despite our deficiencies and injuries, we have competed hard every game and managed to win some tough ones. We believe that by the end of the season, we will be good enough to compete in the NEPSAC AA tournament.
Wayne Selden is your best player. When we watched him playing, we have loved his versatility. May i ask you to describe him for our readers ? (Anything that can help us to understand him boy/player) Wayne has a great combination of speed, strength and explosiveness. He sees the floor well and has contributed as a passer, rebounder and scorer this year. He really has done it all.
Can you comment your experience in coaching Tilton School Varsity Boy Basketball ? Or is there an episode you remember more? Coaching at Tilton is a special opportunity because the school is really made of energetic young students and a committed faculty. Overall, it is a very happy place and I am proud of how much we push our students to strive for excellence. Our basketball program is part of the larger environment that strives for excellence.
Which of yours (Varsity Boys Basketball) sport events is more important and why? Tilton basketball has some great rivalries from our Lakes Region opponents- New Hampton, Brewster, Holderness, KUA and Vermont to our New England rivalries with Marianapolis, St. Andrew’s, Worcester and St. Mark’s.
How was your experience at Endicott College and differences between coaching high schoolers and college players? Coaching high school players at a boarding school is different than coaching even at a small college because you are much more involved in the lives of the players. In college, there is more scouting and preparation and knowledge of opponents. In prep school, you are preparing young people for the independence and the big decisions that you must make as a young person.
Which is the most important thing you teach when you coach high schools players?The most important thing I try to teach our players is to take advantage of every opportunity, enjoy every moment and to care about each other.
Give us an advice please, in your opinion, which is the most important aspect to consider in evaluating talent in high school?When I evaluate players I look for guys who love playing, embrace hard work and understand that basketball is a team sport.
