So You Think You Can Play?
Men's team to have walk-on tryout on Oct. 16 for one possible position

By Leo D. Rommel

Anyone who thinks he can play basketball with the best now has a chance to prove it.

The men’s basketball team is having a “walk-on tryout” for all students interested in playing Division I ball on Monday, Oct. 16 at Alumni Gym beginning at 6 p.m. Seeking a diamond in the rough, the team is looking for a player who is motivated, cooperative and, of course, pretty good at basketball.

“We need a player who is excited, has a good attitude and is enthusiastic,” said assistant coach Mike Witcoskie. “We need a guy who will be rooting for his team at the end of games, not fighting for the ball.”

However, there’s a catch: if none of the players impress the staff running the tryout, then no one will be selected for the walk-on position.

“We are not looking to fill any open spots, because we really don’t have any,” said second-year assistant coach Dane Fischer. “We have our scholarship guys. We pretty much know who’s going to play.”

Rider currently has 12 players on its roster.

Fischer was quick to acknowledge that if a walk-on is selected, he will not be expected to be a consistent contributor in games. Instead, the player will be used primarily during
practices and as a backup in the event that the rotation is altered due to injury.

“It’s important that all those who intend on trying out know in advance that they will not be trying out for a starting position,” said Fischer. “There will be many games in which they do not play at all.”

All walk-on candidates must be full-time students who are not only in good academic standing but must also be “in good grace” with the University, indicating that the player should not have a prior history of misconduct on or off-campus. In addition, each player is required to submit a copy of his transcript and show proof of insurance prior to trying out.

“We have these requirements because this is a time-consuming job,” said Fischer. “The player would occasionally miss class, spend massive amounts of time traveling and studying film and practicing. We need to know that the player can handle the responsibility, academically and socially.”

Only coaches will be in attendance at the tryout session. The players currently on the roster, who traditionally practice between 3:30 and 6 p.m., will be leaving or will be already gone by the time the tryout meeting begins.

The tryout session will begin with a combination of various skill drills, such as ball-handling, rebounding, jump shooting and passing – and then switch to scrimmaging.

An information session regarding the position was held on Oct. 2 at Memorial Hall. Eight prospects were in attendance as Fischer detailed the expectations of the interested players. Fischer anticipates that the turnout will be larger on Oct. 16.

“I’m trying out because I love to play basketball,” said sophomore Josh Rodriguez, a transfer from Dominican College who considers point guard to be his ideal position. “It’s the only thing I do in my spare time.”

Rider has recently had a history of walk-on success. Freshman walk-on Kevin Hickman made the team after being personally invited to try out by the coaching staff. Two years later, Hickman is now one of two captains on the team in spite of the fact that he is not, at least statistically, a consistent contributor.

During the 1993-1994 season, freshman Jeff Parker made the team as a walk-on, played in 10 games, and was awarded captain status by his senior season.

Nonetheless, in terms of an actual tryout open to anyone on campus, several faculty and staff said they cannot remember it happening before.

Rider is among a handful of Division I programs that have used walk-on tryouts to boost the team. An Internet search showed that well-known institutions, like Kansas, Arizona State and defending national champion Florida, have all had walk-on tryouts within the last three years. The University of Washington, a top seed in the 2005 NCAA tournament, holds a walk-on tryout annually.

Anyone interested in trying out for the walk-on position is encouraged to contact Fischer at ext. 5079 or in Alumni Gym before Tuesday, Oct. 10.