Pitino Loves and Raves About Blount

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Blount is so good in fact, that he got his head handed to
him by a backup center....


http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/celts10092000.htm

Blount a 7-foot surprise
by Mark Cofman
Monday, October 9, 2000

Ask Rick Pitino who the biggest surprise of training camp is and the
Celtics coach doesn't hesitate.

``Without a doubt, Mark Blount,'' Pitino said between double-session
workouts at Sports Authority Center in Waltham yesterday. ``In the short
amount of time we've been together here at training camp, this young man
has really made a strong impression on us. We feel like we have a real
find here.''

This is not to say Pitino and his staff didn't see potential when they
signed the 7-footer to their roster after his strong showing in the
Shaw's Pro Summer League in July. The surprise is the accelerated
development of Blount, who played in the IBL last year and the CBA the
previous season.

Normally, minor league hopefuls have a long period of adjustment before
they can contribute. Adrian Griffin bucked the odds by making an
immediate impact with the Celtics last season. And while Pitino hopes
Blount can do the same this season, the power forward/center has no
doubt he'll do just that.

``I don't think you can go into a situation like this just hoping to be
a survivor on the roster,'' said Blount, 25, who averaged 10.3 points
for the Celtics in eight summer league games. ``You take it in stages. I
wanted to show the Celtics I belonged here during the summer league, but
coming into regular camp I knew I had to do even more to prove myself.

``What I've learned about this business is you have to have a plan. My
plan was to come in here as prepared as I could be, mentally and
physically, being in the best shape I could be in, and coming in fully
aware of the challenge ahead of me. Preparation was the key.''

Preparation wasn't something Blount had mastered when he first took aim
at a pro career as a college star at Pitt. After two years, he declared
himself eligible for the draft in 1997 and was a second-round pick of
the Seattle SuperSonics. He was released during his rookie year and
eventually landed with Sioux Falls of the CBA. Another year of minor
league ball with Baltimore of the IBL gave Blount a chance to
re-evaluate his career - and his part in making it a successful one.

``For me, maturing as a person was even more important than maturing as
an athlete during my first few years playing professionally,'' Blount
said. ``I tried to figure out what it would take to make it at this
level, and I realized it was all about the commitment I was making. How
much I wanted it.

``I came to camp ready to play, ready to learn, ready to find my place
in coach Pitino's system. I have a long way to go, of course, but I'm
going to keep pushing myself all the way.''

Said Pitino: ``He's been excellent. He was taken to the woodshed by
Vitaly (Potapenko) in a scrimmage (Saturday), which was good for him.
But he's somebody I really like. I love his potential as a big man.

``Vitaly beats the (expletive deleted) out of him every day, and that's
helping Mark get tougher and learn. He doesn't back down, he just keeps
getting up, fighting and getting his butt kicked again.

``He's going to make a big contribution here this season, which is
something I really didn't expect until these first few days of camp.
He's learning, and he's getting better every day.''