Kammron Taylor says he can spot an East Coaster anywhere. It's not by Uggs boots or stretch pants, though that might make it a little easier, but by their style of play. That's why it didn't surprise Taylor that Trevon Hughes hailed from Rosedale, New York in Queens.
""It's really obvious that he's from the East Coast, that that's where he learned how to play. You can pick an East Coast player out of the crowd from a Midwest player,"" Taylor said of Hughes, who is one of the bright spots in an even brighter freshman class for the Badgers. ""To me, New York point guards have a certain walk and he just has that certain walk about him.""
Hughes might have grown up in New York, but he has spent his adult life elsewhere. The 6'1' point guard played his high school ball at St. John's Northwest Military Academy in Delafield, Wis. where he became a star.
There Hughes was named the Midwest Classic Conference Player of the Year for four consecutive seasons. In his senior year, he averaged 22 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals, leading the Lancers to their first WIAA state boy's basketball tournament, while starring as the football team's quarterback.
But before the military academy, Hughes insists that he experienced an accelerated maturation process on the streets of NY, and especially on the playgrounds. There Hughes played pickup games with much faster and much older players. That's where he says his game was truly improved.
""You can't underestimate your opponents,"" Hughes said. ""You always got to go in the game and bring your A-game.""
Hughes describes the New York game as more up-tempo and quick, but insists that under head coach Bo Ryan and the rest of the Badger staff, he has learned how to run an offense and for Hughes, ""that's how you get the job done.""
Assistant coach Howard Moore emphasized that Badger coaches have tried to balance Hughes' East coast flare with what learned at St. John's and what he is learning now.
""There's that thin line between where do I make a spectacular behind the back pass and when do I make a chest pass?"" Moore said. ""You don't want to take that away from a player totally, but what you want to do is complement it with what is good fundamental basketball.""
New York point guards: Bob Cousy, Stephon Marbury, Kenny Anderson, Sebastian Telfair, the list goes on. So can a flashy New York point guard fit into a methodical offense like Wisconsin has? According to his teammates and coaches, Hughes is learning and growing rapidly as he adjusts to coach Ryan's swing.
""I'm adapting. It's a good offense, because everybody touches the ball,"" Hughes said. ""We're the only team in America that touches the post so much.""
""He has a real high basketball IQ,"" Michael Flowers said. ""His awareness is higher than most freshman are at right now. I think his ability to adapt in the swing just gels so well.""
When Hughes, or ""Pop"" as his friends and family know him, commemorating the Puerto Rican heritage of his Grandfather, finished high school, many thought there might be an attraction to play college ball back in New York. But for the freshman, there was no going back.
""When I got out of New York, I was done for good. There's too much negativity in New York,"" said Hughes. ""When I go back to visit, my friends are doing the same old thing, and it looked like they weren't doing anything with their life.""
Hughes may have left New York, but he seems to have brought the style with him. His teammates laugh when they hear he's the self-proclaimed best-dressed player on the team, though they do applaud his uniqueness.
""He tries to bring that New York style clothing line to Madison,"" Flowers said. ""He's got some clothes that not too many people here are familiar with. As for being the best dresser, I'd have to argue for Marcus Landry or Alando Tucker.""
Teammates mentioned his Timberland shoes and his New York baseball cap that covers his face, but Hughes insists that if the sun showed itself a little more, they would change their point of view real fast.
""Right now, I'm kind of laid back. I usually wear the sweats because it gets cold,"" Hughes said. ""If it wasn't this cold, I'd probably be the best dressed.""
The cold may stop Hughes from bringing out the best from his closet, but it hasn't stopped his maturation process. Still, Hughes doesn't want it to go by too quickly. He's enjoying himself too much. After growing up in an area with a high crime index and living an ultra-disciplined life at St. Johns, Hughes just wants to take pleasure in his current situation.
""I'm just getting on track and playing ball,"" Hughes said. ""It gets better each and every day.""
