Nadine Babu: Tubby Smith Adds a New Chip to His Coaching Arsenal

[GopherHole Staff]

Signing a recruit in late summer can be a risky proposition for a major college basketball program, and the addition of Chip Armelin drew quite a bit of controversy in Gold Country. Is the Louisiana combo guard a diamond in the rough or late addition to fill a scholarship for a year? Well, early speculation and reviews have it as the former, and a potential feather in the cap of Coach Tubby Smith and his staff’s ability to locate an athletic guard who came to Dinkytown under the recruiting radar.

GopherHole’s Nadine Babu caught up with Armelin to learn more about his game and how he is adapting to life in Minnesota.

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1218

 

[Friend Of Tubby]

Signing a recruit in late summer can be a risky proposition for a major college basketball program, and the addition of Chip Armelin drew quite a bit of controversy in Gold Country. Is the Louisiana combo guard a diamond in the rough or late addition to fill a scholarship for a year? Well, early speculation and reviews have it as the former, and a potential feather in the cap of Coach Tubby Smith and his staff’s ability to locate an athletic guard who came to Dinkytown under the recruiting radar.

GopherHole’s Nadine Babu caught up with Armelin to learn more about his game and how he is adapting to life in Minnesota.

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1218

I'd never heard of Gerald (Chip) Armelin until this spring despite his good AAU results in 2007 and 2008 summer play. He skipped 2009 AAU and that dropped him off the national radar.

Sounds like a good fit for both player and school (so far). Reminds me of Gerald Fitch at UK.

 

[ya heard me]

Chip was a late signee for a few reasons. Not playing AAU because of football is not one of them. Chip played on an AAU team that did not go to the Big summer events. (Peach Jam, Boo Williams, Super Showcase at Disney, where most of the head coaches attend.) He was asked to play on the Louisiana Team that attends these showcases, back as a freshman, but decided to play on a team closer to home. His AAU team cut back travel his last year because of financial reasons and did not go to as many tournaments. He was cleared by the football coach to attend the AAU Nationals and report to football when he got back. He was seen by quite a few assistant coaches that would be hesitant to recommend to their head coach a player that wasn't ranked high on the so called "scouting" services. You would not believe the story of how Chip ended up in Minnesota. All I will say now is, because of the type of person that Tubby is and not forgetting where he came from is why Chip is a Gopher.

 

[Friend Of Tubby]

Chip was a late signee for a few reasons. Not playing AAU because of football is not one of them. Chip played on an AAU team that did not go to the Big summer events. (Peach Jam, Boo Williams, Super Showcase at Disney, where most of the head coaches attend.) He was asked to play on the Louisiana Team that attends these showcases, back as a freshman, but decided to play on a team closer to home. His AAU team cut back travel his last year because of financial reasons and did not go to as many tournaments. He was cleared by the football coach to attend the AAU Nationals and report to football when he got back. He was seen by quite a few assistant coaches that would be hesitant to recommend to their head coach a player that wasn't ranked high on the so called "scouting" services. You would not believe the story of how Chip ended up in Minnesota. All I will say now is, because of the type of person that Tubby is and not forgetting where he came from is why Chip is a Gopher.

For those who don't know the story, Tubby was offered and accepted a basketball scholarship to Maryland coming out of HS. Then the Terps changed coaches and the new coach did not honor the scholarship offer. African-Americans in the South back in the 1960's didn't have lots of choices offered to them.

Tubby finally got an offer to play basketball at High Point College in NC. He went there and lived with a teammate's family. That teammate is a friend of mine and co-worker (a few years ago). Tubby remains best of friends with him. "Joe Buck" is an ordinary guy, retired with a blue collar pension. Tubby is a multi-millionaire. But he has never forgotten that he got the opportunity because of his friend (and his family).

I don't know the Armelin story. But I do know that Tubby was looking for a scholarship in August 1969 much like Armelin was in 2010.

 

[Juicer]

I like Chip as a player, but he will not see many minutes this year behind Nolen, Hoffarber, Joseph and Hollins. Based on what I have seen/heard so far, those guys will take up the bulk of the minutes at the 1 and 2 spots.

 

[jmag21]

I liked what I saw out of Chip in the scrimmage. He looked quick, athletic, and with a nose for the hoop. His shot looked somewhat technically challenged, but I think Tubby will be able to use him to press and to get the team running. I think he has a role for this year.

 

[Friend Of Tubby]

I like Chip as a player, but he will not see many minutes this year behind Nolen, Hoffarber, Joseph and Hollins. Based on what I have seen/heard so far, those guys will take up the bulk of the minutes at the 1 and 2 spots.

Austin Hollins will play 3 behind Williams.

There is some PT at 2 behind Hoffarber and Joseph.

 

[samloupete]

Armelin

For those of you who have not seen him play, he reminds me alot of James Jackson who played for the Gophers a long time ago. I like Armelin's game.

 

[underground629]

Thanks for the info. Hopefully you can tell us more but it sounds like that isn't going to happen.

Chip was a late signee for a few reasons. Not playing AAU because of football is not one of them. Chip played on an AAU team that did not go to the Big summer events. (Peach Jam, Boo Williams, Super Showcase at Disney, where most of the head coaches attend.) He was asked to play on the Louisiana Team that attends these showcases, back as a freshman, but decided to play on a team closer to home. His AAU team cut back travel his last year because of financial reasons and did not go to as many tournaments. He was cleared by the football coach to attend the AAU Nationals and report to football when he got back. He was seen by quite a few assistant coaches that would be hesitant to recommend to their head coach a player that wasn't ranked high on the so called "scouting" services. You would not believe the story of how Chip ended up in Minnesota. All I will say now is, because of the type of person that Tubby is and not forgetting where he came from is why Chip is a Gopher.