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A chance with Haskins Khalid El-Amin hopes to blend with coach, teammates
Posted: Saturday July 18, 1998 05:15 PM
NEW YORK (CNN/SI) -- Five days after Connecticut was eliminated from this season's NCAA Tournament, Minnesota captured the championship of the National Invitation Tournament. Khalid El-Amin was part of one team's success and perhaps the other's missing piece. "It was just the best decision for me to attend Connecticut," said El-Amin, a Minnesota high school legend who went on to become the Big East Freshman of the Year after starring at point guard for the Huskies. "We all understand that this is a business and I approached it as a business and decided U Conn was the best place for me." When El-Amin made his decision to matriculate east, it was the hometown University of Minnesota and Golden Gophers coach Clem Haskins who he was letting down. El-Amin's heroics at North High School in Minneapolis were legendary. A McDonald's All-America honor, a Class 4A state championship and 2,000-point scorer are among his accomplishments. He was the number one point-guard recruit during the spring of 1997 and appeared set to help continue a recent turnaround at Minnesota. But whether is was Haskins' strict rules or the fading success of Big Ten basketball, El-Amin chose Connecticut and the resurgent Big East. "I didn't feel I would be stifled, I just felt like Connecticut had the best chance to win a national championship," he said. "It wasn't that I felt he [Haskins] would hold me back, I just felt Connecticut had the best chance to win." Last weekend, El-Amin returned to the state of Minnesota, and into the hands of Haskins, as he battled for a spot on the Goodwill Games basketball team that will open competition on Sunday against defending Goodwill gold-medalist Puerto Rico at Madison Square Garden in New York. "We have a great relationship," said El-Amin of the coach that led Minnesota to its first-ever Final Four in 1997 and followed it up with the NIT title. "I've known Clem since I was in the eighth grade and have attended many of his camps. I think as long as I do what I'm supposed to do, everything will be okay." And according to El-Amin, playing for Haskins should prevent no problems. "It is ironic, but I have nothing but respect for Clem Haskins and the University of Minnesota program," he said. "It is going to be an honor to play for him and I'll work very hard to do everything he expects of me." The youngest player on the Goodwill roster, El Amin will be expected to do the same thing he did in bringing the Huskies to the brink of the Final Four -- lead. Connecticut, which currently has the most NCAA Tournament appearances without a trip to the 'Promised Land,' saw its dream die in a loss to North Carolina in the East Region final. El-Amin burst on the scene last season, averaging 16 points per game, second on the team, and 4.2 assists while sharing time at the point with Ricky Moore. But it was his floor presence that was the major factor in the Huskies' fourth Big East regular-season title in five years. On a team packed with stars, as the Goodwill roster is, blending all that talent will fall on the shoulders of the point guard. When asked about blending the talent, El-Amin's Goodwill Games teammate, Duke center Elton Brand, did not see a problem arising. "It may seem like that [a problem], but great players, especially in the trials, are just trying to fit in," he said. "So we should be able to adapt to each other." The U.S. has won a medal in each of the three previous Goodwill Games (gold in 1986, silver in 1990 and bronze in 1994), but has struggled in past international competitions. Haskins has brought together some of the top college stars from last season, a well-balanced team that should be considered one of the tournament favorites. The U.S. team joins Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Lithuania, Puerto Rico and Russia in this year's competition. The teams are split into two groups of four and will play three round-robin games before the semifinals Thursday and the medal round games Friday. "The USA team is very strong and we play very well, but those international teams can also play very well," Brand added. 'They are rising and getting better every time I see them. They don't have as much foot speed as the American players but their shooting definitely makes up for it." One of the most interesting battles on the U.S. roster will be the one between El-Amin and Andre Miller for time at point guard. Miller was perhaps the best player in the NCAA Tournament, leading Utah to the title game before falling to Kentucky. A member of the 1997 U.S. Men's 22 and Under World Championship team, Miller is one of five members of the squad with prior international experience. But Miller has shown the capacity to score from the point, something that won't be as necessary on a team loaded with scorers up front. Along with Brand on the frontline, Minnesota's Quincy Lewis, Georgia's Jumaine Jones and Brian Cardinal of Purdue should provide an effective scoring punch. Haskins and his assistant coaches, Milton Barnes of Eastern Michigan and Phil Martelli of St. Joseph's, might decide El-Amin is the player likely to better distribute the ball. If that's the case, expect a number of fans from Storrs, Connecticut to travel south to watch a player who is quickly becoming one of the best at his position.
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