SUMMER UPDATE: AMIR COFFEY
June 14, 2018
GopherSports.com will catch up with each of the Minnesota men’s basketball team’s returning players as they prepare for summer and the upcoming season. Below, read what junior guard Amir Coffey had to say about his preparation for the year and his road to recovery from a season-ending shoulder injury.
GS: What have you been working on since the season ended?
AC: For me, it was just really getting back. Obviously, dealing with the injury, it was a lot of range of motion stuff. As time went on, I started getting my strength back. I started doing more stretching and just started weight training. And, obviously, when I could start shooting, I had a lot of work to do because I haven't shot in so long. Just about getting the basics back with my shooting and dribbling.
GS: How is the recovery process going?
AC: It's going well. I actually just had another doctor’s meeting this past week and they said I’m a little ahead of schedule. It’s obviously a long process, but so far it’s been good and everything is on track.
GS: What kind of advice have you gotten from Coach Pitino heading into the summer?
AC: Just keep pushing. Any injury will be a long road untll you’re back. So just stay positive and do what you need to do to get back as soon as possible.
GS: Speaking of staying positive, how have you been able to do that?
AC: I’ve been through this before. I broke my right leg in high school, tore my left ACL, so this isn’t my first time doing this. Really just going through the process was something I had to do again, and I understood I had to do that just to get back on the court, which is the main thing that I want to do. The first time was pretty tough, and the second time sucked, but the third time was like, “Here we go again.” Just keep it pushing, and get better to get back on the court.
GS: What are your impressions of new assistant coaches Kyle Lindsted and Rob Jeter?
AC: They’re cool. Coach Jeter is a funny guy, and they’re both good coaches. Our first practice was yesterday. I could tell that they both knew what they were talking about, because that was my first time being in a basketball environment with them. And it felt like they had some good drills.
GS: You’ve had a chance to see the freshmen now in practice. Any early thoughts?
AC: They definitely looked better than I did during my first practice as a freshman (laughs). I think they add a lot to our team as pieces. Jarvis is incredibly talented. He’s super athletic, he was doing some dunks in practice I haven’t seen even on YouTube. Gabe is an awesome shooter. And Daniel, he’s coming back from injury, but I’ve seen him play a little in high school and I know he can help us out. But, it looked pretty good, and they’re smart. Like I said, when I was a freshman at my first practice it was a little rough and they definitely looked better than me when I was a freshman.
GS: Those three guys are also Minnesota kids. You went to Hopkins, any trash talk about who was the best team in high school?
AC: We actually went through about 30 minutes of that yesterday, everybody arguing whose team was the best. They all know it was my team (laughs).
GS: What kind of impact has Athletes Village had on you?
AC: It’s had a big impact. It’s cool to be able to walk in here every day, into a nice facility like this. The locker room is amazing, the lounge area is amazing, the kitchen, the training room, even the court. It’s an amazing experience to be able to walk in here.
GS: What does the summer give you a chance to work on that you can’t during the school year?
AC: “It’s a lot of individual work, just crafting your game. During the year, we try to get some individual work in. But in reality, it’s all about the team and how we work together. The summertime allows you to take a step back and focus on what you need to get better at individually.
GS: What’s your favorite summer activity outside of basketball?
AC: I’d probably say going to the movies. I’m a big movie guy, I watch a lot of movies, a lot of genres, and I love actually sitting in the theater, especially if it’s a highly anticipated one. Especially going with family and friends.
GS: What’s the best new movie you’ve seen lately?
AC: That’s a tough one. I really liked the last Avengers movie (Avengers: Infinity War). It’s been disappointing because there hasn’t been much coming out lately, but the Avengers movie was good, but I think there’s some good ones coming in this summer.
GS: What are you most excited about heading into the season?
AC: For me it’s just starting to have fun again. Last year we started good and we went through all those injuries and other things, and it just sucked the life out of us a little, But, I think this year we’ll be good, and start having fun again, and start doing things like that.
June 14, 2018
GopherSports.com will catch up with each of the Minnesota men’s basketball team’s returning players as they prepare for summer and the upcoming season. Below, read what junior guard Amir Coffey had to say about his preparation for the year and his road to recovery from a season-ending shoulder injury.
GS: What have you been working on since the season ended?
AC: For me, it was just really getting back. Obviously, dealing with the injury, it was a lot of range of motion stuff. As time went on, I started getting my strength back. I started doing more stretching and just started weight training. And, obviously, when I could start shooting, I had a lot of work to do because I haven't shot in so long. Just about getting the basics back with my shooting and dribbling.
GS: How is the recovery process going?
AC: It's going well. I actually just had another doctor’s meeting this past week and they said I’m a little ahead of schedule. It’s obviously a long process, but so far it’s been good and everything is on track.
GS: What kind of advice have you gotten from Coach Pitino heading into the summer?
AC: Just keep pushing. Any injury will be a long road untll you’re back. So just stay positive and do what you need to do to get back as soon as possible.
GS: Speaking of staying positive, how have you been able to do that?
AC: I’ve been through this before. I broke my right leg in high school, tore my left ACL, so this isn’t my first time doing this. Really just going through the process was something I had to do again, and I understood I had to do that just to get back on the court, which is the main thing that I want to do. The first time was pretty tough, and the second time sucked, but the third time was like, “Here we go again.” Just keep it pushing, and get better to get back on the court.
GS: What are your impressions of new assistant coaches Kyle Lindsted and Rob Jeter?
AC: They’re cool. Coach Jeter is a funny guy, and they’re both good coaches. Our first practice was yesterday. I could tell that they both knew what they were talking about, because that was my first time being in a basketball environment with them. And it felt like they had some good drills.
GS: You’ve had a chance to see the freshmen now in practice. Any early thoughts?
AC: They definitely looked better than I did during my first practice as a freshman (laughs). I think they add a lot to our team as pieces. Jarvis is incredibly talented. He’s super athletic, he was doing some dunks in practice I haven’t seen even on YouTube. Gabe is an awesome shooter. And Daniel, he’s coming back from injury, but I’ve seen him play a little in high school and I know he can help us out. But, it looked pretty good, and they’re smart. Like I said, when I was a freshman at my first practice it was a little rough and they definitely looked better than me when I was a freshman.
GS: Those three guys are also Minnesota kids. You went to Hopkins, any trash talk about who was the best team in high school?
AC: We actually went through about 30 minutes of that yesterday, everybody arguing whose team was the best. They all know it was my team (laughs).
GS: What kind of impact has Athletes Village had on you?
AC: It’s had a big impact. It’s cool to be able to walk in here every day, into a nice facility like this. The locker room is amazing, the lounge area is amazing, the kitchen, the training room, even the court. It’s an amazing experience to be able to walk in here.
GS: What does the summer give you a chance to work on that you can’t during the school year?
AC: “It’s a lot of individual work, just crafting your game. During the year, we try to get some individual work in. But in reality, it’s all about the team and how we work together. The summertime allows you to take a step back and focus on what you need to get better at individually.
GS: What’s your favorite summer activity outside of basketball?
AC: I’d probably say going to the movies. I’m a big movie guy, I watch a lot of movies, a lot of genres, and I love actually sitting in the theater, especially if it’s a highly anticipated one. Especially going with family and friends.
GS: What’s the best new movie you’ve seen lately?
AC: That’s a tough one. I really liked the last Avengers movie (Avengers: Infinity War). It’s been disappointing because there hasn’t been much coming out lately, but the Avengers movie was good, but I think there’s some good ones coming in this summer.
GS: What are you most excited about heading into the season?
AC: For me it’s just starting to have fun again. Last year we started good and we went through all those injuries and other things, and it just sucked the life out of us a little, But, I think this year we’ll be good, and start having fun again, and start doing things like that.
