University of Minnesota Athletics
Growing up Fast; Gopher Senior Guard Kerwin Fleming
2/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Prior to this season, Fleming had to work his way through nagging knee and hamstring injuries. With the departure of Terrance Simmons, the team had an opening in the starting lineup at the point guard position. Fleming and teammate Kevin Burleson, both natural two-guards, were to compete for the position. Unfortunately, Fleming's hamstring problem limited his mobility and did not allow to be at the top of his game.
"I know he was frustrated," teammate Travarus Bennett said. "He worked extremely hard. He couldn't compete like he wanted to."
After starting the first two contests this season, Fleming was switched back to a reserve role, when Bennett was healthy enough to start.
In Big Ten basketball, nothing is handed to you. You have to compete day in and day out and by competing in practice every day, Fleming found himself back in the starting lineup and his team near the top of the Big Ten standings. He has started the last four games, three of which were Minnesota victories.
"I've been a starter all my life before I came here," Fleming said. "Being able to start these past few games has been a real confidence booster. My mentality really doesn't change whether I'm a starter or if I come of the bench. I just try to play hard."
"He's been competing every day in practice. We haven't had a set starting lineup. Coach Monson gave him a chance and he has lived up to it," praises Bennett.
Since he transferred from Kennedy-King Junior College in 2000, Fleming has noticed that his game has become more disciplined. "I'm a more disciplined player," Fleming commented. "I still have the street game that I had before I came here, but I play with a lot more discipline."
The coaches have not overlooked Fleming's smart play.
"He has so much more of an idea of what we're trying to do five-on-five. He's always had the one-on-one skills, but he understands the big picture," associate head coach Mike Petersen complimented.
Playing the point-guard position requires remarkable discipline and strong leadership. One of the biggest changes that Fleming has had to make to his game is his shot selection and getting his teammates more involved. Last season the Golden Gophers were smaller than most teams. The team's success was determined by its jump-shooting and its scrappy play. At the Big Ten Tournament in Fleming's hometown of Chicago, he lit up the Purdue Boilermakers for 31 points in 35 minutes. With this year's additions of freshman Rick Rickert and junior college transfer Jerry Holman, the Golden Gopher offense has been successful by getting the ball inside to the post and forcing teams to double team, creating open shots on the perimeter. Fleming has had to become more focused on getting the whole team involved offensively. Many times he's had to resist the urge to take shots he took in the past in favor of higher percentage shots for his teammates.
"My main position is point guard. But I'm also a pretty good scorer. The first thing I have to do is get my teammates involved offensively."
In the Golden Gophers' victory over the then first-place Ohio State Buckeyes, Fleming showed over 14,000 people how much he has grown. In the final two minutes with the Maroon and Gold holding a double-digit lead, Fleming was wide open for a three-point shot attempt that could have put an exclamation point on the victory. Instead he chose to hold the ball and work on the clock.
"We had the lead and we didn't need the shot. It was more important to work the clock at that point in the game," Fleming said.
Another example of Fleming's improved decision making is his understanding of tempo. By slowing down at times, he has been able to reduce turnovers and also conserve energy for the end of games.
"He's more patient," Bennett said. "We're both from (junior colleges), so we're used to a fast pace. Coaches here showed him how to slow down and make better plays."
Fleming believes the team has unlimited potential. "I think there is no limit. I think we can go very far as long as we continue to listen to the coaches. We're getting better and better with each game," Fleming said.
"The team has become closer. We're starting to know each other better. We're starting to gel and it's happening at just the right time."
One very noticeable difference Fleming has from his teammates is he is the only player who is married and also is the father of a beautiful baby girl, Casey. While his teammates also have to balance schoolwork, practice, and their social life, Fleming must manage all that and be there to take care of his wife, Alice, and his daughter. Time management is one of the most difficult skills that a student-athlete must learn when he or she enters college. Fleming doesn't let the pressure and the stress get to him. He admits that it was difficult to manage all of his responsibilities, but now he has learned from them and he notes that his life has become much easier.
"It was hard at first. I had little time to do one main thing. But now I'm used to it and everything is easy."
When his days are over playing basketball for the Golden Gophers, Fleming hopes to play professionally somewhere, whether it is here in the United States or overseas. After his playing career comes to a close, he hopes to use his degree in speech communications and continue to work hard, putting it to good use.
Since his arrival at Minnesota, Kerwin Fleming has grown not only as a basketball player but also as a man. He has battled through injuries, switched positions for the benefit of the team, improved his leadership skills, been married, and become a proud father. For a man only 21 years of age, he has accomplished so much already and has unlimited potential for success in the future.
Don't kids seem to grow up so fast these days?
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Andrew Wamugi
Many people would agree that college is the time in your life where you discover your true self. A time that you must make many difficult decisions, such as where to live, what your major will be, how you will prepare yourself for life after college. Most students try and find a comfortable balance to accomplish their many different goals. Minnesota senior point guard Kerwin Fleming is no exception. The Chicago native has been a major contributor in the remarkable turnaround made by the Golden Gophers men's basketball squad this season. However, in addition to his responsibilities on the court, his off-court responsibilities have allowed Fleming to grow up much quicker than your average 21-year old college student.
Prior to this season, Fleming had to work his way through nagging knee and hamstring injuries. With the departure of Terrance Simmons, the team had an opening in the starting lineup at the point guard position. Fleming and teammate Kevin Burleson, both natural two-guards, were to compete for the position. Unfortunately, Fleming's hamstring problem limited his mobility and did not allow to be at the top of his game.
"I know he was frustrated," teammate Travarus Bennett said. "He worked extremely hard. He couldn't compete like he wanted to."
After starting the first two contests this season, Fleming was switched back to a reserve role, when Bennett was healthy enough to start.
In Big Ten basketball, nothing is handed to you. You have to compete day in and day out and by competing in practice every day, Fleming found himself back in the starting lineup and his team near the top of the Big Ten standings. He has started the last four games, three of which were Minnesota victories.
"I've been a starter all my life before I came here," Fleming said. "Being able to start these past few games has been a real confidence booster. My mentality really doesn't change whether I'm a starter or if I come of the bench. I just try to play hard."
"He's been competing every day in practice. We haven't had a set starting lineup. Coach Monson gave him a chance and he has lived up to it," praises Bennett.
Since he transferred from Kennedy-King Junior College in 2000, Fleming has noticed that his game has become more disciplined. "I'm a more disciplined player," Fleming commented. "I still have the street game that I had before I came here, but I play with a lot more discipline."
The coaches have not overlooked Fleming's smart play.
"He has so much more of an idea of what we're trying to do five-on-five. He's always had the one-on-one skills, but he understands the big picture," associate head coach Mike Petersen complimented.
Playing the point-guard position requires remarkable discipline and strong leadership. One of the biggest changes that Fleming has had to make to his game is his shot selection and getting his teammates more involved. Last season the Golden Gophers were smaller than most teams. The team's success was determined by its jump-shooting and its scrappy play. At the Big Ten Tournament in Fleming's hometown of Chicago, he lit up the Purdue Boilermakers for 31 points in 35 minutes. With this year's additions of freshman Rick Rickert and junior college transfer Jerry Holman, the Golden Gopher offense has been successful by getting the ball inside to the post and forcing teams to double team, creating open shots on the perimeter. Fleming has had to become more focused on getting the whole team involved offensively. Many times he's had to resist the urge to take shots he took in the past in favor of higher percentage shots for his teammates.
"My main position is point guard. But I'm also a pretty good scorer. The first thing I have to do is get my teammates involved offensively."
In the Golden Gophers' victory over the then first-place Ohio State Buckeyes, Fleming showed over 14,000 people how much he has grown. In the final two minutes with the Maroon and Gold holding a double-digit lead, Fleming was wide open for a three-point shot attempt that could have put an exclamation point on the victory. Instead he chose to hold the ball and work on the clock.
"We had the lead and we didn't need the shot. It was more important to work the clock at that point in the game," Fleming said.
Another example of Fleming's improved decision making is his understanding of tempo. By slowing down at times, he has been able to reduce turnovers and also conserve energy for the end of games.
"He's more patient," Bennett said. "We're both from (junior colleges), so we're used to a fast pace. Coaches here showed him how to slow down and make better plays."
Fleming believes the team has unlimited potential. "I think there is no limit. I think we can go very far as long as we continue to listen to the coaches. We're getting better and better with each game," Fleming said.
"The team has become closer. We're starting to know each other better. We're starting to gel and it's happening at just the right time."
One very noticeable difference Fleming has from his teammates is he is the only player who is married and also is the father of a beautiful baby girl, Casey. While his teammates also have to balance schoolwork, practice, and their social life, Fleming must manage all that and be there to take care of his wife, Alice, and his daughter. Time management is one of the most difficult skills that a student-athlete must learn when he or she enters college. Fleming doesn't let the pressure and the stress get to him. He admits that it was difficult to manage all of his responsibilities, but now he has learned from them and he notes that his life has become much easier.
"It was hard at first. I had little time to do one main thing. But now I'm used to it and everything is easy."
When his days are over playing basketball for the Golden Gophers, Fleming hopes to play professionally somewhere, whether it is here in the United States or overseas. After his playing career comes to a close, he hopes to use his degree in speech communications and continue to work hard, putting it to good use.
Since his arrival at Minnesota, Kerwin Fleming has grown not only as a basketball player but also as a man. He has battled through injuries, switched positions for the benefit of the team, improved his leadership skills, been married, and become a proud father. For a man only 21 years of age, he has accomplished so much already and has unlimited potential for success in the future.
Don't kids seem to grow up so fast these days?
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Andrew Wamugi
