Bruins Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: SB Nation NBA Power Rankings for Week 2

Tyler Honeycutt is Honoring His Commitment ...

... to his team-mates in Sylmar High School's volleyball team. Great article from the LA Times on how future Ben Ball warrior is a man of his word:

He was named to the Parade magazine All-American basketball team this month, has a scholarship waiting for him at UCLA and could be the key recruit for Coach Ben Howland this fall.

Most teenagers in his situation would be focusing day and night on preparing for his freshman year of collegiate basketball.

Honeycutt lifts weights every day and spends an hour in the gym shooting jump shots by himself, but he refuses to abandon the friends he made on the volleyball team four years ago when he was a no-name freshman.

"I made a commitment," he said.

And so there he is, the top volleyball player at Sylmar and perhaps in the City Section, playing a sport he will probably never compete in again, just so he can help the Spartans win a championship.

It's his way of showing loyalty, and it's a breath of fresh air in an era where standout teenage athletes are always in a hurry to get their first big paycheck or make it to the NBA, the NFL or the major leagues.

The LAT has posted a pretty awesome video of TH playing volleyball:

I imagine that tape might make Al Scates salivate. Although it sounds like TH is totally committed to playing Ben Ball once he gets to Westwood. This is something he has been dreaming about all his life:

He remembers as a 7-year-old standing on a bed at home and telling his mother, "One day, I'm going to play basketball for UCLA."

His dream is coming true, and more important, his character and work ethic are coming through.

Just another reason I am so excited about watchjing next year's edition of Ben Ball warriors with our without Holiday.

GO BRUINS.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

5 recs  |  Comment 14 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

I said the same thing as a little kid

Unfortunately, being 5’9" and really slow (coupled with my poor shooting, etc.), I had to settle for seats in the student section.

Is the vb net lower in HS than college?

by haywood nighttrain on Apr 20, 2009 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I remember having the same dream growing up

Props to TH for making it a reality, I’ll be living vicariously through him as I have so many other Bruin basketball players

by buffsnbruins on Apr 22, 2009 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I believe

James Keefe played volleyball as well.

I wouldn’t if either of these gentlemen decided to become dual sport athletes. I think it would make you a better all around person/athlete. Not to mention it would only contribute to UCLA’s great Volleyball program. Yet another source of Bruin Pride.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Apr 20, 2009 10:09 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Bruin Pride looks like Brian Price

and he’s an example of someone that doesn’t necessarily belong on a volleyball court.

by SuperBruinMan on Apr 20, 2009 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I feel bad

… for the OTHER team! They dont look like they even have any 6’ players. That couldnt have been a pretty final score.

by BruinGold82 on Apr 20, 2009 10:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Danny Farmer and Tyler Honeycutt

Need to go enter some 2v2 beach volleyball tourneys.

by CPOBruin on Apr 20, 2009 1:26 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

People don't realize

how well volleyball skill translate onto the basketball court. Volleyball can really teach a player how to leap vertically, use good footwork, and shuffle your feet to get to the ball. Great to see TH expanding his development and being a stand-up guy

by Sideout11 on Apr 20, 2009 2:33 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I don't know if this is covered by vertical leap

But timing is crucial too, which to me is the another big parallel between the two sports. It remains to be seen if he can handle the physical side of rebounding, but timing his jump shouldn’t be a problem.

by Tydides on Apr 20, 2009 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

James Budinger was supposedly

a pretty incredible volleyball player, the two sports go hand in hand in developing muscle in the legs and timing when it comes to jumping

O.A.

by Ollie on Apr 20, 2009 11:28 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He was the top high school volleyball player in the country

There was some talk of him coming to UCLA and playing both sports at one point during his recruitment.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 20, 2009 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And for us Geezers,

Keith Erickson, one of Coach’s greatest achievers was also a VB player of note.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 21, 2009 3:45 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

And speaking of two-sport basketball players

I believe that Gail Goodrich was the Bruins’ firstbaseman before this guy named Chris Chambliss showed up.

by Fox 71 on Apr 21, 2009 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Bruins Nation, an unofficial daily online scrap book covering the greatest collegiate athletic program in the nation. GO BRUINS.
Start posting about the Bruins »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
UCLA at Washington State: A memory
13-9_ucla_baby____036_small
Videos from Washington/UCLA Football Game!
2145443360_ab27e15b11_b_small
Bleeding Blue and Gold ... Always
Morrell_small
The UCLA Passing Game Under Norm Chow

Recent FanPosts

Bruinsnation_small
Ben Ball Game Day Roundup: Round 2 Of "Exhibition" Season (Humboldt State)
2145443360_ab27e15b11_b_small
I'm procrastinating again so I'm going to bleed more Blue and Gold
Dodgers-ucla_day_009_small
Josh Smith commits to UCLA
Bruinsnation_small
Ben Ball Roundup: Back To Basics In Howlandwood & Injury Notes
Th_ucla182c2_small
More photos from the UCLA vs U-dub game.
Images_small
Non-Revenue Sports Bruin Review and Calendar
Telemachus_small
Washington @ UCLA Photos
Bruinsnation_small
A Quick Reflection On Steve Sarkasian For Rest Of 2009

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SPONSORS


Managers

094_small Ajax

Bruinsnation_small Nestor

Menelaus2_small Menelaus

Arron_afflalo1_small Tydides

Brad_pitt_as_achilles_small Achilles

Small Meriones

Telemachus_small Telemachus

Small Odysseus

Blue_bellerophon_small Bellerophon

Authors

Images_small Ryan Rosenblatt

Official Partner of CBS Sports