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At 6-foot-5 with a long wingspan and elite athleticism, LeBron Lopez is exactly the type of player Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) officials want to develop for Gilas Pilipinas in the future.
But the next step, according to program director Tab Baldwin, is to combine those tools with a better feel for the game.
“I think people are quite accurate in their evaluation. He is an outstanding athlete. He certainly fits the length criteria that we are looking for: long arms, athletic type and very, very active, a lot of energy,” Baldwin. said on Tuesday’s episode of The game on ONE News.
“But LeBron has a lot to learn. He has a lot to learn about the concepts of the game, understanding the nuances of execution.”
Lopez, 17, is the youngest player in the national team’s training bubble at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
Aside from his physical profile, Baldwin noted how the Athenaeum’s commitment has demonstrated the ability to be a teachable prospect.
“He’s just a great kid and really, really willing to learn, always attentive when coaches talk to him and always competitive when it’s time to play. So he has a very, very bright future,” he said.
Baldwin also took notice of Lopez’s character and said his down-to-earth approach to his teammates would bode well for his continued development going forward.
“I think he’s in a great situation here in the Gilas bubble and he gets along very well with the other players,” he said. “There is also humility in the child, you know. Understanding that he is the youngest, he does not try to fool anyone because he has a great name and many followers, he does not act like that at all.
“I really appreciate the kid, he’s doing a great job.”
Lopez is also one of many fans to stand out in the group that has roots in the Ateneo, joining current Blue Eagles teammates SJ Belangel, Gian Mamuyac, Troy Mallillin, Geo Chiu, Kyle Ong, Jason. Credo and Josh Lazaro, as well as newcomer Chris Koon. .
Including William Navarro, Dwight Ramos, Dave Ildefonso, Angelo Kouame, Isaac Go, and twins Matt and Mike Nieto, the number of standouts who play or have played with Baldwin has skyrocketed to 16.
The concurrent technician of the Athenaeum explained the volume of Blue Eagles in the current group and said that such a situation helps to speed up the teaching process to newcomers since “there are similarities” between the Gilas system and that of his collegiate team.
“It does give the Ateneo players a small advantage in terms of recognition and comfort, both with the systems and with my training style,” he explained.
Baldwin singled out Gian Mamuyac as an example, saying that the presence of the current Ateneo team captain at camp “is like having another coach out there.”
“There is a big question mark about him if he will be elite enough to be on that list, but certainly from the point of view of contributing to the environment, his familiarity and his comfort with what we do, what we are trying to do and how we do the things that really help the other players, particularly the younger players, because they need all the guidance they can get, “said Baldwin.
