Freshman focuses more on defense, rebounding George Mason freshman Erik Copes has an interesting way of explaining his throwback physical style.
“I learned the game backwards,” Copes said. “I learned to play defense first, rebound, block shots, play hard, shut a guy out.”
Recommended Stories
| UP NEXT |
| George Mason at Drexel |
| When » Thursday, 8 p.m. |
| Where » Daskalakis Center, |
| Philadelphia |
| TV » ESPNU |
In an era when players his height often migrate to the perimeter, the 6-foot-8, 244-pound Copes prefers the dirty work found near the basket. He also is content to wait his turn behind senior standouts Ryan Pearson and Mike Morrison, averaging 15.7 minutes, 3.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game.
When George Mason (12-4, 4-0 CAA) plays at Drexel (10-5, 2-2) on Thursday night, it will be a Philadelphia homecoming for Copes and his uncle, Patriots assistant Roland Houston. Among the 30-40 family and friends expected at Daskalakis Center will be Rochetta Copes, Erik’s mother and Houston’s sister.
After Copes lost his father when he was in elementary school, it was Houston, a former star at Rhode Island, who became a father figure and taught Copes the game. An important lesson came after Houston saw Copes goofing around with a ball, shooting 3-pointers.
“I told him, ‘We are big people. We come from a big tribe. We don’t do little things. We don’t walk small. We don’t talk small. We don’t eat small. Everything we do, we do big,’?” the 6-8 Houston said. “And that’s what he is. He’s an old-fashioned power forward.”
At Imhotep Charter School, Copes was a single-digit scorer for a state championship team that included two other Division I-bound players. But his no-nonsense work ethic, unselfishness and ability to guard, rebound and block shots were so appealing that Copes became a top-60 national recruit.
He signed with George Washington and was set to join Houston, a seven-year assistant under Karl Hobbs. But when Hobbs was fired last spring, GW released Copes from his national letter of intent.
A few higher-level Division I programs sought the services of Houston, some from out of the blue — and Houston suspected — in hopes of securing Copes in a package deal.
“I was going through a thing where I was deciding if I was going to stay in [coaching] or not stay in it,” Houston said. “I was not going somewhere with Erik. I’m not built like that.”
At George Mason, Houston found a coach he could trust in Paul Hewitt. Copes’ happiness as a reserve is evidence they made the right decision.
Any concerns about favoritism were alleviated quickly when the players realized Houston was harder on Copes than anyone.
“I think the kids feel sorry for Erik sometimes,” Hewitt said with a laugh. “It’s a very good dynamic. I grabbed Roland the other day in practice and said, ‘He’s really good. He works really hard. He’s really smart. You don’t have to be that tough on him.’?”
Despite his limited playing time, Copes leads the team in blocked shots (32). He ranks 10th in the nation in block percentage.
“For a young guy, I’m really impressed with how quickly he picks things up and his feel for the game,” Hewitt said. “He might be our best screener. That’s very unusual for a freshman.”
