Fleming situation in flux?
Keep your eye on Isaac Fleming.
First thing’s first: Fleming is still a member of the UH men’s basketball team.
However, all is apparently not right in Isaac-land.
The sophomore guard did not practice with the Rainbow Warriors on Tuesday or Wednesday, and by all indications, it wasn’t because he was hurt. It was all the more conspicuous when UH tried out some of its first real first-team/second-team looks of this preseason. Quincy Smith got some first-team looks at shooting guard next to Roderick Bobbitt, the spot it was presumed Fleming would occupy.
UH coach Eran Ganot didn’t want to comment on Fleming after practice, though he did say before practice when talking to the media about Aaron Valdes’ placement on the Big West preseason team: “So now it’s what can he (Valdes) do with the … target right on you. And those guys, it’s Janks (Stefan Jankovic), Roderick Bobbitt, Isaac Fleming, Aaron Valdes, who were new last year, who were not so much on the radar. So, we appreciate the recognition, I’m sure Aaron does, and there were some other guys who could’ve been recognized as well on our team. But again, going back to being recognized for what we do, as opposed to what we could do.”
Fleming sent out a handful of curious tweets Wednesday that surely fed into public speculation about his status. They included:
>> “Sad part is I was with these people everyday I gotta stay away now”
>> “People can smile in your face but Tlk crazy about you behind your back I’m glad bro told me who they were so just stay away from me”
>> “I see threw people you may not like me because I speak my mind and not afraid to tell you how it is”
Finally, he tweeted: “People judge off of tweets and assume I’m talking about something when it’s the total opposite its time for my page to go private.”
Eyebrow-raising Fleming tweets are nothing new. (Recall some of the things that were put out there by him after Benjy Taylor did not get the long-term job).
As recently as Monday, Fleming was happily trying to dunk over a ball rack after practice as teammates shook their heads at his antics. He spoke of buying into a team- and family-first ethos before the Green & White scrimmage last weekend.
So, it seems this thing could go either way.
UH has a closed-door scrimmage on Thursday. It sounds like Ganot could have a sit-down with Fleming sometime during the day, and get this situation sorted. Or maybe not. I’ll have more when there’s more to have.
Brian:
How many chances does one guy , a talented , real character, get? Strike one, he loses Gib as Head Coach.. then Strike Two, Benjy is not hired as HC.. then this must be nail in coffin.. Strike three.. Eran and Fleming not on same page.. Eran, must give Fleming an earful in closed door practices..
If he unhappy, who wants an unhappy basketball player on full ride scholarship?
He moves on, makes him happy and his family . and UH MBB move on.
You know Brian. this FIRST year for Eran Ganot.. is NOT going to be easy.. just the talented numbers.. and the recruiting for NEAR future.. plus NCAA rulings.. there is this Pall that is cast over MBB.. and Eran is experiencing his DREAM come true job? wow.. more like a NIGHTMARE JOB!!
Stop spreading rumors. Issac is hurt and will be at practice on Friday.
Dream job for Eran. No question. He will get all on the same page, one way or another. Much as you wish for the year to be a nightmare, I am confident the players will improve and do well. Best idea is for guys to try to stay off Twitter
I would hate to see him leave and would love to see him mature into the great UH player we all know he can be.
Isaac is poised to start this year and get all the playing time he could want. He has the talent to make a huge difference to the team, and potentially even lead it to a championship. All he needs to do is stay focused, master the offense, put the team first and work hard. It would be a shame if anything prevented that from happening.
To bad to sad. The bridge appears to be burning and Flemming is on the continent side of it. Will there be a miracle that will unfold don’t think so. Have a positive journey in life with your new path, Mr. Issac Flemming. However, I am hoping for that miracle.
Well one of Fleming’s tweets mentioned him talking to Artie Wilson. Maybe Artie can give him some solid advice and help him figure out what he wants to do whether that means staying here at UH or going elsewhere. I do want him to stay though and hope that he does. UH needs all of the help it can get. On another note, I believe that the new guy from Arizona State is going to contribute right away. If you played for Arizona State, even if you didn’t start or play considerably, you have to be pretty good, so hopefully he can give the team a boost off the bench.
Flemmings was one of two spectacular players last season for the Bows. Maybe playing within a defined system inhibits his free wheeling but exciting style of play. And we saw last season how he is still in the process of maturing. So hopefully he finds himself, adjusts to the new system, and allow the UH fans to see his talents for the next three years.
Hey Isaac, Look at the sports world today and tell me that nobody gets stiffed from even their own teammates? This situation if you want to grow stronger both athletically and emotionally calls for you to disregard all that jabbar; actually your dad should be giving you this advice instead of feeding your fragile ego.
Use this unfortunate situation as a stepping stone to temper your emotions and keep fighting to be the best at what you can do.
Here we go again typical Fleming nothins new as he says he speaks his mind, he does what he does, what you see is what you get. I feel the problem here is that Fleming is not getting the attention he thinks he deserves which is his problem, Fleming’s not the coach and as far as I’ve read Ganot is not one to let a player sway his mind to have to give special treatment to any player.
Ganot and Fleming just needs to talk this out, it’s best for the team. But really if he ain’t practicing the last couple of days I think Fleming is GONE. Good Luck to Fleming, he could find a coach that’ll baby him and let him play the way he wants to play.
I hope I’m wrong as Fleming could be the future if he grows up some.
Isaac, I meant to add, in a boxing match, this is only the first round in a ten round match. Go get’um young man.
Fleming, The players that talk about are jealous! Get it over it! You can’t please everyone
If the head coach can’t see this as a potential red flag, then this season will surely be filled with unnecessary drama. So much for team chemistry.
I have not doubt Ganot will have a talk with Fleming.
A lot of growing up and maturing needed on the team , jealously, selfishness, adults need to be more selfless , to accomplish a team goal .
This really sounds like a coach-player thing.
In the videos of the scrimmage. Flemmings didnt score in the first 2 periods then, he light it up in the 3rd and final frame, scoring all his points. He was unselfish and dished to his teammates. In that glimpse it appears Isaac was making an attempt to blend with Ganot’s 4-in 1-out O.
Ganot has to sell returning players on his concept. Not an easy task with three coaches in three years. Issac is flamboyant and plays with passion and is not afraid to make the PLAY. He is specially gifted and he is young. Ganot has to be special too. He is also young and Im not sure if he seasoned enough to handle. The ball is in his court. We shall see.
I’m guessing in seeing what’s happening, Fleming hears players talking behind his back and Ganot has not taken action in all that’s involved. BrianM tweets Ganot is very concerned about team chemistry and being that said this may not be all on Fleming. It’s probably he feeling slighted by Ganot as he has not talked to the player(s) who had bad things to say about him.
People are overanalyzing this situation. How can anyone be sure that this is even about basketball? This could just be about a situation in his personal life away from sports. The fact that he is a collegiate athlete, everyone just jumps to conclusion that everything he posts about will be about the team.
Have you read BigDaddy’s posts, BrianM’s tweets/article and Flemmings tweets? It sure leads to some type of problem within the team
All I know is that to be a good team, everybody, players and coaches need to be All In together. One big OHANA! Otherwise, how can you get maximum production. If Fleming or any other player or players are not team players then best to move on. Basketball is one team sport that demands selflessness. We don’t need drama here.
@ DereK. Bra you need to get real. No drama. What the hell do you think has been happening for the last decade with Hawaii basketball? And, it aint the players. Between unfit coaches, poor Athletic Administration leadership, quacky legal counsel and the upper Manoa incompetents we have had nothing but DRAMA. The players have been victimized. So, now we have what appears to be an in-house problem with players. So what! It happens on every team. That is what Ganot is being paid to handle. And if he does his job it will all work out for the better. That is a team matter. It’s about time we have normal problems that does not have incompetence attached to it.
Can’t we all just get along? There will be drama with young men far from home. Not like Riley didn’t have some players who caused some drama. Coach Ganot is paid to help these guys develop on and off the court. Let him do his job. I like the fact that there is not a lot of info leaking from Ganot or staff. Good. Keep it in house until some decision is made, one way or the other. It will all work out in the end.
I hope Issac leaving the team is all a rumor. If not he needs to be mature about things and not let small thing get in his head. Some of the comments makes it seem that he is a immature person.