Jan. 4, 2002
by Ray Burns – Host Communications
Sometimes it seems like Erik Daniels is playing in the wrong era. Not just because Daniels sports an afro ? la Dr. J from his 1970s ABA days.
It’s his game that has many people referring to Daniels’ style on the court as ‘old school.’ While many players today are concerned about how many points they can score and how much attention they can get, the 6-8 forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, is content to do whatever it takes to help his team win. He can score inside, he can fill it up from the outside, he can rebound on both ends of the floor, he can pass and he can defend. There’s not a lot on the court Daniels can’t do.
“I don’t know if I would call it old school,” Daniels said. “I just like to do a lot of things on the basketball court. I try to be as versatile as I can and just have fun playing.”
Call his game what you want, but the versatile sophomore almost always gives the Cats a spark when he comes into the game. While his contributions do not always show up on the stat sheets, Daniels makes the most of the minutes that he gets in every game.
With all of this versatility and talent, Daniels was surely recruited by every top basketball program in the land, right? Not completely true. Daniels was recruited by some top-level programs but did not get near the attention that his game deserves. Not that it really matters to him now because he is playing a key role on a team that should contend for a national championship.
“I think a lot of people overlooked me,” Daniels explained. “I didn’t really start playing AAU ball until the end of my junior year and then my senior year. I guess a lot of people didn’t know about me. I just kept working hard and it turned out alright anyway.”
It’s not that Daniels didn’t produce while he was in high school. He helped lead his Princeton High School team to the 2000 sectional championship game and a 17-5 record. He also averaged more than 20 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game in his senior season. Daniels’ versatile game could be partly due to the fact that he grew nine inches during his high school career. He developed guard-like skills and then grew into a big man’s body.
Tubby Smith and his staff saw something in Daniels that made them believe that he could be a big-time contributor for a big-time program. Wildcat fans and the rest of the nation are starting to see what it was that made Smith believe this. Daniels also liked what he saw in Kentucky when the time came to make a decision on where he would attend college.
“I liked it because it was close to home,” Daniels said. “It’s close enough that my family can come and see me play a lot of games. I also really just like the program. They’ve had a lot of success and they know how to win. I just had a great visit here and really liked it.”
At least once a year, Daniels and his fellow Wildcats also get to take a trip up the interstate to his old stomping grounds in Cincinnati. Last year, Daniels scored a career-high 19 points in 22 minutes against Jacksonville State in his hometown. Should we expect a similar performance tonight against Kent State?
“It’s fun to play at home,” Daniels admitted.” All of my family and friends are there to support me and watch me play. I’m used to playing in front of family and friends but I definitely get more pumped up. It’s nice to do well. I hope I can play well again this year.”
Daniels’ game in Cincinnati last year was part of a hot start for the then-freshman. Surprisingly, it came after he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Oct. 10 and was only able to get in a week’s worth of practice before the season began. This didn’t slow Daniels down, as he made his first nine shots from the field over his first three games in a Kentucky uniform. His quick and effective return from the injury earned Daniels the team’s Most Courageous Award last season.
“It was hard at first trying to get my bounce and quickness back,” Daniels recalled. “I had to work really hard in rehab to get back out there. Missing the practice was almost as hard as coming back from the injury. A lot of times I wouldn’t know what was going on out on the court when I first got back. I guess it turned out okay though.”
Fans at tonight’s game might notice an Erik Daniels that looks a little different than last year. Not only has the hair style changed but the energetic forward has also added around 10 pounds of muscle and grown another inch. A stronger, taller Daniels means that he will be just that much harder for opponents to contain. He gives the Cats an effective backup at small forward and power forward.
“The added strength is helping me a whole lot,” Daniels explained. “It helps me endure more punishment when I’m inside banging with the bigger guys. I don’t get as tired as I did last year. It also helps me when I’m on the perimeter and a smaller guy’s guarding me. I can take him down low and post him up now. It’s really helped my overall game.” Of all the things that Daniels can do on the court, the one he enjoys doing the most might surprise some people.
“I really like to pass the most,” Daniels said. “That’s just more fun for me. Sometimes people don’t expect it from me because I play down low a lot. I’ve just always liked it. I like to make those passes that make people’s heads turn or say, ‘I can’t believe he just did that.’ “
The love Daniels has for dishing the rock is reflected in his choice of a favorite player growing up.”My favorite player growing up was always Magic Johnson,” Daniels remembered. “I just loved the way he passed the ball. He was always making the players around him better. And he was a winner. He was also versatile and could do so many things. He definitely influenced my style of play.”
The sophomore is definitely the type of player that Magic could appreciate. Who doesn’t appreciate a player that always gives his all and does anything he can to help his team?
Daniels brings the kind of contagious enthusiasm to the game that is making him a fan favorite among the Rupp Arena faithful. He may have an old school look and an old school game to go with it, but Daniels is the kind of player that coaches would want on their team no matter what era they are playing in.
