Cal’s Kameron Rooks trims down to earn rotation spot
Cal’s Kameron Rooks trims down to earn rotation spot
Weight has long been an issue for Kameron Rooks, but these days, instead of fretting over smaller meals, the Cal center wants to add heft to his 7-foot, 248-pound frame.
Three weeks removed from shedding his bulky left knee brace, Rooks has emerged as the Bears’ top true center.
[...] on a team stockpiled with scorers, Rooks provides the key plays that don’t make the highlights: putback dunks, altered shots, help on ball-screens.
“He has a lot more confidence,” said head coach Cuonzo Martin, whose No. 14 Bears face San Diego State in the Las Vegas Invitational on Thursday night.
Arizona, the alma mater of his father, former NBA center Sean Rooks, was the most high-profile school to offer him a scholarship.
After arriving on campus at 300 pounds, he slimmed down to 260, impressed coaches with his touch around the rim and provided much-needed frontcourt depth.
In February 2014, after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot in a win over USC, Rooks’ season ended seven games early.
Rooks declined to specify how the injury occurred, calling it a non-basketball “freak accident.”
When trainers cleared him to join team workouts at the end of last season, Rooks was out of breath after a minute or two.
Strength coach Nicodemus Christopher put him on an intensive conditioning regimen and monitored his diet.
Rooks’ interior defense, admittedly a weak point much of his career, is improved.
Though he will hardly lead Cal in scoring, Rooks can hit the right-handed hook shot or 8-foot jumper from time to time.