Trending Alert! Trending Alert! Basketball players turning to volleyball due to the NBA lockout.
A few weeks ago, Kevin Love made headlines when he told the press that he plans on competing at the Manhattan Beach Open which kicks off next weekend. As of an hour ago, we’ve learned that another NBA players wants to follow Kevin’s footsteps. He is none other than Chase Budinger from the Houston Rockets.
Chase (6’7) was actually a volleyball star in high school. He played for La Costa Canyon High School and even won the CIF San Diego Section. One of the major highlights of his career was when he was awarded as the “Most Valuable Player” of the 2006 US Junior Olympic Volleyball Tournament in the 18 and under division. After high school, he decided to go to Arizona to play basketball and was a standout.
In 2009, he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons, traded to the Houston Rockets on draft night and the rest is history.
Fast forward to today, Chase has a changed of heart due to the NBA lockout and now plans on competing at the 2011 Corona Light Wide Open tournament in Hermosa Beach this coming weekend. ESPN had the chance to interview him and here are some of the highlights:
Kevin Love kind of threw his hat into the volleyball ring this summer. Is that what brought you out of volleyball retirement?
No! Not at all. You know, I’ve been trying to talk to guys and actually play beach volleyball professionally. My brother [Duncan Budinger] has been playing professionally, he’s on the tour, and he has been trying to get me out there. I was definitely planning on already playing. With him going out there I see more motivation to get out there as well. I’m happy that I was able to jump on this Corona Light tournament this upcoming weekend.
Who will you be playing with?
I am playing with a guy named Dane Jensen. He’s a local player down in San Diego. He’s a very very good player, so I think we can do pretty well. We’re going to be very competitive. We both can play. The main thing is just getting used to playing with each other, trying to get that feel for each other. All the other teams have been playing a couple tournaments, so this will be our first one now. That’s the tough part, getting out there the first time with someone new.
What’s your best volleyball skill?
Definitely hitting. For my size, I think I’m a good passer as well. … What always helped me was I was always an all-around player. There wasn’t ever a skill I was bad at. I could always pass, I could always set, I could always hit the ball, I could always block. That always made me very difficult to play against.
If you had to, could you support yourself playing volleyball?
Ahh … maybe, maybe. There are some guys who definitely do that. They go overseas in the winter, and in the summertime they come back and play beach volleyball professionally. My brother does it. It’s all he does. He’s definitely supporting himself.
Would that be fun for you?
Yeah, I’d definitely be into it. It’d be a great experience to go overseas and try this new country and play a different sport.
But I think my first choice would be to go overseas and play basketball, before I’d go overseas and play volleyball.
Right, right. Have you looked into that seriously?
Yes, my agent and I are considering that, yes.
After this tournament, do you have more volleyball on the schedule?
I know the Manhattan [Beach] Open [featuring Kevin Love] is the week after that. Trying to get into that one as well. Just trying to play as much volleyball as I can, because I can, for now.
We also learned that he has a couple of volleyball nicknames such as “Casper” and “Albino Rhino!” and he can reach over 12 feet. Impressive!
If you want to read the full interview, click THIS.
Watch this video as well and see how dominant he was as a volleyball player in high school.
Go Go Go Albino Rhino!
Again, Chase’s intention to play volleyball has captured the media which means volleyball gets some extra needed publicity.
Thank you Chase!
(images: Getty Images)
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