Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Kellogg Seeking Depth and Versatility While Growing Mountaineer Women’s Program
January 24, 2024 11:51 AM | Women's Basketball, Blog
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It would seem Mark Kellogg has nearly all the answers, considering he wins roughly 80% of his games and has led the West Virginia women to a 16-2 overall record and a No. 24 ranking in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll.
But he admits his first season coaching in the Big 12 Conference has been educational. First and foremost, what he's learning is depth is the great separator in power conference women's basketball.
"I had a Big 12 coach tell me early on the difference between the top 10 or 15 teams in the country and that next middle pack was just the depth," Kellogg said recently. "The first five, you're fine, but when those top-10 programs are bringing in another four- or five-star recruit, a McDonald's All-American or whatever, that's when you typically see the difference.
"I kind of remembered that and put that in the back of my brain, and I've quickly learned that, yeah, that's pretty accurate," Kellogg added. "The kids we have are fine. We have depth. That's not a problem, but we need more. In practice (recently) we had nine players. We've got to be a little deeper than that, so we've got to build it and get some more depth. And get kids who will stay in the program. That always helps because they understand, they're older, more mature, and they understand the expectations. We're not all quite there yet."
Another element Kellogg is coveting for Mountaineer basketball is versatility, what he terms "a coach's dream." As Kellogg continues to build his program, he said he is seeking more interior size, more length on the wings and above-average athleticism with above-average skill.
"If you can find those two things, and do it at all of the positions, then now you've become really, really hard to guard," he explained.
"It sounds kind of funny, but if every kid can dribble, pass and shoot at all five positions, you are really hard to guard. And if you can score at two of the three levels – 3, rim or midrange – then now you've got something to really build off," he said. "When we really break it down, that's where we go – above-average length, above-average athleticism and then, can you dribble, pass and shoot?
"Most kids can't do all three of those. Then, can you really score at two of the three levels? I want a post player that can score at least two of the three levels. If they can score at all three levels, that's a five-star, big-time player," Kellogg added.
During the early signing period last November, Kellogg landed two top 100 recruits – 5-foot-11 guard Destiny Agubata from Santiago High in Moreno Valley, California, and 6-foot-3 forward Jordan Thomas from Hebron High in Carrollton, Texas.
Both are expected to fit in nicely with what is already here. But more is needed.
A scheduling conflict required Kellogg to cancel his weekly meeting with the media this morning. Why? Because he's out recruiting.
Recently, retired NBA great LaMarcus Aldridge appeared on the "All Smoke" podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson and offered aspiring young players some sage advice – quit wasting your time trying to come up with a bunch of different moves.
Aldridge said he scored more than 20,000 points in the NBA with basically just three moves. Aldridge's message resonates with Kellogg when he is observing young players these days.
"He was a mid-range guy with a little bit of a post game, but post players who play with their back to the basket, if they have one move and they can do it to both shoulders, you've just created two moves," Kellogg explained. "Then, you add one more move to it and you've just got four moves (with both hands). That's not asking a lot, but a lot of kids only go over one shoulder, and most righties want to go over their left shoulder, or vice versa, but now if you can play both, the scout is harder and it's harder to figure out which direction you are going to go."
Kellogg said adding a counter to your best move makes you even more difficult to stop.
"That's two moves because you did it to two shoulders, which became four all of a sudden," he said.
Kellogg noted the same logic applies to great high school athletes who get by purely on athleticism.
"When they grow up, if they're right-handed and they're so athletic, they never put the ball in their left hand. Even if they are made to go left, they are faster and can beat them to the rim, but when they get to college and the athleticism starts to match, then they can't go left or maybe it's the other way around," he pointed out.
What it boils down to is versatility, which is one of the most important attributes Kellogg is seeking in the type of players he wants to bring into his program.
"If you can dribble, pass and shoot, I'm interested," he concluded.
Following last Saturday's 72-43 victory at Cincinnati, West Virginia will have had a week to prepare for its rematch against Iowa State this Saturday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.
The Cyclones (12-5, 6-1) are currently in second place in the conference standings and play at Kansas tonight. Iowa State rallied from 19 points down in the second half to defeat West Virginia 74-64 in Ames back on Jan. 10 – one of only two losses the Mountaineers have this season.
Saturday's contest will tip off at 2 p.m. and tickets are available through the Mountaineer Ticket Office by logging on to WVUGAME.com or by calling toll-free 1-800-WVU GAME.
But he admits his first season coaching in the Big 12 Conference has been educational. First and foremost, what he's learning is depth is the great separator in power conference women's basketball.
"I had a Big 12 coach tell me early on the difference between the top 10 or 15 teams in the country and that next middle pack was just the depth," Kellogg said recently. "The first five, you're fine, but when those top-10 programs are bringing in another four- or five-star recruit, a McDonald's All-American or whatever, that's when you typically see the difference.
"I kind of remembered that and put that in the back of my brain, and I've quickly learned that, yeah, that's pretty accurate," Kellogg added. "The kids we have are fine. We have depth. That's not a problem, but we need more. In practice (recently) we had nine players. We've got to be a little deeper than that, so we've got to build it and get some more depth. And get kids who will stay in the program. That always helps because they understand, they're older, more mature, and they understand the expectations. We're not all quite there yet."
Another element Kellogg is coveting for Mountaineer basketball is versatility, what he terms "a coach's dream." As Kellogg continues to build his program, he said he is seeking more interior size, more length on the wings and above-average athleticism with above-average skill.
"If you can find those two things, and do it at all of the positions, then now you've become really, really hard to guard," he explained.
"It sounds kind of funny, but if every kid can dribble, pass and shoot at all five positions, you are really hard to guard. And if you can score at two of the three levels – 3, rim or midrange – then now you've got something to really build off," he said. "When we really break it down, that's where we go – above-average length, above-average athleticism and then, can you dribble, pass and shoot?
"Most kids can't do all three of those. Then, can you really score at two of the three levels? I want a post player that can score at least two of the three levels. If they can score at all three levels, that's a five-star, big-time player," Kellogg added.
During the early signing period last November, Kellogg landed two top 100 recruits – 5-foot-11 guard Destiny Agubata from Santiago High in Moreno Valley, California, and 6-foot-3 forward Jordan Thomas from Hebron High in Carrollton, Texas.
Both are expected to fit in nicely with what is already here. But more is needed.
A scheduling conflict required Kellogg to cancel his weekly meeting with the media this morning. Why? Because he's out recruiting.
Recently, retired NBA great LaMarcus Aldridge appeared on the "All Smoke" podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson and offered aspiring young players some sage advice – quit wasting your time trying to come up with a bunch of different moves.
Aldridge said he scored more than 20,000 points in the NBA with basically just three moves. Aldridge's message resonates with Kellogg when he is observing young players these days.
"He was a mid-range guy with a little bit of a post game, but post players who play with their back to the basket, if they have one move and they can do it to both shoulders, you've just created two moves," Kellogg explained. "Then, you add one more move to it and you've just got four moves (with both hands). That's not asking a lot, but a lot of kids only go over one shoulder, and most righties want to go over their left shoulder, or vice versa, but now if you can play both, the scout is harder and it's harder to figure out which direction you are going to go."
Kellogg said adding a counter to your best move makes you even more difficult to stop.
"That's two moves because you did it to two shoulders, which became four all of a sudden," he said.
Kellogg noted the same logic applies to great high school athletes who get by purely on athleticism.
"When they grow up, if they're right-handed and they're so athletic, they never put the ball in their left hand. Even if they are made to go left, they are faster and can beat them to the rim, but when they get to college and the athleticism starts to match, then they can't go left or maybe it's the other way around," he pointed out.
What it boils down to is versatility, which is one of the most important attributes Kellogg is seeking in the type of players he wants to bring into his program.
"If you can dribble, pass and shoot, I'm interested," he concluded.
Following last Saturday's 72-43 victory at Cincinnati, West Virginia will have had a week to prepare for its rematch against Iowa State this Saturday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.
The Cyclones (12-5, 6-1) are currently in second place in the conference standings and play at Kansas tonight. Iowa State rallied from 19 points down in the second half to defeat West Virginia 74-64 in Ames back on Jan. 10 – one of only two losses the Mountaineers have this season.
Saturday's contest will tip off at 2 p.m. and tickets are available through the Mountaineer Ticket Office by logging on to WVUGAME.com or by calling toll-free 1-800-WVU GAME.
Mark Kellogg, Meme Wheeler & Sydney Shaw | Arizona State
Wednesday, January 21
Mark Kellogg & Jordan Harrison | TCU
Wednesday, January 14
Mark Kellogg | Iowa State
Sunday, January 11
Mark Kellogg, Jordan Harrison & Carter McCray | Texas Tech
Wednesday, January 07
