1 personality is tough enough.... Guard Dawg cover part 2.

As promised, I will continue the previous post and highlight the cover shoot I did (for SNM) with Venoy Overton, Isaiah Thomas, and Abdul Gaddy. As foreshadowed by the image in the previous post, the challenge of the (pre)shoot was trying to conceive a means to direct 3 different personalities (2 of which are LARGE personalities) to produce an image that was/would be mutually rewarding. (In the end, I wanted them to be vested.) Regardless, the idea/objective of the shoot was to create an image that highlighted the attitude/success experienced by the Huskies (in 2008-09 season) and the expectation/hype of a forthcoming "final four squad" in 2009-10.

I wanted to draw from the perception (of each player) that was rooted in their

2008-09 season (call it the "leg-work"). Since, I had been able to shoot court-side, for the 08/09 season, I had substantiated some distinct opinions about Venoy and Isaiah.

First up: The Senior, Venoy Overton.

Lessons/descriptors from 2008-2009:

Grit:

Venoy Overton came into the 08-09 season fulling a new role...and I would say he came into the season ready to prove he WOULD fill a vital roll on the team.

He came into the game, and he played hard.

His defensive vigor became the hallmark of his junior season.

He was voracious!

(which did get him into early foul trouble in the NCAA tournament, when faced with non-conference officiating)

He hustled in transition to get down-court and block shots.

And his efforts usually provided the emotional

spark needed to motivate his team at critical moments to transition game-momentum.

Stealing the ball...and taking it full-tilt to the bucket.

And, more than once, I watched Overton take a hard screen

--each time he seemed content to take it and DEAL it, as if to say, "Alright. You want some of this? Take it. ...and how did you like it? Bring it."

No. 1 brought it.

Up next: Isaiah Thomas....