Crawford Gym: The Playground That Launched Careers

A Summer of Sweat and Friendship

Summer nights at Crawford Gym were hot, sweaty affairs where shirts faced off against skins. Coaches of Hall of Fame caliber and countless under‑appreciated assistants led relentless drills, and players constantly helped one another improve. The gym became a crucible where careers, teams, and lifelong bonds were forged amid the chaos of practice.

The atmosphere was shaped by endless repetition, clear instruction, and the sheer will of athletes eager to perfect their craft. In this environment, the impact of “ballers helping ballers” turned Crawford into more than a court—it was a launching pad.

A Chance Meeting that Altered a Life

One midday in the Belknap Campus cafeteria, a South End basketball enthusiast named Scott Davenport was killing time when a faculty member left the area. With only ten players on the court, a future Bellarmine national‑championship coach watched from the sidelines in high‑top Chucks, jeans, and a sweatshirt. When one of the active players asked Scott if he played, he nodded, revealing he was an Iroquois baller coached by Al Pfeffer.

Bill Olsen, the faculty member, saw the spark and handed Scott the steps needed to join Coach Jerry Jones’ JV squad. “I was going to be a pharmacist,” Scott later recalled, “that moment changed the next 50 years of my life.” The following summer he became a counselor at the University of Louisville’s summer camps.

Road Trips, Pipe Smoke, and Non‑stop Talk

Hours of basketball chatter with veteran mentors filled countless miles. The JV team traveled in an eight‑passenger van and Coach Jones’ car, and on the first excursion the front seat was empty. Scott leapt into the driver’s spot, only to learn Coach Jones puffed a pipe the entire drive.

Despite the smoke, the conversation never stopped. “They talked basketball every moment, every trip,” Scott remembered, underscoring how the journey itself was a masterclass in the game.

From Assistants to National Spotlight

After stints at VCU and Ballard—where he guided the team to a state title—Scott spent time on Denny Crum’s staff before landing a rare spot as the sole assistant Rick Pitino kept after a coaching change. He left home at 5:40 a.m., grabbed a newspaper, and sat with fellow assistants swapping sections until Pitino called them in.

“Mick Cronin, whom I knew from Cincinnati Woodward. Kevin Willard,” he noted, adding that daily talks with the UCLA head coach and the then‑Villanova leader rounded out his learning curve. Those conversations shaped his own coaching philosophy for years to come.

A Legendary Encounter in a Hotel Lobby

At a coaching clinic, Scott found himself in the Fern Valley Holiday Inn lobby chatting with a legend. When the stranger learned Scott knew Denny Crum, he leaned in with a quirky challenge: “Tell him you met a friend of his. Then say I heard you’re the best cribbage player from the tip of your nose to the tip of your chin.”

After Scott relayed the message, Crum burst out, “You met Coach Wooden.” Scott later recalled sitting as a JV coach at Ahrens Trade High School, opposite John Wooden, discussing basketball one‑on‑one in that same lobby.

Shape‑Shifting Shots and a Future NBA Leader

Before Grif’s junior year, Olsen noticed the star’s jump shot lacked arch and felt flat. The gym hosted a variety of sports—gymnastics and volleyball among them—and an eight‑foot volleyball net stand was repurposed for practice. Grif spent hour after hour shooting over the net, becoming the most coachable player Scott had ever seen.

His dedication paid off; Grif eventually led the NBA in three‑pointers, a testament to the relentless work ethic cultivated at Crawford.

A Young Player’s First Basket and a Future Hall‑of‑Famer

During a summer camp, a seven‑year‑old named Allan Houston was unguarded on the court and finally sank his first basket, puffing with pride. The next time he received the ball, defenders closed in so tightly that he dropped it and pushed them aside to get space.

Years later, Scott coached Allan at Ballard when the team captured a state championship, marking another vivid chapter of Crawford’s influence.

Coaching Philosophies: Denny Crum vs. Rick Pitino

Both Denny Crum and Rick Pitino taught the same core principles: strong fundamentals, balanced shooting, and playing off both feet. Denny’s approach was analytical, emphasizing a clean 45‑degree bank shot and a “Cool Hand Luke” mindset rooted in the Wooden school.

Pitino, however, operated at 800 miles per hour, focusing on disrupting the opponent’s rhythm from the Hubie school. Their contrasting styles offered Scott a broad perspective on what works on the court.

The Heart of Crawford Gym

For Scott, who began keeping a daily practice journal in ninth grade, Crawford was “the heart of it all.” It was a summer sanctuary free of coaches, parents, and trainers, where athletes relied solely on one another. “Making the most of your opportunity—that’s Crawford,” he reflected, encapsulating the gym’s timeless spirit.