It's not everyday that you get to sit down and chat with a former NBA player, not to mention a former NBA player who just happened to be the leading scorer of your favorite college basketball team.

I had the chance to do just that when I sat down with Keith Herron, a current assistant coach for Eastern University Men's Basketball.

Herron, born in Memphis, Tenn., and raised in Washington D.C., attended Villanova University from 1974-1978 and graduated as the leading scorer in school history. While his record of 2,170 points has since been surpassed by Kerry Kittles and Scottie Reynolds, his record of 918 career field goals still stands and his jersey (No. 33) has since been retired.

After Herron and I discussed Villanova's basketball woes this season, he divulged what was better--the college game or pro game, who the best NBA player in his era was, and what he's doing at Eastern.

Villanova

Keith, of all the schools that you could have played at, why did you go to Villanova?

KH: While I was in Washington D.C. I went to an all-boy Catholic high school, Mackin High School. Upon my senior year at Mackin, I had worked on my craft and I had attained about 350 scholarship offers to major universities in the United States. At Mackin, I happened to play with my brother who was a little older than me, and he went to Villanova.

My mother passed away of cancer when I was in, about, tenth grade, and my father wanted us to stay together. He didn't want us too far away. I chose Villanova because he could actually see us play since it was within a two hour radius. Villanova offered me an opportunity where I could start as a freshman. So that's why I chose Villanova. It was a great school.

And you had a younger brother that played there too, right?

KH: I had a younger brother, Reggie, who came there two years after I got there, and we actually had a chance for all of us to start against Colgate [in 1977]. It was a great feeling to represent our family like that; we were making history.

You graduated the leading scorer in Villanova's history and have since had your jersey retired, what's it like to be a part of Villanova's pantheon of basketball greats?

KH: It's a great feeling to be a part of what they call "Nova Nation" now. Going back and seeing that when you were there you represented the school well and left a legacy there. To see my name and banners up in the arena is a great, great feeling. There's a lot of great players: Chris Ford, Tom Inglelsby, Howard Porter, Ed Pinckney, John Pinones--to be in that class is a great feeling.

You didn't have a 3-point line when you played, would you still have the scoring record if you did?

KH: If there were, I would still have the record. I loved to shoot the corner shot. That was my trademark--the jumpshot. Baseline jumper and right at the top of the key--those were my shots; I loved to shoot those.

NBA

After Villanova, how did your NBA career begin?

KH: I was the 24th player chosen in the 1978 NBA draft. Portland traded me to the Atlanta Hawks that same year because they were so stacked and had prior draft picks before me. I was able to catch on with the Hawks and played in the league for three years. Playing amongst those players was great--Julius Erving...the cast goes on and on...Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar], Magic [Johnson], those were some great, great moments that I will cherish for a lifetime.

What was it that cut your career short?

KH: I had a knee surgery. I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) which caused my career to come to a halt. It was considered career ending back then, where today it's just considered a bump in the road. I wanted to play ten years, and I could have played ten years playing the swing position. 

It was devastating.

So then I played a couple of years over in Europe--Italy, Spain, and Belgium. And I had a good run over there.

In your opinion who was the best player you played with or against?

KH: Because I was a two-guard, I would have to say Julius Erving. Not only was he an icon, but he was also a great player that I was able to watch while I was at Villanova.

In Detroit, I averaged 13.7 points a game, so I got through the beginning stages of being frightened playing against these guys and actually got out there and gelled with them and said, 'Hey, look, you've got to guard me tonight.'

What do you think of the NBA now compared to when you played?
 
KH: I watch NBA games, but I appreciate the college game more because of the fact that fundamentals are really intact. In the NBA they more or less don't start playing until the fourth quarter and the playoffs really.

I love the college game. I go back to Villanova a lot, and in the past I've mentored a lot of the players there and given them some insight in terms of what they need to improve on and things I did when I was there. 

Eastern

What's led you to Eastern?

KH: Basketball is a passion, a love that I've always had. It's great to be able to come to Eastern University and volunteer, to give back and to teach the guys some of the skill sets that I've learned over the years--to help not only build their basketball abilities but also build their character as well.

It's been a great experience for me to work with Stew [Coach Nate Stewart] and his staff and learn the players. When [Coach Stewart first asked me to] come aboard, the biggest thing was just learning their names. Once I learned their names, I learned the system of how he runs his offensive and defensive schemes. Just to be able to talk to the players and pull them aside and give them insights, like I said, about I how approached the game and how coach wants them to approach the game: 'If you do this, it can maybe help you better your shot or if you do this you can better position yourself for a rebound.' It's fulfilling to me.

What do you work on specifically with the guys? 

KH: One week it could be shooting. I teach a lot of players how to hold the ball. A lot of guys move their arms. When you're shooting a basketball, it should almost be like a golfer putting a ball on a tee. You're arm should be straight, the ball should set on the tee. A lot of the guys are rocking.

I teach the guys how to shoot, how to hold the ball in their hands, defensive footwork, rebounding, how to box out and the basic fundamentals. I also go out scouting players and giving my input in team meetings.

What do you think of the team this year?

KH: I think that we got off to a great start. I think that the guys have to learn how to win, meaning consistently. Even though we're 9-4 [at the time of the interview], too many times we come out of the gate down. We preached to the guys all week, 'Hey look we're getting ready to go into league play now. So it's very important that you keep a focused mind set. We're at home, let's take advantage of that.'

So last night [against Misericordia] we came out with a vengeance and an attitude. We played defense, we talked on defense which leads to good things on offense.

As a team we're starting to get there. We're starting to turn the corner, because we're getting into league play now, and it's going to be very important. So I'm pleased and happy with the success of the team right now.