In his seven years as head coach of the Sinclair Tartan Pride, Jeff Price said he’s never had a better shot blocker than 6-foot-6 forward British Alexander.
“In his two years here, Brit’s had some pretty impressive blocks,” Price said. “He’s had blocks where he’s blocked it off people’s heads and he’s had blocks where he spiked it down so hard it’s bounced above the basket.”
Alexander said to be a good shot blocker a player must have quickness, athleticism and good timing.
“I guess you got to know how to jump, but it’s mostly about timing,” Alexander said. “You can’t go for a block while it’s still in their hand because most likely you’re going to hit their hand or their wrist and you’ll get a foul called on you.”
Tired of getting called for fouls due to his aggressive style, Tartan Pride center Terence Lang said he studied the way Alexander blocks shots to improve his own game.
“I pay a lot of attention to the way Brit times his blocks,” Lang said. “I was used to just blocking and fouling people, but now I time out who I’m going to block and how I’m going to block it.”
Alexander said since most players release their shot at the peak of their jump, he never jumps until they do and doesn’t go for the block until the ball leaves their hand. Price said blocked shots have a huge impact on basketball games.
“To have a good shot blocker is definitely a game changer because other teams prepare for known shot blockers,” Price said. “Whether a player wants to admit it or not when he gets close to a shot blocker, his shot does change.”
Sinclair does not keep track of all-time blocked shot records, but Price said he imagines Alexander would be top-5 in school history because he’s been nationally ranked both years he’s played. This year Alexander is averaging 2.6 blocks per game, but Price said that number is misleading because Alexander alters an additional five shots per game that don’t make it into the box score.
“You don’t necessarily have to touch a ball to block a shot,” Price said. “You can change the trajectory of a shot and you can change the mindset of a shooter.”
Alexander said one of his favorite blocked shots happened at the University of Dayton Arena when he blocked a shot into the crowd when he was playing for Trotwood Madison High School. Alexander said he can also bait a player into a shot block.
“If I’m chasing somebody I’ll be jogging so when they turn around and look they think they have a wide open lay-up, but once they turn around I speed up and the next thing you know they’re getting their shot blocked,” he said.
Alexander said when the crowd gets loud after a block, it gets him pumped up, but he said blocking shots also comes at a price.
“Down in Cincinnati I went up for a block and my hand got smashed between the ball and the backboard,” Alexander said. “I sprained my middle finger. It’s still swollen now.”
Alexander said he’s never earned a nickname for blocking shots and said he would never taunt a player after a block by waving his finger like former NBA player Dikembe Mutumbo because he said it’s too unsportsmanlike.
“I usually just laugh (when I block a shot). Like if I block somebody and throw (the ball) into the crowd you might see me smile,” Alexander said. “I’m a goofy person. I smile about a lot of stuff, but if I block somebody it’s funny to me because they get mad.”