[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/12/16/jon-kreft-quietly-debuts-in-florida-state-blowout-victory/

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — There was a Jon Kreft sighting Wednesday night, and that’s potentially great news for the Florida State Seminoles.

The countdown, seemingly measured by an hourglass combined with time off for good behavior, has been well documented in Florida’s Panhandle.

It has been nearly two years since Kreft, a 7-foot center once better known for his brawn than his brains, played competitively. It has been six years since Kreft verbally committed to attend FSU.

Much has transpired in between, from Kreft admitting to hiding 1.7 grams of cocaine where the sun doesn’t shine — between his buttocks — to Kreft working feverishly to reshape his image and retain his impressive basketball skills.

Kreft’s weaving, topsy-turvy journey came full circle in FSU’s easy 97-63 win over Stetson at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Ruled academically eligible earlier in the day, Kreft made his highly-anticipated debut before a small but appreciative crowd of 5,713.

Kreft entered at the 9:27 mark in the opening half to a generous applause and played 14 minutes overall. He finished with six points — all free throws on 10 attempts — six rebounds and flexed his tattooed arms once, much like a boxer during weigh-in prior to a fight.

As expected, Kreft, bald and beautiful to FSU fans — and jersey No. 50 in the score book — provided welcomed toughness inside, ran the floor and gave teammates a viable option on the block. There are some who believe he might be the program’s most-skilled center in years and years.

"He brings something physical to us," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. "The future will tell us how effective Jon will be."

How Kreft felt Wednesday night was anyone’s guess due to Hamilton’s house rules, however. They prohibit first-year players who regain their eligibility between the fall and spring semesters from talking to the media during the Christmas holidays.

That’s not to say Hamilton has a heart two sizes too small, because Kreft, at 24 years old and 260 pounds, has the green icicle light to speak to his heart’s content when the school semester begins in January.

FSU (8-2), which nearly reached the century mark for the first time since 2005, exits left for six consecutive games, including a trip to Hawaii, before it returns home against top-ranked Duke on Jan. 12.

Look for Kreft, who last played at Chipola College in nearby Marianna, Fla., during the 2008-09 season, to assume a larger role in the Seminoles’ scheme in upcoming games. And also look for his teammates to continue to rally around him.

"He has really worked hard and we’ve all been anticipating (his return) for awhile now and we feel he’s really going to help us out in the long run."

"I commend him; we’ve been making sure he’s staying on the right track as a part of our team and family. We will continue to do that."

Kreft’s return gives the Seminoles added experience, both on the court and on the calendar. Kreft turned 24 in October, making him the third-oldest player on the team behind center Bernard James and guard Derwin Kitchen, who turned 24 in March.

James, 25, completed a six-year term in the U.S. Air Force (2003-08) following high school and was stationed in Iraq and Qatar in the Middle East during his deployment. James attended Tallahassee Community College and played one season against Kreft.

"He’s a big, strong beast," James said.

"He buried me a couple times in the paint and that was the first time I had ever been buried like that. I couldn’t do anything about it. I’ve never really encountered anybody as strong as he is and with the athletic ability that he has. He’s just going to step in and take that enforcer role. He’s bigger and stronger than everybody, and he has a mean attitude to go with it. We’re definitely going to be able to use that."

Kreft is also one of seven 7-footers in the ACC, joining the likes of Tyler Zeller at North Carolina, Ty Walker at Wake Forest, Carson Desrosiers at Wake Forest, Assane Sene at Virginia, Jordan Vandenberg (7-1) at North Carolina State and Catalin Baciu (7-2) at Clemson.

Former Seminole Adrian Crawford stopped in for a quick visit at FSU’s basketball facility earlier this week and bumped into Kreft in the hallways. Crawford said Kreft, polite and soft-spoken, was excited to make his debut and wished him luck.

Kreft’s skills have nothing to do with luck.

Crawford, 32, who starred at FSU from 1997-01 and opened his own training program here called GameSpeed Basketball, played in pickup games against Kreft and others at FSU’s facility during the summer months.

It didn’t take long for Kreft to make a favorable impression.

"He has a good feel for the game," Crawford told FanHouse Wednesday.

"When he catches it inside, he can shoot to his left, his right, he just has great feel. You think he’s a pro. He’s one of those guys who you look at him and say, ‘He’s just got it.’ He might be one of the most skilled players at the post I’ve seen here in the last 15 years. I am excited for him."

Crawford, like many, was also aware of Kreft’s checkered past.

Kreft originally pledged to attend FSU in August 2004 before his career was derailed by a drug charge. In May, 2006, as a high school senior, Kreft and a friend were pulled over by police, who found 15 grams of marijuana and a digital scale in the car.

Kreft also admitted to hiding 1.7 grams of cocaine between his buttocks.

Kreft served one year for the drug charge and FSU rescinded its scholarship offer. Following the completion of his sentence, Kreft attended Chipola College for two seasons before transferring to FSU in January of this year.

"From what I know of the story and talking to him, I think it was obviously about not making smart choices and decisions, but I think he understands a little bit now that he has a chance to No. 1, help his team be successful and No. 2, he has a chance to play at the next level," Crawford explained.

Helping take FSU to the next level – it has been bumped from the past two NCAA Tournaments in the opening round – would certainly help Kreft secure his future and distance himself from his past.

"I am just happy to see him doing well and I glad he’s back on the court with us because we definitely need him," James said.

[McDunkin]

Jon Kreft -"Movin that white"

[McDunkin]

Jon Kreft -"Movin that white"

[JNixonParticipant]

"In his hood they call him "Krefty the SNOWMAN", get it? Krefty the Snowman? He’s iced out, plus he got snow…man!"

[JNixonParticipant]

"In his hood they call him "Krefty the SNOWMAN", get it? Krefty the Snowman? He’s iced out, plus he got snow…man!"

[McDunkin]

I never smile, aint sh*t funny
Krefty maguire, show me the money……

Krefty on the mic, I make it winter time
chickens on the menu, I hope its dinner time…

 

[McDunkin]

I never smile, aint sh*t funny
Krefty maguire, show me the money……

Krefty on the mic, I make it winter time
chickens on the menu, I hope its dinner time…

 

[JNixonParticipant]

"He worth a mill on the low, and the KREFTY man says it’s a slight chance of snow"

"Can’t like still addicted to the odor, got a ice cold KREFTY still thinkin coca cola!"

Haha. I retire.

[JNixonParticipant]

"He worth a mill on the low, and the KREFTY man says it’s a slight chance of snow"

"Can’t like still addicted to the odor, got a ice cold KREFTY still thinkin coca cola!"

Haha. I retire.

[PureshooterParticipant]

Did anybody find it hilarious that the journalist felt the need to clarify where exactly the "sun doesn’t shine".  I think we were already on the same page, but thanks for the specificity. 

[PureshooterParticipant]

Did anybody find it hilarious that the journalist felt the need to clarify where exactly the "sun doesn’t shine".  I think we were already on the same page, but thanks for the specificity. 

[JNixonParticipant]

I actually clicked the link to see whether he said it twice, or if BTPH wrote the 1st couple of paragraphs lmao. We got it the 1st time, you know. haha.

[JNixonParticipant]

I actually clicked the link to see whether he said it twice, or if BTPH wrote the 1st couple of paragraphs lmao. We got it the 1st time, you know. haha.

[joecheck88Participant]

the man is trying to redeem himself and all you guys can do is make jokes?

just kidding. lol. and how the hell is a 24 year old only the 3rd oldest on a college basketball team?

[joecheck88Participant]

the man is trying to redeem himself and all you guys can do is make jokes?

just kidding. lol. and how the hell is a 24 year old only the 3rd oldest on a college basketball team?

[OrangeJuiceJonesParticipant]

This thread wins.

[OrangeJuiceJonesParticipant]

This thread wins.

[McDunkin]

Why Krefty keep sayin yeeeeaaaaaaaaaah, Krefty dont even kno
Krefty got court tomorrow, Krefty dont even go
Krefty dont even show, Krefty got s**t to do
Only God can judge Krefty, who the f**k is you?

 

[McDunkin]

Why Krefty keep sayin yeeeeaaaaaaaaaah, Krefty dont even kno
Krefty got court tomorrow, Krefty dont even go
Krefty dont even show, Krefty got s**t to do
Only God can judge Krefty, who the f**k is you?

 

[Author]

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