Estrada’s confidence continues to grow as Hofstra picks up steam in CAA

 

Aaron Estrada (left) and Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton have fed off one another to fuel a resurgence in first half of CAA play. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — A former NBA guard himself, Speedy Claxton knows a thing or two when it comes to developing the next generation of backcourts, having earned a firsthand account of what is necessary to only compete at the highest level, but also to swim in its shark-infested waters and make headway against the dangerous current.

In eight years on staff under Joe Mihalich at Hofstra, the place where Claxton’s gifts spread their collective wings to a larger landscape two decades ago, he had a hand in cultivating the professional careers of a Who’s Who of guards that have come through the Mack Sports Complex doors, players the likes of Dion Nesmith, Juan’ya Green, Ameen Tanksley, Eli Pemberton, Desure Buie, Justin Wright-Foreman — the second-leading scorer in Hofstra history — and the late Zeke Upshaw. Now one chair over on the bench, Claxton’s responsibilities have expanded as the head coach of his alma mater, but the lineage has remained consistent, with a new patch presently being stitched into the quilt of the Pride program.

Aaron Estrada arrived in Nassau County this offseason after a year at Oregon that proved the grass was not necessarily greener on the other side after winning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors at Saint Peter’s, where the New Jersey native was on his way to potentially leading the Peacocks to the NCAA Tournament had COVID-19 not wreaked its initial havoc in March 2020. Now closer to home and more integral to his team’s bottom line, the junior has not only backed up the trust from his coach, he has also grown in different areas aside from his reputation as a shooter and slasher.

“I feel like this is a good time for all college players to work on their games,” Estrada said after tallying 26 points and supplementing his scoring with eight assists and five rebounds as Hofstra won its second straight game Monday, defeating reigning Colonial Athletic Association champion Drexel. “Without really having to be worried about school, I’m able to work on my game a lot more. Just working on my game builds a lot of confidence, a lot of repetition.”

Estrada has turned the added reps and pick-me-ups into a team-leading 16.4 points per game, which is buoyed by averages of 5.4 rebounds and an even five assists per contest for an 11-7 Hofstra team that navigated an arduous non-conference schedule that included near-upsets of Houston and Maryland to a win over a Top 25-ranked Arkansas program, to now reclaiming its perch among the CAA’s upper echelon. Moreover, he has done so as the Pride’s primary ball handler in recent games as Zach Cooks has battled injuries, learning his new position and transitioning smoothly more often than not.

“He’s a hell of a player,” Claxton said of Estrada. “He’s a three-level scorer, and when you have a three-level scorer, it’s kind of dangerous because you really can’t stop him in a ball screen situation. He can hit the three, he can hit the pull-up, and he’s shifty enough around the basket where his finishing is strong.”

“I put all my guys in positions to succeed. Not just Aaron, but J(alen) Ray, he’s good coming off screens, Omar (Silverio) is good coming off screens. I try to put all of them in positions where they could excel and play to their strengths. I think if everybody plays to their strengths, we could be in a really good offensive team.”

Claxton’s pedigree, coupled with his knack for pressing the right buttons for everyone to not only find his niche, but also add to his repertoire, is a major factor behind Hofstra being where it currently is. And for Estrada, who began his collegiate career learning from a professional point guard in Shaheen Holloway at Saint Peter’s, his continued education from Claxton has allowed he and his teammates to reap the benefits of the wisdom being passed down to an eager and apt pupil.

“Coach puts me in positions not just to score, but to ultimately make plays for our team,” Estrada echoed. “I’m a willing passer as well, I’m not just a scorer. I feel like (when) I pass the ball, I get guys open and I make the right pass for the most part. Coach putting me in situations to make plays, that really helps our team a lot.”