Corvallis Gazette-Times

Calvin Hampton frequently goes to John Saintignon for advice on his game.

The director of operations for the Oregon State men’s basketball team almost always obliges the power forward. However, his expertise is with guards.

Saintignon decided to expand his knowledge by helping at the 30th annual Pete Newell Big Man Camp in Las Vegas to improve his coaching ability.

That’s when he decided to recommend Hampton to Newell for the invitation-only event that draws pro, club and college players from around the world.

Both are representing the Beavers in the five-day camp that runs through Friday. Saintignon learns how to work with big men as Hampton prepares for his redshirt freshman season with help from the experts.

“It’s the only place in the world you get that many big bodies bumping into each other, playing basketball,” Saintignon said. “He’s doing wonderful and getting praise from those who are observing, like NBA scouts and other college coaches.”

The 6-foot-10, 247-pound Hampton is training four hours a day with footwork as the emphasis. He goes one-on-on or in group scenarios against 50 other collegians and pros.

Former NBA players and coaches such as Newell, Ralph Sampson and Kiki Vandeweghe are working with him. The only other OSU players to attend this camp are A.C. Green and Jose Oritz after they turned pro, according to Saintignon, who looked at Newell’s records.

“This has given me a chance to play against some of the best big men in country,” Hampton said. “It’s really helping me improve my game. I’ve learned how important your footwork is. And I really like this kind of environment.”

Hampton played 18 minutes in five games last season as a reserve before injuring his left shoulder. He underwent surgery on Jan. 10 to repair a torn labrum. The limited time played allowed him to use a medical redshirt and save a year of eligibility.

The Beavers hope he can play a significant role this season, so he wanted an edge over just working out and shooting with his teammates.

“I’ve being making big improvements after my shoulder surgery,” Hampton said. “I was a little passive when I started playing again, but I’m getting that aggressiveness back. This is a big year for me to get out there and do well.”