By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Everybody wants to be unique in their own way. Zavier Simpson is no exception, and he has managed to stand out from the crowd for several reasons. One of them is due to his trademark move, which he started by accident but became a usual routine in finding his route to the basket.
The hook shot was first turned into a trend by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar back in the ‘70s. Before him, other dominant paint inhabitants such as Wilt Chamberlin and George Mikan used to surprise opponents with their high-shooting arc towards the rim. Moving forward, Bob Lanier, Vlade Divac, and Yao Ming continued the tradition. You must have noticed something: these are all centers.
For somebody who doesn’t prioritize his game near the basket, especially if undersized, intentionally choosing to go for a hook shot may not be the first of his thoughts. Instead, the 27-year-old overseas rookie coming from Lima – not in Peru, but Ohio – thinks differently.
“It all started back in 2016-17, my first year in college. I was getting my shots blocked a little more often than normal,” Simpson recalls to Eurohoops’ Cesare Milanti. “Once, I made a hook shot by accident on a fast break – it went in. I felt well with it, despite never having worked on it before.”
That’s where “Captain Hook” was born. “It was the first time I took it as a counter [move] not to get my shot blocked,” he explains. “The next day I immediately started progressing on it, and from then on, I’ve never stopped. It’s the trademark of my game, but it’s also an efficient shot.”
Giving it a whole different spectrum of varieties, from shooting it with the same hand and foot to shaping it differently, trying it out from various angles and spots, with movements like the Euro step, a two-foot stomp, all the way to perfecting it into the ultimate escape move, there hasn’t been a single day when he hasn’t practiced the hook shot.
Now, in his first-ever season away from the United States, he got back the surprise factor he was witnessing back in college or his G League days. But that’s just more proof of such a move helping Zavier Simpson’s uniqueness expand.
“It became more global since I did it in college and when my professional career started in the G League,” Simpson, now of U-BT Cluj-Napoca, states. “I had the chance to showcase it against Dwight Howard when I got my call-up opportunity in the NBA. The States know about it. It’s crazy that now it’s a whole new process. People here are still confused.”
What’s interesting is that the former Michigan Wolverines alumni – so crucial for his college basketball team’s growth that everybody remembers his No. 3 jersey at the yellow-branded university – isn’t only focused on his unique hook shots. There’s so much more to discover about Zavier Simpson.
Getting knowledge from his closest friends overseas
From his college years (2016-20) with the Michigan Wolverines and going through to his G League days with the Oklahoma City Blue, Lakeland Magic, and Motor City Cruise, his network of American players moving overseas got bigger and wider.
One of his closest friends with the Wolverines moved to Lithuania two years ago and has returned to Zalgiris Kaunas this summer after one campaign at Olympiacos Piraeus. “I talked with Iggy about [moving overseas],” he says of Ignas Brazdeikis. “We don’t talk every single day, but we’re still pretty close. We created a foundation, our bond. We’re gonna be close forever.”
He also talked with former teammate Jaylen Hoard, who moved up the ranks from the BKT EuroCup to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, staying in Tel Aviv but switching Hapoel for Maccabi. Similarly, Matt Morgan went from playing with the London Lions to Virtus Bologna.
“We played together in Summer League [with the Charlotte Hornets],” Simpson says of Morgan. “He told me about Cluj, because he faced us last year in the EuroCup Quarterfinals. He gave me the scoop on the team and what to expect. It has been phenomenal talking with those guys. I’m excited to play with guys I knew before, and going up against them in this new chapter of life.”
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He has made sure to expand his awareness on the overseas landscape, too. “I’m gonna be honest: my knowledge about European basketball was pretty low,” he admits. “All my thoughts were where my feet were, in the G League and in the NBA. When I got this opportunity, I had to switch gears and regroup. Now I will try to give my best to put Cluj in a winning position.”
He’s not the only former Michigan Wolverine to shine in the EuroCup. “I just talked to [Aris Midea Thessaloniki’s David DeJulius],” Simpson states. “He’s a dog, a professional, extremely hard worker, and a phenomenal individual. His 30-point game [against Hapoel Jerusalem] doesn’t surprise me because he’s a scoring point guard. He’s extremely disciplined on and off the court.
“He’s the professional you want on your team. I love him, we played for two or three years at Michigan together. We developed a strong relationship that’s going to last forever. I’m excited I’m going to play against him, which is tremendous considering where we come from. I’m excited and happy for him. He’s my guy.”
Embracing the Romanian challenge
Cluj isn’t among the most attractive European locations. It’s not Barcelona, nor is it Paris, London, or Milan. But it does have one standout feature – an incredible passion for basketball. “Our fans are crazy, and I love it. We relate and connect with them,” Simpson says. “It’s tremendous. Going to your home arena and having that support is phenomenal.”
Playing with such a crowd behind him may have occurred in his time at Michigan, but it’s a new thing when it comes to his professional career. “I’ve been used to go to other crowds and their fans being better than ours,” he admits. “This is one of the few times in my career I feel like we got that type of fan base. It gets loud in our place – sometimes it gets so loud I forget whose side we are.”
In the midst of this new chapter, he’s getting accustomed to the challenge. “It’s a big adjustment. I’m trying to stay mentally grounded, spiritually connected, and with my emotions controlled,” he continues. “Basketball is my joy, I love playing it and staying around my teammates.
“Before coming here, I didn’t think it would have been as good. It surprised me in a good way and I’m really happy to be here. I’m doing different things to get me out of my comfort zone: enjoying the Romanian culture, and sightseeing. And most importantly, I’m trying to be the best professional I can be, helping my team get to the best position possible.”
Helping him get adjusted to such a new environment, Cluj’s captain and veteran guard Patrick Richard has played the most important role. “He’s been phenomenal by doing a tremendous job in leading us on and off the court,” Simpson comments. “By far, captain-wise he would definitely be Top 1 or Top 2 in leadership of teams I’ve been a part of.”
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Mihai Silvasan’s team collectively went through a renovation this past summer, as Zavier Simpson isn’t the only new face in the locker room. Finnish sharpshooter Sasu Salin joined the club, the center package composed of Zach Hankins and DeShawn Stephens came through the door, and veteran forward Kevin Hervey signed for the club as well.
“I’m thankful and grateful that we’re all locked in,” Simpson said on the team’s chemistry. “Sasu has tremendous experience overseas, he’s a veteran to me. He’s a knock-down shooter, he knows what he’s doing. I love playing with him. We have other veterans such as DeShawn Stephens and DJ [Seeley] who just came back to the team.
“I played against Zach [Hankins] back in 2021-22 in the G League. It’s crazy how small the world works for us. We have the same dog mentality, and I love it. I played against Adam [Mokoka] back in 2022, I believe. We push each other every single day at practice.”
Simpson also played against Karel Guzman with Team USA as they faced Cuba in the World Cup Qualifiers back in 2021. “I never knew that, but now it makes sense,” he says. “I do think I remember seeing Guz. I’ll definitely gonna tell him. That’s crazy, small world.”
Going through the EuroCup season “day by day”
Generally, Simpson is fully embracing the challenge. “I’m the point guard of the team, so I’m here to lead,” he stresses. “But I also want to be acceptable: being able to learn from those guys who have been over here. I’m the younger guy again, we’re switching roles. I want to embrace everything: lifestyle, practices, travels, games. Even having young kids around us.”
Starting the EuroCup with three straight defeats against Cosea Bourg-en-Bresse, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Valencia Basket wasn’t ideal, but Cluj bounced back with a 36-point victory (103-67) on the road against the Hamburg Towers. That night, Simpson contributed 28 points and 8 assists.
“I’m used to seeing talent, but the guys over here play a lot harder.,” he reveals. “You can tell everybody comes prepared with a game plan, executing it perfectly. It reminds me of how we prepared games back in college. The management and the coaching staff have definitely impressed me. Winning against Hamburg felt great.
“That game was needed for us. Starting the season 0-3, we needed to reconnect with ourselves. Coach [Mihai Silvasan] had a phenomenal game plan and we wanted to execute that. But we needed to break the ice and get out of our comfort zone. We got a win – let’s take it day by day. We may not be able to win the next 10 [games], but let’s focus on the next one.”
That’s the mentality Zavier Simpson wants to have in his first-ever overseas experience. Away from the bright lights, taking advantage of one of Europe’s most passionate crowds, and avoiding obstacles by hooking up his trajectory. U-BT Cluj-Napoca has found another Captain.
PHOTO CREDIT: U-BT Cluj-Napoca