Speedy Claxton was out to dinner Saturday night, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the college basketball game on television.
The Hofstra coach was transfixed, and it wasn’t because there was a player he was hoping would be entering the transfer portal.
No, Claxton had his eyes on No. 55 of Alabama, Aaron Estrada, who had starred for him the previous two seasons, twice becoming the CAA Player of the Year.
When it was over, and the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide were headed to the first Final Four in program history, Claxton was beaming like a proud father.
“I am so happy and excited for that kid,” he told The Post in a phone interview. “I couldn’t stop smiling. To be on that stage and to see him cutting down the nets, you couldn’t ask for anything more.”
When last season ended for Hofstra with a second-round NIT loss to Cincinnati, Estrada had options.
He could stay in school for another year with the Pride, go pro or transfer.
The first two possibilities appealed to the 6-foot-3 Estrada the most, but Claxton pushed the idea of the third one.
He could get paid significant money through Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) and play at the highest level of the sport, a perfect way to spend his last year of college basketball before going pro.
“He honestly wanted to stay here, and we had to force him into the transfer portal. No, this is the better decision for you. It will put you and your family in a better position,” Claxton said. “It was hard, because if he came back, I might’ve had a top-25 team in the country. But at the end of the day, I have to do what’s in the best interest of these kids, not what’s in the best interest of myself.”
Claxton and his staff worked with Estrada to find the best fit, sitting in on phone calls with him and his suitors, and helping to set up visits. They thought Alabama made the most sense, because of the Crimson Tide’s up-tempo offensive attack, the freedom coach Nate Oats gave his guards and a need in the backcourt.
It turned out to be a terrific decision.
The Woodbury, N.J., native excelled alongside standout Mark Sears — leading Alabama in assists (4.7), finishing second in scoring (13.4) and setting a career-high in steals (1.6).
He thrived on the big stage — averaging 12.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists in four NCAA Tournament games, the first four of his career.
The financial side of the move has benefitted him as well.
Estrada has been able to help his mother, Brianna Melton, financially.
He contributed to her purchasing a new car she needed and has been able to pay for his family to attend all of his NCAA Tournament games and take care of their hotel accommodations.
They will be there in Glendale, Ariz., when Alabama takes on top-seeded Connecticut at State Farm Stadium.
“It’s like a dream,” Melton said. “It’s definitely everything we envisioned, but so much more.”
None of this happens without Hofstra. Estrada developed into one of the best mid-major guards in the country at the Long Island school. When he arrived there, he had lost his confidence after a season at Oregon in which he hardly played. The coaching staff had a major role in his success even after he was done playing for them.
“From the time they started recruiting Aaron, they made us feel really comfortable. Family, literally Hofstra is family,” she said. “I stayed in touch with their coaching staff, they sent us Christmas cards and everything like that. The most important thing is they helped Aaron, man. He was a priority and a focus for them. They restored his confidence, and they just helped him to be great.”
Estrada’s ascension is also helping Hofstra.
He will be in the news this week, and the school will obviously use him as an example of what can happen for prospective incoming transfers by playing for the Pride.
It’s the nature of the sport now that programs such as Hofstra have become a feeder system for high-majors like Alabama.
But as Claxton has shown with three 20-win seasons in his three years as head coach by developing transfers such as Estrada, Tyler Thomas (Sacred Heart) and Darlinstone Dubar (Iowa State) into stars, it can work for them as well.
“He really made his name for himself when he was here with us. There are going to be stories about his journey, and we’re a big part of his journey,” Claxton said. “We have the blueprint for it. [Dubar] is about to do it, Jaquan Carlos is going to do it. The path is there. Come to Hofstra, develop into a really good player, and we’ll do what’s best for you.”
It couldn’t have worked out any better for Aaron Estrada.
