Pete Waleskowski is the father of Keith Waleskowski, a recent commitment to the University of Dayton mens’ basketball program. Along with younger son Adam, the Waleskowski boys team up for the Alter Knights basketball team in suburban Dayton. Pete spoke recently with DFE about his sons, the University of Dayton, about being a basketball family, and the struggles kids face as they accept new responsibilities and challenges at the university level.

The opinions of Pete Waleskowski are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of Dayton, Archbishop Alter High School, Dayton Flyers Etc., or any other entity other than his own. DFE sincerely thanks Pete for his time, professionalism, and willingness to be the subject of DFE’s Feature Series. DFE asks that you show your appreciation by attending an Alter Knights varsity game this season and welcome the Waleskowskis to the UD family with a warm greeting.

DFE: Keith informed UD just days ago of his intentions to play for the Flyers. What are your impressions of Oliver Purnell and the University of Dayton?

PW: “Oliver is without question, FIRST CLASS [emphasis], but saying that is a real compliment given that prior to the last two months the extent of our relationship was a ‘Hi, how’s it going?’ or a wave of the hand from a distance. All of our contact was with the assistant coaches, especially Pete Strickland* and Wade O’Connor. But since then he has made up for lost time. He [Purnell] has demonstrated repeatedly that he cares about the players, team, and community as a whole by backing up his words with actions. He gives a lot of credit to the administration at the University of Dayton and the community who have provided him with the support to be able to make the changes necessary and make our family a part of his.

“UD is a great school. One of the things that swayed us to the University of Dayton is the support that Oliver Purnell has with the professors. These people have gone out of their way to help us understand the academic commitment Keith is making and what they are committed to doing so Keith will be as successful in the classroom as we anticipate he will be on the court.”

DFE: Keith will not play in 99-00, instead electing to sit out a year and accept the first of five scholarships for the 00-01 recruiting class. How and why did this scenario come about?

PW: “Oliver has been very up front with us and tells it exactly like it is – but with a compassionate touch. He told Keith that he did not have a scholarship available but really wanted him to play for UD. He explained in detail the player/position issues at the three, four, and five spot that Keith would need to overcome as a freshman next season. After ‘thinking outside the box’, they came up with the idea that if given a year to learn the ‘UD Flyer system’, work on building his upper body strength, and acclimate to the college scene, Keith could become a real impact player for all four years of his eligibility at UD.

“At the same time, he would still be doing everything else that a team member does next season with the exception of receiving game experience. Given the player situation, Keith would probably have limited minutes anyway so it seemed like a very nice fit for both sides.

“Additionally, Keith may be one of the most patient basketball players ever. He has started only two HS games – due to the injury of another player – but he has been the sixth man and has played as many minutes as most other starters for the past two years. Still, it has been a little tough for a player like Keith to wait for the graduation of other Alter big men. This year is his turn at Alter. The GCL better start getting ready now.” [emphasis]

DFE: What are your feelings on the recruiting process of young HS athletes and what surprises have you encountered?

PW: “Up to the summer of the commitment year, it’s all ‘sales’. Selling a school, a basketball program, the academics, and coaching staff. It was certainly a great motivator for a young man like Keith. I only wish something could be done to allow more contact with coaches prior to the summer of their senior year so we could learn more ‘meaningful information’ about the coaching staff and basketball programs earlier on.

“The surprises were how some programs worked so hard during the recruiting process up to this summer and then disappeared without even a call or letter. I realize that every program has their own needs and ideas about players, but they should at least provide some type of closure rather than just disappearing, especially with a family that has another prospect who will most likely utilize his parents for a resource.”

DFE: What is the best quality Keith brings to the University of Dayton and why?

PW: “Keith is a very intelligent and versatile player. He doesn’t turn the ball over very often and usually makes good choices while playing. He dribbles well for a big man, shoots very well both inside and out – 80% from the FT line – and works as hard as one could possibly expect in rebounding, loose balls, and other intangibles. All of this in a package that is very motivated and a darn good student.”

DFE: Adam Waleskowski, Keith’s younger brother, is also getting a lot of attention for his basketball promise. Briefly describe their relationship on and off the court.

PW: “This summer was the first time they have really had the opportunity to play together on the court. We wanted this because we believed that they would play together on Alter’s varsity team this year. When we looked at AAU teams, we choose a team that would allow Keith and Adam to play together, which, given Adam’s age, was a little chancy for anyone who did not know him. Obviously, it worked out very well as they and the team had a great summer. What we really learned was that they really compliment each other’s game. Keith showed he was a workhorse with outstanding shooting both inside and out, and great ball handling skills. Adam was a defensive wizard and rebounding fool, with a much improved medium-length jump shot and free throw percentage.

“Off the court they seem to get along very well, even though they have very different interests. Adam loves music, playing his guitar, and being very sociable with his friends while Keith is into listening to music, loves the wrestling scene, and hangs out with the guys. Keith and Adam do have a tendency to tease each other a lot, but the only fights we have relate to who has to cut the grass.”

DFE: Alter Head Coach Joe Petrocelli has coached many great players who went on to stardom at Dayton. How has he made Keith and Adam better basketball players and better people?

PW: “Peto has been a great influence on the boys, especially with his ‘5-Star connections’. He has taught the boys that the summer basketball camp is not just ‘playing on the hardtop’ and putting boys in a meat market environment for college coaches, but learning and working on fundamentals. This is where, in my opinion, the separation between a very athletic player and a fundamentally-sound basketball player is determined. Many athletic players are left behind in the recruiting process because the college coach cannot take the chance on him given the pressure to win on today’s college coaches. The other major influence Petrocelli has had is that he encourages them to keep up their studies. He doesn’t put any pressure on them at all outside of the actual season. This allows them the opportunity to enjoy a little bit of life as high school students rather than just playing basketball all of the time. He really is a great coach and a true friend to the game of basketball and all of those who love the game.”

DFE: As a father, what specific part of college life do you worry most for your sons?

PW: “The biggest fear I have is that other students – and especially those who come from Alter which make up a large percentage of UD students – will not understand the time commitment that is required of these boys and all student-athletes. Their commitment is not just from the first day of practice to the end of the NCAA tournament, but all year round. With conditioning, work-outs, practices, travel, viewing tape, etc. , time management for a student athlete is a critical requirement in order to maintain the academic component of their responsibilities. Yes, they have some additional resources available to them, but it’s the distractions that have the potential for creating disaster. Hence the other problem, will they be able to really enjoy the entire college experience? Only time and determination will tell.”

DFE: What expectations do you have of the Flyers this season?

PW: “I expect it will be a very good year for the UD Flyers this season because of the talent in the guard positions and the desire of the big men to show all the ‘bleacher coaches’ that they can not only make up for the graduation of Perryman, but that by hard work, fundamentals, and a great inside-out game, they will be even better. Key to the success of this season is the stepping up of the big men because the guards seem to be well on their way. My prediction is a 19-7 season going into the A-10 tournament, which, given the quality of our schedule both inside and outside of the league, will be a great season.”

DFE: What is the origin of Waleskowski?

PW: “I am the first-born of the Waleskowskis in America. My parents immigrated from Germany after WWII with only two suitcases and two little babies [Pete’s older sisters]. I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood in the suburbs of Detroit. I married my wife Christine after we met at the hospital where we both worked. We moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri and spent 12 years there so I could advance my career in management. Both Keith and Adam were born in this very small town on the Mississippi River. After completing my Masters Degree, I accepted a job in Dayton at Miami Valley Hospital. We currently live in Miami Township.”