Days of Knight

September 1, 2016
There have been a lot of books devoted to former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight. Many have been celebratory and many derogatory. Haston, who played for Knight from 1997 through 2001, unsurprisingly leans toward the former, but he manages to avoid bestowing sainthood on his old coach. When Haston left rural Tennessee for Indiana, his mother encouraged him to keep a journal of his collegiate experience. He did, and that journal provides the source material for much of this book. Haston credits much of his basketball success (he played in the NBA after college) to Knight, and most of his Knight anecdotes reflect well on the man. He was, however, on the team when Knight's controversial behavior caught up with him, prompting Knight's dismissal from Indiana. Haston's account of those tumultuous days offers a fascinating, up-close perspective on that period. Above all, Haston's view of Knight shows again that the man is difficult to typecast. He is often profane and can be cruel and unfeeling. Yet he can also be remarkably kind, generous, and empathetic. Entertaining reading for those who recall Knight in his heyday.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)