SouthEastern Wildcat Review

Frank Matrisciano. The mental and fitness expert that has earned the moniker of "Hell's Trainer." Who is he? What does he do? And why in the world would a highly regarded freshman center and arguably the best frontcourt player in the country seek out such a secretive man to prepare them for the season?

Because they want to experience the same results Blake Griffin, this year's #1 overall draft pick out of Oklahoma experienced.

I did a lot of research for this post, and it really amazed me just how little information I was able to find. But what I could find was very interesting. Either this guy is a complete basket case, which I do not believe, or he is one of the few innovators left. His methods are definitely different, but anyone who witnessed Blake Griffin terrorize the Big 12 and the rest of the country, realizes they bring results.

Matrisciano is half-italian, half-spanish, and was raised in northern New Jersey. (Couldn't find a town). He is the youngest of four, has no kids himself, and has never been married. Reportedly he is 43 years old but that hasn't been confirmed. Frank has been training basketball players since 1992, and though he doesn't like to talk about the athletes he trained, the list includes the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas, Celtics' Leon Powe, the Pacers' Kareem Rush, and Arron Afflalo of the Pistons.

"I look at them like robots."

"I take them to a level they've never been."

"I'm just a shadow in the background."

All quotes from a man that has coined a personal phrase "Law-7." What that means is for every ten athletes that enlist his help, seven of them leave within the first half-hour. He does not advertise his services, you must know someone within his training circle to get hooked up with him. Matrisciano addresses everyone "sir" and expects the same in return. He admits that in the past he was saddled with nicknames like "Mental Patient" and "Genetic Freak."

"You don't know how many say they want to do it," Frank says. "But it's easy to say when you're on the couch. It's another thing to get up at 5 a.m. and get out there on the sand hills." He does not accept payment from high school or college players. They are responsible for paying their living expenses and bringing the will and desire to follow through with what they started. Four to eight hours per day five days a week for four to six weeks is what the newbies have to look forward to. Basketball doesn't get neglected either as part of that time is spent in skills training under former NBA coach Bob Hill.

Survival of the Fittest training. Chameleon training. Two of the terms Matrisciano uses to describe his workouts. Stairmasters, ellipticals, treadmills, and even traditional free weights mean nothing to this man. His playground is San Francisco. Adapting to one's surroundings and overcoming any obstacle is the mantra he preaches as his charges labor up stairs carrying medicine balls, jog up sand hills in harnesses he tugs at from behind, and run in the soft, sandy beaches while wearing a 65-pound weighted vest. The workouts are held almost exclusively outside and never on a flat or hard surface.

Hell's Trainer has pushed many to their absolute limits which some say is his ultimate gift: the ability to identify exactly where each of his client's "limit" is. He has trained boxers, MMA & Martial Artists, Federal Marshalls, Firemen, Policemen, Pro Athletes, and Military Personnel.

So did Patrick and Daniel make the right choice? Only time will tell, but if Blake Griffin's domination last year is any indication, Wildcat fans will appreciate the time and hard work our two big men are putting into the team's success. After all, when you have ran stairs, sand dunes, and inclines of every sort, how hard could it be to sprint up and down a 94' basketball court?

Blake Griffin and Frank Matrisciano talk about their time together on ESPN: