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Home > Blogs > Flyer Connection: University of Dayton sports > Archives > 2009 > February > 06
Friday, February 6, 2009
Wright needs more seasoning before pursuing NBA
You hear a lot of national anthems in this profession (not going anywhere with that, just felt like sharing), and you work with a lot of athletes of all stripes. Some seem like such loose cannons that you’re never surprised when they end up on the wrong side of the law — like Maurice Clarett — or Tasered by the cops — like Alex Boone.
Some, though, are such good-hearted kids you hope your grand-daughters can one day find someone of their ilk — like Chris Wright.
I bring up the Dayton sophomore forward because I hope he makes a clear-headed basketball decision after the season and avoids a premature reach for NBA riches.
Wright is an impressive physical specimen and a rare athlete. And if he matches those gifts with the work ethic of Rudy (the former Notre Dame football walk-on, not the UD mascot), I believe he’ll hone his skills enough to make it at the next level. But he’s a good two years away from that.
The Trotwood native said he hasn’t talked to any NBA scouts — which would be permissible, as long as the athlete doesn’t sign a contract or accept any cash or gifts — and UD coach Brian Gregory said he’d help the player and his family work through the process after the season if they choose to go that route. Let’s hope saner heads prevail, though.
Wright has good support around him with his close relationship with his uncle, J.D. Grigsby, and I’m sure the former Flyer star who teaches in the Dayton City school system and also works as a pastor will offer sound advice.
To his credit, Wright said he hadn’t thought that far ahead — and he seemed convincing.
“I’m just worried about the team,” he said. “The team is most important, us having success this season. When that time comes, when we come to that bridge, we’ll cross it, but I’m just thinking about getting better and helping the team get better.”
I talked this week to an NBA scout, who has seen Wright play twice this season. He said Wright would play the 3 spot in the pros and asked if I thought he could defend NBA wings. My answer? Not at this point. But Wright is getting a chance to learn how to guard 3’s at UD, which is another point for staying in school.
But I agree with Gregory, that it’s not a matter of IF Wright will play in the NBA, but WHEN. Let’s just hope the kid isn’t in too much of a hurry to get there.
I did like how Wright put an end to that nonsense about him transferring to a BCS school. That theme seems to pop up on Dayton Daily News comment posts from paranoid fans, and it’s always seemed preposterous to me.
Wright thought through all of what he might be passing up when he made the decision to stay home for college.
“I always dreamed about my mom getting to see me play,” he said earlier this week. “We have a real, real strong relationship. And we’re 20-2. You can’t complain about that. I lot of people would like to be 20-2.”
He praised the UD coaching staff profusely for helping him develop — Gregory, Billy Schmidt, Jon Borovich and Cornell Mann — and didn’t sound then like a kid eyeing a more visible platform for his skills.
“If it weren’t for BG, Billy, JB, Corn, Dayton and this program, I wouldn’t even get to be talking about (the NBA),” he said. “They’re the ones pushing me hard every day. I’m really enjoying it here. Last year with my injury, I got a little depressed, but I kept my faith in God.
“As far as me transferring and all that stuff, it’s not true. … I’m happy playing with Dayton across my chest.”
