Wake Forest Athletics
Gold Rush: Continuing The Chain
11/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2002
By Jay Reddick
Wake Forest basketball has a long history of experienced point guards. From Robert O'Kelley to Tony Rutland, Randolph Childress to Derrick McQueen to Muggsy Bogues, the past 15 years are full of memories of great plays and great players from the point.
But all of those guys had one thing in common - they all started at the point from at least their sophomore season to the end of their careers. Now a sophomore himself, Taron Downey is being given the ball, and he's ready to run with it.
A look at the Deacons roster might lead you to think that Downey is in the starting lineup by default. After all, five seniors graduated last May, including two former assist leaders in Broderick Hicks and Ervin Murray. But according to coach Skip Prosser, he's earned it.
"Taron has emerged as a vocal leader, which makes sense," Prosser said. "As a freshman, he was a much more deferential kid, but he had two seniors playing in front of him. Now, he's gaining confidence in his own ability, and the thoughts of 'How am I playing?' become concern with how the other guys on the team are doing, and that's good."
Downey has put in plenty of physical work to prepare for this season - he said his ballhandling and his shot are both better than last March - but a big part of his summer was spent learning to think and talk like a leader.
"I basically lived in the gym this summer," Downey said. "I stayed until people came to kick me out at night, playing the point in pickup games and trying to get whatever team I was on to play together and follow my lead. I thought that was my weakest point last year, and I knew I'd need that."
The role of point guard as "coach on the floor" is one Downey takes seriously, and he has spent plenty of time in the Manchester Athletic Center offices breaking down film with the coaching staff.
"I hear what the coaches are saying that certain guys need to do better or do more of, and sometimes I pass that along," Downey said. "It's the coaches' job to hustle guys up and get more out of them, but if it comes from me, it's not 'the coaches are riding me,' it's 'Hey, Taron's stepping it up, we need to, too.' "
That aspect of Downey's maturation will show itself in games, but for now, he's using it in practice to mentor Justin Gray. The highly touted freshman from Charlotte started the Deacs' first exhibition at shooting guard alongside Downey and could be a vital cog in the team's success this season.
"It's a blessing for me," Downey said. "I learned so much last year from Broderick and Ervin, and to give that knowledge to Justin is a nice thing."
Downey believes Gray will be ready for what faces him in the ACC.
"He's a smart fellow," Downey said. "He has a high basketball IQ already. He's being asked to play the one (point guard) and the two (shooting guard) in practice, and he can do it."
Gray has already learned, with Downey's help, what is expected of him: total effort.
"Before we even started practice, I had showed him the way coach Prosser likes to play defense," Downey said. "As the point guard, you have to pick up the other point guard full-court and stick with him. It's hard to condition yourself to do that, and it's important, as the team leader, that you can't be the first one tired."
Downey seems to be taking to his role as leader and mentor just fine, and for now, there's plenty of playing time available for both Gray and Downey. But what happens if that dries up?
"That's never a worry for me," Downey said. "If he takes my job, it's because he's doing something that I'm not doing right. That's what drives me to keep working hard."
That, and bringing Wake Forest more victories. Downey feeds off the low expectations that the media has for his team.
"People think we won't be as good," Downey said. "People say we're too young, but that doesn't matter if you're playing hard, and our five freshmen are playing big."
At least early in the schedule, Gray and Downey figure to be in the lineup together often, despite both men's slight 6-foot-2 frames. Downey will do everything to help his young protege, because it ultimately helps the team. Just don't ask him to give up the point.
"I enjoy playing with him, but I really like having the ball in my hand," Downey said with a laugh. "He can have it now and then."
After all, Downey has a legacy to uphold.
