A question for Dan and anybody with inside info or perspective about who the leaders are on this roster. Now that JJ has graduated, who provides the leadership this year?
If the staff polled the players in an open public session about who they wanted designated as captains, teammates would give the politically correct answer that each thought Fox wanted to hear. Votes would go to the reliable old men, Juwan Parker and Kessler. Many would vote to repay Yante for his decision to forego the NBA.
While Turtle was the unquestioned leader on his HS team, I didn't see that in AAU play or in his last year's Bulldog performance. Was Wilredge the leader of his HS squad, or did his late injury prevent him from developing that trait? DO had too many other large personalities on his HS squad to allow him to be their leader.
IF a secret vote of players were taken, who would they recognize as their two leaders? I trust that players wouldn't confuse athletic talent with leadership. Is Yante the leader from day one? Parker was reportedly the 3 year leader of his championship prep team. Has that carried over to college? Can a player remain The Leader if he physically can't produce enough to play starter's minutes?
Do teammates in a secret vote overlook Crump and Harris' youthful status as unproven sophs to elect one of them as captain? When a players-only team meeting behind closed doors is called during a rocky period this year, who will likely chair and lead that meeting? Is that same guy automatically the on-court leader too?
I've seen the lack of two things over the years stand in the way of success for an otherwise talented roster. Lack of an unselfish Point Guard and absence of a clear Leader. Have we got the leadership question answered this year?
If the staff polled the players in an open public session about who they wanted designated as captains, teammates would give the politically correct answer that each thought Fox wanted to hear. Votes would go to the reliable old men, Juwan Parker and Kessler. Many would vote to repay Yante for his decision to forego the NBA.
While Turtle was the unquestioned leader on his HS team, I didn't see that in AAU play or in his last year's Bulldog performance. Was Wilredge the leader of his HS squad, or did his late injury prevent him from developing that trait? DO had too many other large personalities on his HS squad to allow him to be their leader.
IF a secret vote of players were taken, who would they recognize as their two leaders? I trust that players wouldn't confuse athletic talent with leadership. Is Yante the leader from day one? Parker was reportedly the 3 year leader of his championship prep team. Has that carried over to college? Can a player remain The Leader if he physically can't produce enough to play starter's minutes?
Do teammates in a secret vote overlook Crump and Harris' youthful status as unproven sophs to elect one of them as captain? When a players-only team meeting behind closed doors is called during a rocky period this year, who will likely chair and lead that meeting? Is that same guy automatically the on-court leader too?
I've seen the lack of two things over the years stand in the way of success for an otherwise talented roster. Lack of an unselfish Point Guard and absence of a clear Leader. Have we got the leadership question answered this year?
