Curtis Withers: A Hometown Star

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Best of luck to Curt!

Curtis Withers: A Hometown Star


Curtis Withers: A Hometown Star
July 6, 2006

Many young basketball players grow up dreaming about playing for their hometown NBA team. Shooting hoops in the driveway, they pretend to be the star player, the one who is always on the front page of the local newspaper. Even the very few who actually make it to the NBA usually end up playing far from home. But Curtis Withers is different. He is playing for the Charlotte Bobcats, his hometown team, for the duration of the Orlando Summer League, which starts July 10.

“It’s a dream come true,” Withers said. “I’m playing professional basketball, and I’m still at home. There aren’t many guys who can say that.”

Withers, 21, is a native of Charlotte. He was a standout player at West Charlotte High School and was the Charlotte Observer Player of the Year as a high school junior, when he averaged 19.4 points and 11.0 rebounds.

Although he was recruited by other programs, he decided to play college basketball for his hometown school, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He averaged 14.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists during his four-year career, including 16.1 points and 11.3 rebounds with 18 double-doubles his senior season.

Despite his college success, the 6-8 forward went undrafted in last week’s NBA Draft, thus automatically becoming a free agent and able to sign with any team he wanted.

“Not being drafted was a humbling experience,” Withers said. “It let me know that you are never done working; you always have to stay at the gym and be resilient.”

Although he was disappointed, Withers has made the best of his situation in Charlotte. He tries to listen to everything the coaches say and improve upon all aspects of his game.

“It’s been a big learning experience for me,” he said. “[The Bobcats coaching staff] is showing me what I can do in the NBA.”

Because Charlotte is home to him, Withers is comfortable in his surroundings, more so than the other players who have traveled cross-country to participate in the mini-camp. Summer League Head Coach John-Blair Bickerstaff has noticed, and he believes that it has helped Withers on the court.

“Curtis brings toughness and energy,” Bickerstaff said. “He doesn’t have a problem being physical and setting screens. His teammates appreciate him for it, and that’s what this is all about.”

Not only is Withers familiar with his environment, but he is familiar with some of his teammates as well. He played USA Basketball with Sean May and Adam Morrison, and together they captured the gold medal in the 2004 USA World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Tournament. The knowledge of his teammates’ games has helped Withers better display his strengths for the good of the team.

“The more you play with someone, and the more you are around somebody, then the more they understand you,” Bickerstaff said. “In basketball, it’s all about being understood and [teammates] knowing who you are and what your role is. Curtis has been a good fit with his teammates, and I think that’s very important.”

Like most of the Bobcats Summer League roster, Withers has his sights set on a bigger goal: solidifying a spot on the Bobcats roster.

“He has a pretty good chance,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s done a good job. It’s just a matter of us determining what we need for the upcoming season.”

“I just try to do things that other guys don’t do,” Withers said. “I also do things that everyone else does, but I try to do them better. I set screens; I crash the boards every time. I am an animal on the court.”

From shooting hoops in his Charlotte driveway to shooting hoops in Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Withers is a Charlotte star, just like those he grew up watching.

 

Is the practice squad really considered pro basketball?

 

I guess so if he's getting paid. Hopefully he'll catch on somewhere, if not in Charlotte. He's a good guy with an incredible work ethic. A lot of times that isn't enought, but hopefully he'll get a chance.

 

maybe, but it's definatly not considered being a star

 

He was the hometown star at Charlotte for 4 years. I think he has a very good chance at finding a role on the Bobcats. Its hard to turn down a player that will bust his ass for a win every single night.

 

He's no Shav Randolph

 

and thats a good thing. i hope he makes it.

 

Shav? He already has. Just resigned for year 2.

 

Further proof of the NBA's screwed up priorities. He couldnt cut it as a college player, but he's a bona-fide pro?

 

Neither are 95% of the other NBA players.