Sept. 30, 2002
A PLAYER'S PERSPECTIVEBy Rasheed Wright
The addition of Kenny Gattison to our coaching staff at the start of my junior yearhad more of an impact on me than I thought it would.
I obviously knew who he was from watching him play with the Charlotte Hornets, and withme being from North Carolina, I saw a lot of their games.
When I decided to come to Old Dominion to play basketball, my dad and Uncle Brianmentioned that "Gatt," which is how they reffered to him, had played for the Monarchsand was actually from their old stomping grounds of Wilmington, NC.
When he became one of my assistant coaches last season, I called them with the news,and it was then that they told me he had gone to the same high school they attended.My dad and uncle are both older than coach Gattison, but they knew him through growingup in Wilmington.
After learning all of this I feld more comfortable with the coaching change. CoachGattison has been someone I can go to for advice and constructive criticism on thegame of basketball. I can also just joke around with him.
I feel he has really helped my outlook on both basketball and life. As one who basicallytook the same route I am taking in basketball and made it in the NBA, he is also adriving force for me to succeed.
This gives me a lot of confidence, but a the same time, lets me know how hardI have to work.
NOTE:Rasheed Wright is a senior fromGreensboro, NC. and is majoring incommunications.