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Sporting News, The, Nov 8, 2004 by Mike DeCourcy

There are four players on the court for this early October workout, but three of them won't matter to you by the time Wake Forest starts playing real games. Only Chris Paul is a starter and an emerging star. He certainly looks the part. He floats gracefully above the floor as he moves, whether he's bringing along a basketball or not. Given the chance to dunk, he climbs to a crest few his size have conquered. When he shoots, the ball settles in the net as though it is looking for a place to nap.

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As player defections make it ever more difficult to forecast each college basketball season, the safest course becomes following the guy who appears to be a transcendent player. This year, that's Paul. Eight teammates, including gifted shooting guard Justin Gray and center Eric Williams, own 2003 ACC championship rings. The Demon Deacons have depth, size, experience and perimeter shooting skill. With uncommon talent and personality, Paul binds these ingredients into a cohesive, fearsome package.

During his freshman year, Paul eased into the starting point guard position without debasing incumbent Taron Downey. Gradually developing into an on-court leader, Paul averaged 14.8 points, 5.9 assists and 49.6 percent shooting and was ACC freshman of the year. Paul delighted reporters with his manners and engaging personality. He also made the dean's list.

He followed that with a summer in which he became Kelvin Sampson's pick to lead the U.S. 20-and-under team through a world championship qualifier and was Michael Jordan's to take the game-winning shot in a pickup game, something Paul will remember the rest of his life.

At this moment, though, if you look closely, you will notice something is not quite right. And if you don't notice, Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser will make it clear. He halts the activity with a brief show of his palm.

Looking Paul in the eyes, he says, "You set the tone. If you cut like an old man, everybody's going to cut like an old man."

So here we have proof: Chris Paul sometimes requires scolding during practice. He is not perfect. He is real. He is an All-American-caliber player, an exceptional student, a young man described by various constituencies as commanding, refreshing, charismatic and perceptive. But now we can be sure he is human. That's a relief.

'Commanding'

--Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser

Paul arrived at Wake as a McDonald's All-American, a local hero who averaged 30.8 points as a senior at nearby West Forsyth High. Anyone who saw him deliver 10 assists in the McDonald's game or watched him carry the undermanned Kappa Magic team to the national AAU championship recognized Paul would take over as the Deacons' starting point guard.

There was no vacancy, however. As a sophomore in 2002-03, Downey directed Wake to the ACC regular-season championship. Supplanting him with Patti would require delicate maneuvering. "I was very concerned," Prosser says.

The problem handled itself, at least initially. Downey was struck by appendicitis a week before the Deacons opened the season; Paul assumed control of the attack. So the matter of which player would start was resolved, but maintaining Downey's contribution remained an issue. He went on to average 10.2 points. "I don't think it was anything I did" Paul says. "I think it was all Taron. He's all about winning. Even though I was the point guard, he was still a huge leader."

But Paul's selflessness made it a smooth transition. He deferred noticeably to Downey and the other veterans in early games and practices. Too noticeably. He passed up open jumpers as though they were plates of broccoli. Prosser halted one practice and warned Paul that Wake "couldn't afford to play four-on-five." In a four-game pre-Christmas stretch that included victories over Indiana and North Carolina, Patti averaged 16.8 points and 8.3 assists. The Deacons became his team.

"He's down to earth, humble" says Deacons forward Jamaal Levy, one of the team's most experienced players. "Because he's from around here, he'd been to games and practices. He really got involved in Wake. When he came in, we didn't look at it like he was getting all this hype. He was one of us"

'Refreshing'

--Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson

Offered the chance to coach the U.S. young men's team in the world championship qualifying tournament, Sampson did not immediately accept. It requires a tremendous commitment and removes the coach from part of the recruiting process.

"One of the first questions I asked was which point guards would be invited, and the first person they mentioned was Chris Paul," Sampson says. "That was the main reason I accepted."

Sampson's first priority became constructing a unified team whose players would accept roles. Sampson called Paul and declared he would be a leader. He asked Paul to phone regularly to establish the foundation of a relationship. Paul called weekly, sometimes more.

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Sporting News, The, Nov 8, 2004 by Mike DeCourcy

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