Unt's Second Chance Stars

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UNT's second chance stars

07:25 AM CDT on Thursday, March 15, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Keith Wooden seemed destined for college basketball stardom when he was a senior in high school.

Wooden was an all-state selection in Kansas, one of the top 100 college basketball recruits in the country and a player coveted by national powers such as the University of Kansas, Indiana University and Arizona State University.

The road to fulfilling that potential was a little longer than expected for Wooden, who only recently began to blossom this season at the University of North Texas, thanks to a second chance he received from head coach Johnny Jones.

Jones has taken on multiple players who needed a new start of some sort during his tenure at UNT and has succeeded with several who have helped lead the Mean Green to the NCAA Tournament.

UNT left for its first-round game against the University of Memphis in the South Regional after a pep rally Wednesday at the Super Pit.

“I have grown up a lot under coach Jones,” Wooden said. “He has let me make mistakes, but he is always there to pick me up when I make a mistake and show me the right way to do things. I know that I am a better person now because of it.”

There is little doubt UNT is a better team because of the second opportunities Jones has given not only to Wooden, but to several other players who are key members of the Mean Green.

Junior guard Michael Sturns was dismissed from the team for failing to conform to team standards in the middle of last season, then came back prior to the beginning of this season when Jones gave him another opportunity. Kendrick Davis, the Mean Green’s second-leading scorer with an average of 13.2 points a game, is a transfer from Arkansas who started over at UNT.

Rich Young, a former Marine, was in his mid-20s when he joined the Mean Green and wasn’t a typical college basketball recruit when he arrived at UNT.

Each of those players has found a role at UNT, which took on each player despite the fact they posed an element of risk.

“I have been blessed with a gift to not try to treat everyone the same and understand that all of my guys are going to be different and be able to communicate with them,” Jones said. “The communication part of it is huge.”

Jones has had a few busts along the way with second-chance players, including Roderick Flemings. The former DeSoto standout started out at Oklahoma State before transferring to UNT, where he stayed for less than a year before leaving for a junior college.

Those misses have been exceptions for UNT, which has succeeded with most of its second-chance players, including Wooden. The junior is averaging 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds a game as a starter for UNT, a dramatic change from the two years he spent at Arizona State, where he struggled and eventually became academically ineligible.

“Coach Jones talks to you like a man and treats you like a man,” Wooden said. “He wants you to grow up as a person on and off the court.”

Jones credited UNT’s support staff for keeping the players who have academic issues on track.

“Guys succeed here that didn’t elsewhere because of what Johnny demands,” UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said. “It’s not just about basketball, it’s about taking care of every part of their lives. His principals and expectations for his players and the team make the difference.”

That approach has helped more than a few UNT players take on key roles after getting a second chance with the Mean Green. Sturns has settled into a role as backup point guard and averages 12.4 points a game, the highest total for a non-starter in the Sun Belt Conference this season.

“I always had a close relationship with coach Jones, despite what happened,” Sturns said. “After last year, I felt it was time to move on and so did he. … I hope everyone can see the changes I have made as a person and how I have matured since then.”

Davis spent two seasons at Arkansas before transferring to UNT after his role with the Razorbacks diminished after his freshman year. He has been the Mean Green’s starting shooting guard since he became eligible at UNT last season. He ranks second on the team with an average of 13.2 points a game.

“Coach Jones doesn’t give up on people,” UNT assistant coach Charlie Leonard said. “He genuinely believes that everyone has something to offer, and it is our job to give kids a chance. Sometimes I haven’t agreed with him, but he has a hard time giving up on people, which is why people don’t give up on him.”

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .