“All I had to worry about was shooting,” he says.
So that’s what he’d do, mostly coming off the bench as a sophomore and junior. Not much pressure, even less responsibility. Knock down a few 3-pointers and Wright’s night was considered a success.
As a senior, playing in a new system, Wright has had a hand in about everything the Temple Wildcats - who will host rival Belton tonight in both teams’ District 12-5A opener - do on the court.
Though he’s the Wildcats’ leading scorer, averaging just more than 14 points per game, Wright’s now responsible for more than just scoring.
Sometimes he’s the team’s primary ball handler and he often draws the most difficult defensive assigment. And as one of the team’s two seniors, Wright has inherited the title of team leader.
It’s been quite a role reversal, but one Wright has learned to embrace.
“He’s just a kid who’s hungry,” Temple first-year coach Tim Thomas said. “He’s hungry to do better and really wants to be successful.”
In the 5-8 Wright’s early years as a Wildcat, opponents might have left him open.
Not anymore.
Wright’s been the Wildcats’ most consistent scorer, totaling double digits in all but one game. As the most consistent scorer on a team still searching for other reliable options on offense, Wright faces hounding pressure simply to get a shot off.
“Teams have really tried to be aware of and cognizant of him, to make sure he doesn’t get a shot off,” Thomas said. “We’ve worked on some things with him - shot faking, taking a couple dribbles, being able to pull up.
“He’s adapting to that well.”
In the past, Wright had primarily been known as simply a spot-up shooter, usually behind the 3-point line.
Finding ways to attack the basket and become more than just a jump shooter is something Wright readily admits he needs to work on.
“(Thomas) wants me to put the ball on the floor,” Wright said. “I have to create my shot better because everybody knows I’m a shooter, so it’s hard to get my shot off.”
As much as Wright the scorer has had to evolve, it’s been Wright the defender who’s undergone the biggest transformation.
From guarding on the ball to taking charges, Wright says this is the most defensive work he’s had to do.
“I have to be way more defensive of a player than I’ve been before,” he said.
Defense is something that both Wright and Thomas admit has required the most work among his newest responsibilities.
But it’s something, in time they say, that can be as consistent as his shooting.
“I’m asking him to do a lot more things in basketball,” Thomas said, “that he’s really capable of.”
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
