April 25, 2007

Before his trip to New York City for the 2007 Jordan Brand All-American Classic, all Chris Wright heard from his high school teammates was he had to get at least one dunk.

But after finishing an intense leg workout before he left for New York, Wright was fatigued and had little lift in his legs to even think about getting above the rim.

That all changed once he stepped on the court at Madison Square Garden and felt an adrenaline rush unlike any other. Wright opened the game with a highlight-reel jam that made ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 Plays for the weekend.

With that thunderous dunk and eye-opening performance in New York, Wright took a big bite out of the Big Apple.

"I saw the ball coming off the rim and I knew nobody would box me out, so I got up as high as I could," Wright said. "I really tried to tear the rim down, but it didn't come down."

After a game high 10 rebounds and 10 points, Wright made an immediate impact on the college basketball world before playing a single game for the Dayton Flyers.

"I'd give myself a 10 out of 10," said Wright. "Normally, you'd be nervous playing in front of that many people. But I didn't have any jitters. I watched the game when I got home and I like the fact they said I was a sponge ready to be coached and taking in everything I learned. "

Playing out of position as a starting center against seven footers, Wright battled hard and showcased his athletic ability. The competition was tough because it was the best players in the nation. Being out there with some of the nation's elite showed Wright's work on-and-off the court paid off into an honor and mini all-star weekend.

Saturday was as big as it gets for Wright before coming to Dayton. Since 2002, the game's alumni include NBA stars LeBron James, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard and college players Kevin Durant of Texas and Greg Oden of Ohio State.

The awe factor is inevitable. Mention Michael Jordan and the response by most teenage basketball players is the same. The "Jordan factor," coupled with playing on the large stage at Madison Square Garden, sold Wright.

"I knew him before then, but after seeing him for the third time, I was still in awe, like a kid in a candy store. He's on my shoes, he's on my t-shirt and you see him on TV. Seeing him up close and in person is unreal."

Wright played against Jordan's son, Jeffrey, in AAU tournaments prior the 2007 Jordan Brand Classic. Wright built a strong bond with the younger Jordan and has appreciated the feedback from both Jeffrey and Michael.

"His son told me that Michael liked my game; I just didn't shoot the ball enough when he saw me play," Wright said. "Ever since then I've been working on my jump shot. The next time I want him to see me play, it will be he's good and he's ready for the next level to start polishing his game."

Utilizing his 7-foot wingspan, old-fashioned court sense and an 18-year-old's energy level, Wright not only impressed the ESPN announcers with his performance, but scouts as well. ESPN analyst Steve Lavin, who called the Dayton recruit "electrifying," said he could play as a freshman at any program in the nation.

After Saturday's game, scouts from NBADraft.net wrote the following about Wright.

"Put on your stunner shades for this guy, he was the most electrifying athlete in practices and followed that up with a number of vicious dunks in the game. How the big boys at programs such as Texas let him slip away to local Dayton is a big mystery. Wright's outside shooting was showing promise in practice as he hit a few three pointers to compliment his absolutely jaw dropping floor display. "Flyght" Wright is going to make it fright night for Dayton opponents in the near future. He is the most underrated player in the class with immense potential."

Comments like that have led to many in the basketball world to question Wright for sticking close to home and playing next year for UD instead of a highly-visible program like a UCLA, Kansas or Connecticut.

Regardless of the talk, Wright is ready to prove the doubters wrong.

"People have said why are you going to Dayton?" Wright said. "A school is a school. The name on the jersey doesn't make the player because on draft day you don't go up and take your jersey up there when you get drafted. They don't say this jersey did this for you, you do the work yourself. You make the jersey."

Wright's arrival to UD is highly anticipated. The Flyers will have a new look bringing in Wisconsin transfer Mickey Perry, junior college transfer Thiago Cordeiro and recruits Devin Searcy and Stephen Thomas. The fall signees were ranked the best in the Atlantic 10 by Scout.com.

That should be good news for the Flyers and the Flyer Faithful. Dayton returns three starters (including two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection Brian Roberts) and its top two scorers (Roberts and A-10 Sixth Man of the Year Charles Little). UD finished the 2006-07 season with a 19-12 record, and ranked No. 75 nationally in the RPI.

"I'm really excited because everybody here has a chip on their shoulder," Wright said. "Playing up here next year is going to be fun because people are already doubting us. Every day we come in here and work to prove everybody wrong and shut people up.

Everybody is on the same page and we're working hard. We're all on the same page to do our part and get wins."

One of the most athletic players in the class of 2007 with the nickname "Flyght," Dayton's Wright is dangerous in more ways than one. He plays above the rim and loves to get out and run.

Wright is also just as comfortable handling the ball on the perimeter and pulling up for 14-footers as he is with banging on the inside while looking for put-back flushes. A consensus national top 50 player, Wright first turned heads at the 2005 Nike Camp when his SPARQ (Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, and Quickness) ranking was second-best in the entire camp.

It's that kind of resume that had Wright not only in the Jordan Classic, but a key contributor as well.

Until the opener in November, Wright continues to improve his game, conditioning, while respecting the game that has given him so much in a short period of time.

"Not every kid gets a chance to play in Madison Square Garden, let alone go to New York," said Wright. "It was a great opportunity and a blessing to play in Madison Square Garden and be in New York period."

Now he moves on to another period in his life. Coming to UD will give him the opportunity to grow on-and-off the court, and show the college world what he can do.