Jan. 17, 2003
By Simit Shah
ATLANTA — In the waning moments Tech’s 81-74 victory Florida State, Chris Bosh had every reason to relax a little. The heralded freshman had just registered his seventh double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Jackets improve to 2-1 in ACC play.
But instead of easing up down the stretch of a game that was all but over, the 6-10, 210-pound Texas native was sprawled across the floor of Alexander Memorial Coliseum battling for a seemingly meaningless loose ball.
“That’s the thing that makes this kid special,” explained Coach Paul Hewitt after the game. “People don’t realize how coachable he is and how great a teammate he is. For all the accolades and the press he had coming in, he has never once acted like he’s better than anyone else.”
In just a few short months, Bosh has impressed coaches, teammates and fans with his polished play and all-around ability. Starring at Lincoln High School just outside of Dallas, he garnered plenty of national attention while leading his team to a 40-0 record and a Texas state championship.
A consensus all-America selection, Bosh was courted by a number of college basketball powerhouses, and he also considered entering the NBA draft. As he began to narrow the field, Tech emerged as a place that he felt very “comfortable.”
“I think a lot of the other coaches were pressuring me, but Coach Hewitt just came to my family and left it up to me,” he related. “He didn’t make it seem like a business decision.”
Hewitt approached Bosh just as he would any potential recruit. “What I try to do is point out is what’s important in this decision,” he explained. “Going to college is about finding the right fit, and this school offers a lot.”
When he came to Atlanta for his official visit, Bosh knew that Tech was the right place. His parents, Noel and Freida, have emphasized the importance of education from an early age, so the high school honor student recognized that Georgia Tech was the perfect combination of athletics and academics.
“I just turned to my mother and told her that I’m coming to Georgia Tech,” said Bosh, who has family in the Atlanta area. “I think she wanted me to come here, so she was very happy.”
“I don’t care what he tells you, Mom made the decision,” Hewitt joked. “I think his mom felt very comfortable with the structure and discipline we have in this program.”
Hewitt has proved to be a strong recruiter since he arrived in 2000, but landing Bosh has been his crowning achievement. The only comparable recruit in his coaching career is Tim Thomas, who committed to Villanova when Hewitt was an assistant there from 1992-97.
“The difference between Chris and Tim is that Tim was much more physically ready to play in college,” said Hewitt, “but [Bosh] is more savvy and more fundamentally sound.”
Tech fans have been ecstatic with what they have seen from Bosh so far this season. He has been firmly entrenched among the ACC’s leaders in scoring, rebounds and field goal percentage. He’s won the league rookie of the week award three times already the season, a considerable achievement given the number of talented freshmen in the ACC.
“I’m so impressed with his feel for the game and how fundamentally sound he is,” said Hewitt. “There are some things he can work on, and he’s not afraid to work hard to get better.”
Bosh has surprised even himself with the early success, but he’s quick to point out that the competition has gotten tougher as the season has progressed.
“Everybody’s good,” he observed. “There were some things that I did in high school that I thought would work, but it’s a totally different game. Everybody is smarter and stronger that you are, so it’s a learning process.”
