Jan. 13, 2006
By Simit Shah – Paco Diaw might speak four languages, but he has no words to describe how overwhelmed he has been at times trying to learn Paul Hewitt’s complex system.
The Senegal native paused, then smiled and shook his head.
“Yeah, it’s been real hard to understand,” he said. “It’s a completely different world to me. To succeed, you have to play hard and keep your head up.”
So far, he’s been doing just that, and it’s paying dividends for the Jackets so far this season as the 6-foot-6 freshman is adapting to his new role as a point guard. As the season has progressed, Diaw has steadily climbed the depth chart, seeing significant minutes as the ACC portion of the schedule commences.
The coaching staff has been impressed with his defensive intensity and unselfish play. Just eight games into his college career, Diaw found himself in the starting lineup as Hewitt attempted to establish a more defense-oriented lineup.
Diaw’s rapid ascent is even more amazing considering he was a late addition to the recruiting class and wasn’t cleared to play until just a few days before the start of practice.
In Senegal, he had been playing organized basketball for just a few years but was a member of the country’s under-20 national team. His older half-brother Boris was an Atlanta Hawk for several seasons, so that led to Paco, whose given name is Papa, moving to Atlanta last year.
He attended Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy and averaged 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists, helping them to a 30-3 record and conference championship.
However, he drew very little interest from colleges. Diaw’s coach, Jerry Moore, eventually called Hewitt and sent over a highlight tape. Tech’s coaching staff was intrigued and offered Diaw scholarship in the spring, well after most high school recruits had signed.
His academic transcripts from Senegal had to be translated, and that led to a lengthy delay in the NCAA clearing him to join the basketball team.
“I was really nervous,” he recalled. “I took classes over the summer, and I was studying a lot. I didn’t have a chance to go back home. After I finished, there was still a problem with the credits, so I had to wait. That was a very hard thing to do.”
Until the NCAA finally granted eligibility just prior to the start of preseason practice, Hewitt was holding his breath. The NCAA limits contact with a student until he is cleared to play, and Hewitt was afraid that Diaw might get discouraged about his chances of ever suiting up for the Jackets. Plus, Boris had been traded to Phoenix, so the younger Diaw’s ties to Atlanta had been mostly severed.
However, Diaw had no doubts that he’d stick with Tech despite the long process of gaining eligibility. “I knew I wanted to stay here,” he stated. “I’m a grown man now, so I need to go my own way.”
In just a short time, Diaw has made tremendous strides adjusting on and off the court, according to teammate and roommate Mario West.
“He’s picked up everything so fast,” West said. “He’s done a wonderful job so far. He’s made the adjustment pretty easy.
“We have a good time. Sometimes he’ll make some tea, cook some pasta or other dishes that he might make back at home. We’ll try it, and it’s usually pretty good. Just overall, I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s a real smart guy.”
The process of becoming part of the team started over the summer when Diaw played in pickup games with current and former Yellow Jackets. Players would regularly tell Hewitt about how impressed they were with Diaw.
“He’s doing the same things he was doing over the summer,” West said. “He’s being very active and unselfish. He plays hard every single minute. That’s what real good players do.”
Once school started, the wait for NCAA clearance began, forcing Diaw to miss individual workouts with the coaching staff. He started practice with a blank slate, so the learning curve has been steep at times, but Hewitt has been impressed with his ability to absorb everything.
“What he knows is what you teach him,” said Hewitt, who often counsels Diaw, sometimes emphatically, during games.
“He always tries to help me and make me better,” explained Diaw. “He’ll always tell you the truth. That’s why I like him.”
While the team’s blueprint called for Diaw to be the third point guard behind Zam Fredrick and West, injuries to West and Lewis Clinch have catapulted him up the depth chart. He’s made mistakes, but Hewitt sees steady progress each game, especially when it comes to handling the ball.
“He’s getting a lot better,” Hewitt noted. “He’s starting to understand he can’t force as many passes as he is. He’s such an unselfish player. He’s always looking for that pass that leads to a score. He’s starting to learn that the deeper you go in the shot clock, the better your chances are to make that pass.”
Against Vanderbilt, he notched eight assists in 19 minutes, helping the Jackets connect on 61 percent of their shots. “I feel good on defense,” he said after game. “On offense, I’m getting more confident. It’s been a process that started with the beginning of practice.”
Diaw scored 47 points in a high school game last year, but he’s still searching for his offensive niche at the college level. He has scored only 16 points in his first 11 games, but he shot the ball only 14 times.
“His shot needs some work, but I think he’s a hard enough worker to get there,” said Hewitt.
Diaw knows he has much more to learn to become a more complete player on this level, but he also know that he’s made strides in his short time at Tech.
“It’s been small steps,” he said. “I want to work on my shooting and become a better point guard.”
