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Thursday, November 06, 2008

Last Hurrahs

By Mark Smith
Journal Staff Writer
      They are three of the good guys.
       Cliche? Certainly.
       Common? Hardly. At least not in this age of big-time college athletics.
       But when it comes to true student-athletes — guys who have kept their nose clean on and off the court their entire careers — it's hard to find a better group than University of New Mexico senior basketball players Chad Toppert, Tony Danridge and Daniel Faris.
       “Just like last year, I brought the three seniors in (for a talk) and will bring them back again right before the season,” says second-year UNM coach Steve Alford. “I've explained their roles and explained what we want on the court and in the classroom. I've explained 'if you guys aren't doing it, then the other guys aren't going to do it. And if you guys aren't going to do it, then you're not going to be part of what we're doing.'
       “But I've got great kids. That's the difference.”
       Different from a year ago, that is, when Alford and the program faced uncertainty about the team's three seniors. While J.R. Giddens, Darren Prentice and Jamal Smith eventually became top-notch leaders, there was a great unknown when Alford first took over a dysfunctional group that won just four league games the year prior — and saw its coach fired.
       “There were a lot of question marks last year at this time,” Alford says. “But, as a credit to those three (seniors last year), by season's end I couldn't ask any more than what those three did.
       “But I know if I tell Top and Tony and Daniel, 'This is what I expect,' I'm pretty confident those three are going to do that. And that's part of leadership. They are rock solid.”
       Alford is counting on the trio to help guide a team with six scholarship freshmen and another possibly on the way in December. And Faris, Toppert and Danridge are perfect for those roles.
       All are on pace to graduate by May, maybe even by December. Unlike so many Lobos from past eras, none has caused the school any public embarrassment and all have a tremendous work ethic.
       Oh yeah, they're all pretty darn good ballplayers.
       Danridge was named third-team all-Mountain West Conference two years ago, but sat out last season with a broken leg. Toppert averaged 10.3 points a game and was second in the nation in 3-point shooting last season while Faris has turned into one of the league's top post players and averaged 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds a game last year.
       All three know this is their collegiate swan song, and say they are ready.
       “It's starting to hit me that this is it,” says the soft-spoken Danridge, son of a pastor. “I just want to win, that's the only thing. I don't have individual goals, just team goals. But sitting out a year makes me extra hungry.”
       Toppert, an Albuquerque Academy graduate whose parents — Bob and Linda (formerly Hattox) — both played basketball at UNM, began his Lobo career as a walk-on. He now has a chance to walk off as the program's all-time leading 3-point shooter.
       “There have been some ups and downs,” says a reflective Toppert. “I was part of a (MWC) championship team (2005), then we fell apart. I've been a redshirt, a walk-on and have had two different coaches, two different systems.
       “It's definitely is a growing experience. I definitely think I can learn from this for other parts of life.”
       All three will probably have the opportunity to continue their careers at the professional level, and Alford says Danridge could even reach the NBA. But they also know that college is different, and Faris — an Eldorado product — says he's not thinking about anything but one more run this season.
       “It didn't really hit me this summer, but it just started hitting me once fall semester started,” Faris says. “I was like, 'Man, this is it. This is the last one of everything — the last hurrah.'
       “It's kind of hard to swallow, to really take in and realize it. I probably won't be able to sit back and reflect on everything until I'm done with it. But I'm loving the ride. I'm so glad to be a part of this university and this team.”
       And as cliche as it sounds, the feeling is certainly mutual with these three.
       

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