In Junior Season, Hendrix Assumes Leadership Role as Center
2/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Scott Latta
UA Media Relations
Those who spend time around Richard Hendrix know there’s always been something different about him.
His teammates say it’s his leadership ability and outspokenness. Coaches say it’s his size and capacity to create space in the lane. He has the ability to take over a game inside, they say. He’s mature; a team leader.
Those who were around Hendrix’s recruiting saw it too, including Alabama assistant coach Philip Pearson. There was something different about him, something different about a “Mr. Basketball,” a McDonalds All-American, who wanted to stay up late and play a coach in Internet chess from his home in Athens.
“I tried to come out in the first game and get him with a couple of quick-hitters and see if I could beat him, but I guess I underestimated him and he actually beat me,” Hendrix said. “In the second game we played to a draw. I had him beat but he weaseled out of it somehow. We were up late, 1:30 or 2:00 on a school night.”
Despite Hendrix’s 0-for-2 performance against Pearson in Yahoo! Internet chess, the Alabama junior has had no problem adjusting from his high-profile recruitment to becoming one of Alabama’s most crucial players this season. For the first time since high school, Hendrix knows he’s the main man under the basket for Alabama, with last year’s center, Jermareo Davidson, in the NBA.
Hendrix’s teammates know it, too, and they have no doubts about him stepping into the role.
“Richard’s going to be MVP,” senior Ronald Steele said. “For us to do well he’s going to have to play well. He’s done a great job getting in shape, in the best shape of his life I would say. He’s a smart player, a natural leader and he brings a leadership to the team and that’s going to be important. He’s older and combined with his skill level he’s going to be a great player this year.”
As one of the leaders on the team, communication is crucial for Hendrix’s role in helping orchestrate the Tide offense. Luckily, he comes from a communications background: one sister, Lesley, works in communications for Tuscaloosa City Schools, and another sister, Kristina, works in communications for NASA.
Hendrix, a communications major, is already looking beyond his future basketball career to a future in the business himself.
“I guess it’s one of those things that always came natural,” he said. “I’ve never been much of a numbers type guy, I’m a words guy. I’ve always liked people and I’ve always wanted to be around them and I guess that comes from my family. After basketball is over I’ll just be hoping to do something where I could show off all my assets and all my talent.”
Coaches and teammates say Hendrix is one of the most competitive players on the team, always working to better himself in activities that aren’t necessarily even related to basketball: if he sees someone juggling, he’ll try to do it better and longer. If someone hits a shot from half court, he’ll try one from full court, or from the stands.
It’s a trait that dates back to his childhood, he says, and it’s what helps make him better.
“It’s always been my style,” Hendrix said. “I’ve always had a competitive mentality. I’ve always been a winner in whatever I do, I’m always trying to do the best. If I can’t do the best of someone else I have to do the best I can possibly do. my best may not be as good as someone else’s best but as long as I can accomplish a feat I take pride.”
The dedication has not gone unnoticed by Hendrix’s teammates.
“He’s a real outspoken person and he’s going to be a real asset to the team,” senior Mykal Riley said. “We need him to win some games. He’s a real good leader so he’s a real big asset to our team.”
Hendrix returns for his junior year after a sophomore campaign that earned him second-team All-SEC honors in a season where he led the Tide in scoring (14.6 points per game) and rebounding (8.7 rebounds per game). He led the SEC in overall field goal percentage (.602) last year and has been a mainstay under the basket for Alabama, starting a team-record 52 consecutive games entering the 2007 season.
It’s an impressive r??sum?? that dates back to his high school days, when Hendrix earned “Mr. Basketball” honors as a top five national recruit. He set a state record in career rebounds (1,820) and blocked shots (667) while scoring more than 2,900 points for Athens High School ?? all under the watchful eye of his father, Venard, a coach.
“I tried to use everything he taught me in high school and middle school and carry it on and show my teammates how things should be done and what they should be doing to be as successful as possible,” Hendrix said.
The support for his career both on and off the court comes not only from his father, Hendrix says, but his mother, too, who is seen these days driving around Athens with an Alabama car tag that proudly displays “35S MOM.”
“She’s the president of my fan club, always has been, always will be, as well as everyone else’s too ?? my sisters, my dad,” Hendrix said. “She’s the president of everyone’s fan club. I love her to death for it and can’t thank her enough.”
