Grande Entrance

NW's Franklin poised to prove the naysayers wrong in Texas

 

By Jared Field

25 September 2007

greatlakeshoops.com

 

Anyone who has had the misfortune of checking former Flint Northwestern star, Damon Franklin, knows all about his long first step.

 

But, the 6’4’’ shooting guard, as quick as he is wiry, saved his longest step for last when he took his ball down south to the Lone Star State this fall. Franklin, arguably the top player in the city of Flint last season, earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Texas-Pan American after being spurned by schools from Lake Superior to the Rio Grande.

 

“I cant say that I don’t think about (being overlooked) because I do,” said Franklin, who didn’t sign on with UT-PA until the basketball equivalent of the eleventh hour. "When I do think about it, though, it seems pointless. I'm here…so I still accomplished an important goal in my life…play(ing) D-1 basketball.”

 

Pointless or not, Franklin’s disappointment with his lack of recruitment gives him the added incentive of proving the doubters wrong.

 

“For every school that passed on me...it makes me work harder,” said Franklin, who averaged more than 18 points per game as a senior. “I hope to see them on our schedule one year so I can show them what they passed on. I play everyday like I have a chip on my shoulder and I have something to prove to people: that I could've played at any top school in the country.”

 

Tom Schuberth, UTPA’s head coach, would certainly agree. In fact, he thinks Franklin might be the best athlete his school has seen in nearly 20 years. And while Franklin wouldn’t discount the importance of athleticism in his all-around game, he is certainly not resting on his leaping laurels.

 

“I talk to my coaches a lot and they tell me I'm getting better and better everyday,” he said. “(College ball) is way more physical than high school, but…I have gotten a lot stronger and that helps with your attitude on the court. My jumper has improved and I've become better at attacking the basket.”

 

Franklin, still only a first-semester freshman, is maturing as a basketball player and a man. That’s one of the perks of being 26 hours from home, if you can call it that.

 

“The transition was cool,” said Franklin, who enjoys the Tex-Mex culture in Edinburg. “I really like it down here so it was easy to adapt. I was very excited to leave home. Going to school far away from home is giving me a chance to spread my wings a little and become more of a man. I can’t run back to my parents any time I want like most people, so I have to do a lot more on my own.”

 

That’s code for more than just homework; although there’s a lot of that, too.

 

“Classes are pretty hard,” said Franklin, who carried a 3.7 grade point average in high school. “You have to do a lot more reading…but as long as you stay on top of everything and don’t fall behind, it makes things a lot easier on you.”

 

Franklin’s confidence and can-do attitude on the court should serve him well in the classroom and in life after college.

 

“After my freshman year I think people are going to say that my future is very bright for the next level."

 

For my part, I guess I’m just a little early.

 

But I was late once

 

I didn’t think Franklin was ready for division one basketball until I saw him at Mott Community College this past spring.

 

There, I admitted it.

 

I didn’t think he was tough enough.

 

But, there he was playing against seasoned division one-bound players and more than holding his own. In fact, Franklin totally outplayed Mott’s Rob Giles (now at Ball State) for most of the workout. Not only was I impressed with his skill level and athleticism, I couldn’t help but to praise his willingness to mix it up with bigger and stronger players.

 

"I remember a lot from that day," said Franklin, who has some not so fond memories of guarding Mott's Jeremie Simmons. "That was the day of our high school seniors versus underclassmen game; so when I came to the gym, I was already warmed up. When I hit the court it was just like a continuation of the game I just played in. I wasn't thinking about the college coaches or anything like that, I just wanted to have fun and win. All in all that was a good day for me."

 

Franklin played well enough to earn high praise from Mott head coach, Steve Schmidt--praise that has a lot of currency with coaches all across the country, even in south Texas.

 

Can't-miss athlete?

 

Oh no, he can miss; but that's half the fun.

 

For as long as I've enjoyed high school basketball in the Flint-area, I've never seen a player whose missed dunks got more ink than Franklin's did. I can remember a friend returning from a Northwestern game last year and the first thing he said when he saw me was, "you just wouldn't  believe the dunk that Damon Franklin missed..."

 

Having seen Damon play on numerous occasions, there were no questions asked.

 

Franklin's Facts