ESPN RISE

Washington-bound point guard Abdul Gaddy is the No. 14 player in the 2009 class.

Gaddy's Motivation For Greatness Comes From His First True Believer

By Ryan Canner-O'Mealy
ESPNRISE.com

Long before major Division I college coaches knew Abdul Gaddy would be a star, Kathy Simeona was convinced he would be special.

"She always told me I'd be a good basketball player," Gaddy says.

Of course, as Gaddy's grandmother, she was biased. But that doesn't mean she was wrong.

Simeona, the person who first put the ball in his hands as a child, would be impressed -- but not surprised -- by the things Bellarmine Prep's senior standout can do these days.

Rated the No. 2 point guard and No. 14 overall recruit in the ESPNU 100, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Gaddy committed to Washington after de-committing from Arizona in October. Last year, he became the first underclassman in Washington to win Gatorade State Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors after averaging 23.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game to help lead the Lions to the Class 4A state semifinals.

Unfortunately, his grandmother hasn't been around to see any of it. She died in 2000, leaving Gaddy without his first true believer, a void he feels to this day. Instead of letting it get him down, though, he uses the memory of her as motivation to keep getting better.

"I feel it's just great that I've had the opportunity to make all these dreams come true," Gaddy says. "If she was still here, she'd be really proud. But I know she's watching over me."

Proving his grandmother right has been what gets Gaddy out of bed for an early-morning workout or keeps him in the gym after everyone else has left.

As a self-imposed rule, Gaddy must make 10 3-pointers in a row before he heads home for the day, and there have been plenty of times he's missed after nailing nine straight. He's often tempted to cut out after making 90 percent from beyond the arc, but then he thinks about his biggest fan.

"There are days when I don't feel like getting up and working out, and I always think that I've gotta do it for her," Gaddy says.

There's no doubt the hard work has paid off, and Simeona would be thrilled with how her grandson turned out.

Gaddy has established himself as the unquestioned leader of a Bellarmine team that saw Avery Bradley, a Texas recruit who's rated No. 15 in the ESPNU 100, transfer to Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) this summer.

Great friends who have remained in close contact despite the move, Bradley and Gaddy constituted the best backcourt in the state last year and, in their role with the Northwest Panthers, perhaps the best AAU guard tandem in the country.

While Gaddy will have to shoulder more of the scoring load for Bellarmine without Bradley around, his true calling is as a pure point guard. Gaddy is a magician with the ball who always seems to make the right play.

"He thinks two or three steps ahead of everyone else," Bellarmine coach Bernie Salazar says.

That's been a pattern throughout Gaddy's life. Back in first grade, things came so easily to him that he skipped ahead to second grade. In fifth grade, he told his AAU coach he wanted to earn a college scholarship to Arizona. To this day, he sets high goals for himself and expects to meet them every time. When talking about the NBA, Gaddy refers to when he makes the league, not if he makes it.

It just might take a little longer for him than it will for others in his position. Since he skipped a grade, Gaddy won't turn 19 until January 2011, meaning he'll have to go to college for at least two years to be eligible for the NBA Draft.

"I really don't mind," Gaddy says. "I think it will just give me another year of experience to mature and help me become a man. Then I'll be even more ready when I go to the NBA."

But don't be fooled by Gaddy's baby face. He wasn't intimidated as a 13-year-old freshman going up against varsity players of legal voting age, and he's certainly not scared of anyone now.

"If you didn't know him, just by looking at him you might think he was soft," Bradley says. "But when he steps on the court, he brings it."

After playing a lot of shooting guard and backup point to a senior floor general that first year, Gaddy took the reins as a sophomore. Ever since then, it's been his show.

Whether it's throwing a perfect alley-oop for a dunk on the break or threading the needle with a tight bounce pass, Gaddy gets his teammates countless easy buckets.

"Our guys love playing with Abdul," Salazar says. "He brings out the best in everyone."

Gaddy's off-the-charts basketball IQ comes from immersing himself in the game. When he's not at the gym, he's glued to the TV, watching NBA and college games. He pays careful attention to the point guards. His favorite players are Chris Paul -- "everything he does is off his teammates" -- and Brandon Roy, who is more of a combo guard but "always makes the right play."

This year, the right play for the Lions will involve a lot more scoring for Gaddy. He's spent the last five years playing with Bradley, who took his 25.7 points per game and lockdown defense to Findlay Prep. Gaddy and Bradley were totally in sync on the court, and each always knew where the other was.

"If I'm getting played tight, I'm gonna go backdoor, and Abdul knows that even before I do," says Bradley.

That chess master ability to see things before they happen is what makes Gaddy great. He might not be as fast or explosive as some other playmakers, but he does everything well and can adapt to any situation. He can also throw in a highlight-reel pass or crossover with the best of them.

"He might not have the blinding speed and he might not do a 360 dunk," Salazar says, "but he will make some plays that make you go, 'Wow.' And he's just very solid in everything he does. For a basketball purist, it's a pleasure to watch him play."

Sounds like Gaddy's grandmother knew what she was talking about.