Dominating the game of basketball is something sophomore guardTack Minor has done his entire life. As the center of attention,Minor thrived at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Tx.,averaging 37 points and 22 rebounds as a senior. After a somewhatunsuccessful freshman year at LSU, Minor has managed to overcomesome of the difficulties he faced last season in making thetransition.
“Tack’s grown up a lot,” head coach John Bradysaid. “There’s no question in my mind Tack wants to dogood. He just tried to do it at too fast of a pace lastyear.”
Averaging 7.3 points and 1.7 assists last season, Minorexperienced highs and lows in his first year of collegiateplay.
Minor went from a Feb. 21 performance against Vanderbiltshooting just 3-of-12 with two turnovers in 20 minutes played tofinishing the year hitting three or more three-pointers in threeseparate games the final month of the season.
Minor’s strong finish rolled over into the summer in whichhe spent time in a semi-professional basketball league inHouston.
“I played the true point guard position,” Minorsaid. “I didn’t shoot the ball that much, but passedthe ball and we won.”
According to Brady, playing with senior point guard XavierWhipple last season is also something that has benefited Minor.
“Whipple is a good balance for Tack,” Brady said.”Tack has the athletic ability to be a very good point guardin this league.”
While Minor is accustomed to learning on his own, seniorleadership is something he will not turn his back on.
“I do what I have to do to make this team better,”Minor said. “I prefer to make my own mistakes. But if [ateammate] tells me what to do, I listen in. There’s nothingwrong with that.”
Balancing a finesse guard in Whipple to a fast-paced guard inMinor has helped both players.
“Hopefully, Tack can draw some things from Xavier that canhelp his game,” Brady said. “I would just hope that hecan take things and get better.”
As the elder player, Whipple has tried to guide Minor into beinga better college basketball player.
“Coming in from high school, Tack was a big scorer,”Whipple said. “But on this level, it won’t be that easyto score. So I talk to him from time to time to calm him down. Itold him to first be a point guard, and then you can let yournatural talents take over.”
According to Whipple, the natural talent Minor possesses,including his quickness, is one thing that will only continue toimprove for Minor.
“[Tack] helps with everybody’s defense inpractice,” Whipple said. “I feel as though if I cankeep him in front of me in practice, I can keep up withanybody.”
Yet making the transition on the basketball court is not allMinor has improved on during the off-season, Brady said.
With a year already under Minor’s belt, Brady said he hasseen obvious changes in his overall maturity.
“He’s a low-maintenance guy,” Brady said.”That’s what you need. You begin to see lessmaintenance as you mature.”
Junior guard Darrel Mitchell said he sees Minor’s newperspective as something that will benefit the entire team.
“He’s come back with a whole new attitude,”Mitchell said. “It’ll help the team out a whole lotthis year.”
And while Whipple still has one year left of eligibility, hesaid that this team will soon be Minor’s.
“He’s starting to develop,” Whipple said.”Next year, after I’m gone, [the team] will be all his.I think he’s going to be an outstanding player.”