Player Profile - Justin Gage
2/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2001
By Amy Fiscus
MU Media Relations
Justin Gage did not score against Kansas. In fact, he had only one rebound.
I know what you are thinking: "They gave him 11 minutes of valuable playing time against the nation's third-ranked team and he can't even come up with a single basket?"
I also know that there is more to the story. The sophomore forward from Jefferson City did not even suit up a mere 48 hours earlier against Texas Tech because of a sprained knee suffered against Kansas St. Though he was not nearly 100 percent healthy for Kansas, he received clearance to suit up. Why? Because it is KANSAS!
Back to you: "Bum knee and he still gets in? Does anyone have Rick Pitino's number?"
Except that bum knee did not prevent him from giving up four inches and 15 pounds to take a charge early on against KU forward Nick Collison that gave Missouri the ball and the momentum. And it did not stop him from forcing another KU charge, this time by guard Kirk Hinrich with less than two minutes left in the game to help preserve the win.
Though on paper Gage's line may have had a lot of zeroes in it, without his play the outcome of the game between highly-ranked KU and unranked MU, possessors of a three-game losing streak, might have been just what it was supposed to be. Gage's game is not really about what shows up on paper, however. "People say I bring toughness, probably inspiration, I get the guys ready," said Gage. "They have the talent, we're putting it all together."
Gage knows what it takes to put everything together. He leads the demanding life of a NCAA Division I college athlete in not just one but two sports. The numbers he put up last fall as Missouri's leading wide receiver were a lot prettier than those he has so far on the hardwood. He averaged 16 yards per catch and caught four touchdowns. His name can also be found among rushing, passing and kick and punt return stats. This all-around game is part of what makes the transition to basketball so successful, according to Gage. "From football, I bring toughness," he said. "I also have more strength because of it. Football is more iron man." Playing both sports started early on for Gage and he continued to play both because he could not imagine life without them.
"The fun and excitement I had in high school playing two sports came from doing a lot of things while growing up," he explained. "I had older brothers who played sports with me and they got me started on football and basketball. In middle school I did a little track also. I love playing both of them so I just kept playing. I talked to my high school coaches and they said I could go to college and play both sports if I was interested. I started talking to college coaches about it and asked if I could play both sports so I could have something to fall back on. It was just something I wanted to do."
Missouri was not the only school who was willing to let Gage do double duty. He was also heavily recruited by Southern California and most of the schools around the Big 12. However, there was little doubt he would continue the recent trend of Jefferson City quarterbacks at MU.
"I knew the whole time I was going to Mizzou if I was going to play two sports," said Gage. "It was close to home. I have family near so I knew I could turn to them if I needed anything."
His family has always been behind Gage, athletically and otherwise. They rarely miss a home game in either sport and support his decision to play two sports.
"They just wanted me to do what I was happy with," he relates. "They told me how hard it was going to be to do both sports and keep up with academics, but a lot of people do both and that was my inspiration.
"I really like watching Deion Sanders. He played football and baseball in college and did some track and Charlie Ward played football and basketball. Watching him was kind of interesting," continued Gage. "A lot of football players play basketball and a lot of basketball players play football, just love of the game basically. I just love both games so much I didn't want to quit."
To maintain that intensity at this level, Gage has turned to others for support. He credits head coach Quin Snyder and his staff with "making me more competitive, disciplined, working hard, just remembering to stay relaxed about everything. They remind us not to be too uptight or worry so much about everything but to react to the situation when it happens."
Almost halfway through the basketball season Missouri has found itself in an excellent situation and Gage agrees. "I think everyone's coming along, pulling together. The KU win really helped us and I think we'll finish strong."
And Gage will do whatever he can to make sure that finish will look good.
