Player Profile - Wesley Stokes
2/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2001
By Andy Heck
MU Media Relations
If somebody asks what is the most notable aspect of freshman point guard Wesley Stokes' game is, the answer should be his ability to break down the defense and penetrate the lane and then dish the ball off. But, of course the most notable thing about Stokes is the hair.
"I've been growing it for about two and a half years," says Stokes of his trademark spiral locks. Stokes' cousin was the only one that he ever let cut his hair and once his cousin left for college, nobody else was allowed to cut it. "When he came back he said he didn't cut hair anymore. So I decided to grow it out."
Tiger fans have shown their support of Stokes by donning black or gold Afro wigs and of course the hair is a target on the road.
"When we warm up they are always yelling comments at me like `Side-Show Bob' and other things. I'm used to that. People here call me `Side-Show Bob' so they don't know that they are helping me feel right at home," said Stokes, smiling.
If the hair is all that is noticed, look closer. Upon further examination, one of the best freshman point guards in the country will be revealed. After all, you would not want just any freshman on the line with 52 seconds left against the number three team in the country. Yet that is where Stokes found himself on January 29th. He slammed the ball against the floor three times and netted both shots.
"I was a little nervous at first, but when I stepped up to the line, I just took some deep breaths and just shot my shots," said Stokes who is used to hitting free throws at the end of games. He is fourth on the team in attempts and frequently checks in at the end of games for offensive duties.
Some might think that the transition from high school to college ball would be easy for someone named Honorable Mention All USA by USA Today, but Stokes has had his rough times.
"The practices are harder and longer. The games have more people yelling at you and it's easier to get distracted. I mean, you have to be more mentally prepared," said Stokes who rates his performance as pretty good so far. "I started off a little sluggish because I was a little out of shape. Now, I think I am doing a little better."
That improvement has been thanks to countless hours of running, conditioning and lifting weights.
The transition has been made easier thanks to the guidance of his teammates. Stokes says Brian Grawer and Clarence Gilbert have been showing him the ropes both on and off of the court.
"Brian's been here four years and he knows how to lead the team," said Stokes. "He knows what Coach (Snyder) expects from a point guard on the floor and he has been helping me out with that."
Hailing from sunny Long Beach, Calif., Stokes is a long way from home, but says that Mizzou was the right fit for him. He chose to come to Mizzou over Southern California, Massachusetts and Big 12 rival Texas. He cites the coaching staff as the main reason for becoming a Tiger.
"The coaching staff knew what they were doing," said Stokes. "They knew where their heads were like in terms of getting their players developed and the getting the full potential from their players. And the team was all together. They all got along, that's what I was looking for."
Despite the fact that Columbia does not have any sand or ocean, or warm weather this time of year, Stokes likes his new town despite the other qualities of Long Beach.
"It's a lot colder here," said Stokes. "I mean, I got used to it though and the people out here the people are a lot friendlier. Everybody is behind you and if you didn't do that well they still say `good game' and things like that."
Stokes and the rest of the freshman corps have had opportunities to see a lot of playing time this season and contribute to the foundation of a bright future.
"We all know that we have special talents and that we are all capable of playing out there right now. We are just happy to be there," he said. "We feel real honored Coach has so much confidence in us. We are very excited and can't wait until this is our team, if I am able to say that."
Take an even closer look and you would see a person who is grounded in his roots. He makes it a point to note the love he has for his family and displays part of it on himself. The tattoo on his right biceps muscle is in tribute to his late brother to remind Wesley that he is always with him. The tattoo on the inside of his left forearm is of a hand holding the world in its palm. Underneath the hand, Long Beach is scribed. Stokes describes it as his way of giving back to where he grew up.
"Everyone around there kept motivating me to play basketball so that's what I did," said Stokes.
As one of the brightest young talents in the conference and adjusting to life in college, that tattoo for Long Beach truly symbolizes where Stokes is in life: Holding the world in the palm of his hand.
