By JOSHUA NATOLI
Sports Editor
There are many reasons why one would be inspired to play the game of basketball, whether it be competitiveness, fun, or, in some cases, money. Golden Knights senior guard Andre Pope draws his inspiration for the game from a much different and tragic source.
“My dad passed away my junior year of high school in 2007” says Pope. “I remember he asked me when I was young if I could play any sport what would it be? And I said basketball. He said he would do everything he can to make sure I get what I need to get better. That’s why my dedication is towards hard work and making my mom proud.”
Pope, a communications major at The College of Saint Rose has used that inspiration to have an extremely successful career for the Golden Knights. He has been in the starting lineup for 108 games over the course of his four-year career at Saint Rose. Pope boasts a career double-digit scoring average, a .454 three-point shooting percentage as a sophomore, and has been named the Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Year for the 2009-2010 season.
Although Pope’s individual stats stick out to most, his favorite aspect is the ability to get his teammates involved. “I like my unselfishness because I like to try to make other people get better” says Pope. “I remember when I was younger I would be fine with five or ten points with ten assists.” Pope also feels that he has grown as a teammate, not just a player. “I’ve become more laid-back and more of a leader, helping my teammates get better. I’ve become more vocal. Before I was real quite on the court, now I talk too much.” Pope says.
The evolution of Pope’s game has not only been in college. Pope started playing basketball around the age of four. He attended high school at Iona Preparatory School where he began as a freshman playing on the junior varsity basketball team. Pope moved up to the varsity level his sophomore year, and led the Gaels to the state championships. Pope also hopes to take his game cross-continental. “Hopefully after I college I plan to keep playing overseas and I’m hoping from there I catch interest in something else because right now I’m not really sure what else I’d like to do besides basketball.” Playing basketball overseas is not far out of reach for a player like Pope, who possesses a superior triple-threat ability to pass, drive the lane, and shoot.
An ode to Pope’s unselfish playing style, his most memorable moment playing with the Golden Knights is not an individual achievement or stellar performance. “Obviously my relationship with my teammates has been my most memorable moment” Pope says. “Freshman year the bonding I had with the seniors and some of the other players is something I’ll always remember.”
Pope is the only graduating senior on the Golden Knights this year. With him gone the team will be left with a void in a leadership role, but Pope has no fear someone will step up. “We still have James Wilson; he’s a great leader, a vocal leader. I can see Chris Dorgler being a leader and Dan (Mundweiler) because he’s a point guard and has to run the offense and get everybody situated” Pope says.
Although the end of Pope’s final regular season ends February 26th at New Haven, his team has earned a berth in the NE-10 Conference Championships. We will see if the Golden Knights can give Pope one last ride to remember.
