University of North Carolina Athletics
Forte Plays Big Role For Tar Heels
April 1, 2000 | Men's Basketball
April 1, 2000
Tourney Gear
Send A Postcard
Complete NCAA Tournament Coverage
By David Droschak
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- Joseph Forte is a rarity in a North Carolina system that emphasizes seniors.
The freshman was voted to carry the team's green trainer's bag this season - a longstanding tradition started under former coach Dean Smith.
ut the 6-foot-4 Forte also is carrying a little heavier load these days for the Tar Heels at the Final Four.
"I don't feel like a freshman any more," Forte said Friday after North Carolina's practice at the RCA Dome in preparation for tonight's NCAA national semifinal against Florida.
"Once the end of the season came and the NCAA tournament started I felt like I was an upperclassman and I tried to play like one."
Forte hasn't disappointed. The guard is on pace to become the first North Carolina freshmen to lead the team in scoring (16.7) since freshmen became eligible in 1972-73.
The Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year had 22 points in North Carolina's victory over Tennessee in the South Regional semifinals, then a season-high 28 against Tulsa as the Tar Heels advanced to their 15th Final Four.
Forte's older teammates appreciate the maturity of his game.
"He's showing what sort of player he is," Jason Capel said. "We know he's a good shooter. But to me he's a player. You shut down one part of his game on offense and he'll find another way to score. He's a very complete player, a great scorer and a fierce competitor."
Forte remains soft spoken, even after former North Carolina player James Worthy compared his game to the Tar Heels' most famous basketball star - Michael Jordan.
"It is the highest compliment I can receive as a player," Forte said. "It's just great. I don't think I am him or have surpassed him. There is no pressure, just opportunity to go out there and prove the nice things people say about me are true."
Forte was a high school All-American at prep powerhouse DeMatha in Maryland. He heard about the North Carolina tradition of freshmen playing subordinate roles and didn't expect to crack the starting lineup when he arrived in Chapel Hill, N.C.
"I thought I would come off the bench and just help the team by hitting a couple of threes and sit back down," he said. "The best case scenario would be to average 10 or 12 points. I was playing my expectations safe. I didn't want to go too extreme with this. I exceeded them."
Forte said his biggest challenge wasn't necessarily on the court. He had to face an emotional hurdle of replacing junior Max Owens in the starting lineup in December.
"Max Owens has been here for three years and a lot of people love Max and wanted to see him play," Forte said. "So, I had to come in here and change some minds and change some hearts."
Consistency has been Forte's best asset this season, as well as his development of a mid-range jumper he plans to use against the Gators.
"I think he's ahead of his time, a freshman who understands how to play," Florida forward Mike Miller said. "He's got a scorer's mentality. He understands what positions he needs to be in to score at all times."
Forte's recent scoring outburst in the NCAA tournament was somewhat unexpected after going a combined 9-for-33 in a loss to Wake Forest in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament and an NCAA tourney victory against Missouri.
"That's when I really learned the difference between just shooting and good shots," Forte said. "I thought after the Wake Forest game it was just me having a bad night. Then I did it in back-to-back games. That's when my eyes got opened."
Florida guard Teddy Dupay said the Gators plan to pay close attention to the hot-scoring Forte.
"We'll throw a lot of people at him," Dupay said. "There could be six of seven (different) guys on him."
© Copyright 2000 The Associated Press
