The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorns spotlight: A.J. Abrams
12.20.2006 | Men's Basketball
In just his second year on the Forty Acres, sophomore guard A.J. Abrams has experienced several diverse roles in basketball.
One year removed from his freshman year, Abrams is already being counted on to be a team leader. When Texas lost its entire starting lineup to the NBA and graduation, the only player left from last year's NCAA Elite Eight team who saw significant playing time was Abrams. And though he may only be a sophomore, Abrams is playing with the confidence and leadership of a veteran, leading a young Longhorns team to a 7-2 record entering Wednesday's game.
"What people don't realize is that I'm still a sophomore and it's only my second year," Abrams said. "I've only had one year under my belt, so there is still a lot for me to learn and I need to gain more experience. Most people think that I am older than I really am, but I don't feel that much pressure being on the court as long as I play my game and do the right things."
From day one of practice, Abrams has been relied on to be a catalyst for the team to come together with its individual talents.
"It's a different experience when you start and come off the bench, because you have two different frames of mind," Abrams said. "When you come off the bench, you're counted on to give an energy boost to a tired team. When you are starting, you have to have that energy right away and be fired up before the game even begins."
And energy he has given the team. To date, Abrams is first on the team in three-pointers made (36) and second in scoring (16.9 ppg) and minutes played (31.4 mpg).
Moreover, Abrams has taken advantage of his experience to pass on some advice to the freshman class.
"I've just told them to keep playing even when things weren't going especially well for us and to keep their head up," said Abrams. "I want to be the guy they can come to when they need to talk to someone either about the game or whatever else."
During his high school career, Abrams earned district MVP honors three times, the Central Texas Player of the Year award by the Austin American-Statesman twice, and notched the all-time McNeil High School scoring title under his belt. However, upon settling into the Texas basketball program, Abrams was assigned a reserve role, seeing action in all 37 games while learning from the elders on the team, namely former guard Daniel Gibson.
"Coming to Texas, I was expecting to be coming off the bench and give a boost to the team, and I think I settled into the role well," Abrams said. "It was a time for me to learn the game at the college level, so I think it was good that I wasn't counted on at first so I had time to learn the game."
Beyond the court, Abrams has also found time to help others in need. When the team traveled to play Gonzaga in Phoenix, Ariz., Abrams and his teammates took the time to visit and talk with American veterans at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center during their free time.
The medical center first opened its doors in 1951 and has housed thousands of veterans since then. During its inaugural year, the center served 1,000 patients per month, helping soldiers recover from World War II. Since then, the population of veterans has greatly expanded and the hospital now treats more than 60,000 patients.
"We got to see a lot of veterans and many of them told us stories that were motivating," Abrams said. "One of the veterans there actually went to Oklahoma for college, but he was telling us that he would be cheering for us during our game in Phoenix, so it was fun to be there. Any time we can do community service on that kind of level, it is a rewarding experience."
And though his responsibilities on the Texas basketball team may be quickly piling up, Abrams continues to treasure the various lessons and experiences that he encounters on and off the court. From lending a hand in the community to taking on a leadership role on the basketball team, the young sophomore guard has many roads on which to travel.
