One tough 'Cat

Basketball had always come so easily to Foye that he never appreciated the need to put in extra hours outside of practice. That changed midway through his sophomore year at Villanova, when Wright showed him a scouting report prepared by an opponent (and accidentally left behind) indicating that part of the gameplan was to let Foye shoot. "I was like, man, that's messed up," Foye says. "It really hurt, but it also feels good sometimes when someone puts you down because it makes you work harder. I'm motivated by negative energy."

Since then, Foye has become a bona fide gym rat. His field goal percentage has increased every year, and this season he is making a career-best 40.2 percent from 3-point range (up from 34.0 percent last season). Moreover, he has grown into a valued leader. That was especially evident last summer, when Foye played for the U.S. team that Wright coached to a gold medal at the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey. After talking with the other players, Wright named Foye captain, and he ended up second on the team in assists (2.4) and third in scoring (12.6).

Best of all, the captains from all the other U.S. teams elected Foye to carry the American flag for opening ceremonies. "I got real emotional when he walked out there," Wright says. "I knew it was going to be one of the highlights of my career to watch this young guy from Newark carry the American flag and lead the U.S. delegation into a stadium filled with 70,000 people. I've never enjoyed watching a guy grow as much as I have watching Randy."

There are times, however, when Foye is unable to break from the harsh realities of home. Early in his junior year, he rushed back to Newark after he learned his brother had been shot. Christopher was in intensive care after suffering 11 gunshot wounds. Says Wright, "I told him he could go up there any time he wanted, but he said he had to try to stay away from the situation as best he could." (Christopher made a full recovery.)

If that episode served as a chilling reminder of where Foye came from, it also showed him how far he has traveled. Two weeks ago, while sitting in a hotel lobby in Louisville, I asked Foye what flashed through his mind as he carried the American flag in that stadium in Turkey last summer. He pondered the question for a few seconds. "I was thinking about everything I had been through and how I wish my parents could be there to watch me," he said. "People always ask me, if you could go back and change anything, what would it be? But I wouldn't change anything. I am the person I am today because of my history."

Randy Foye learned from his history, but he never let it defeat or define him. No wonder he has such a bright future.