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Chat Reel: Joseph Forte

UNC super sophomore psyched for second season

Expectations are high that sophomore Joseph Forte will post big numbers this season. Jamie Squire/Allsport

Joseph Forte always wanted to be an impact player. He made it known early in his North Carolina career, too.

Forte's first shot attempt as a Tar Heel came against USC in last year's Maui Classic tournament in Hawaii. Early in the game, the ball swung to Forte, who drained a jumper from a few steps behind the 3-point line, about 25 feet from the basket.

"I wanted to create some type of buzz about myself," he said.

It worked.

Forte helped lead UNC to the Final Four last year, and he is regarded as one of the premier players in the nation this season. Forte took a break from practice and homework to spend time with chatting with CNNSI.com users on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

A transcription follows:

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's college basketball chat with Joseph Forte. Welcome, Joseph. Thanks for spending some time with us.
Joseph Forte: Thanks for having me.

From Charlie in Kansas City: I heard you lit it up at the Blue and White scrimmage. How many points did you score, and how did it feel to play point guard?
Joseph Forte: I scored 28 points and had eight assists. I really didn't play point that much, but I tried to distribute the ball.

From John Mahoney in West Palm Beach, Fla.: What do you see as the biggest change regarding the style of play that Coach Doherty teaches versus Coach Guthridge?
Joseph Forte: The style of play really hasn't changed. It is just a different personality of coaching.

From Norman Brown in Hyatsville, Md.: What type of defense makes you drool when opponents try to control the number of shots you get a game? Also, when you play smaller teams do you think Coach Matt Doherty will use Boone, Morrison and yourself on the floor at the same time to open up the middle for the big men?
Joseph Forte: (Laughs.) I think the kind of defense that makes me drool is the guy denying the ball and trying to be physical. I don't think Coach Doherty will change the lineup, though. I think once he has a set lineup, he will stick with it.

From Jeff Carnahan in Stillwater, Okla.: Which part of your game did you improve most over the summer, and how will it help the team this year?
Joseph Forte: I think I improved my ball handling the most, and obviously it helps my team because we don't have a point guard right now.

From Cory Evans in Roanoke, Va.: Do you think that the two freshman guards, or Ronald Curry, will be able to fill the hole left by Ed Cota, or will you have to take over the role as primary ball handler? Can Jason Capel fill the hole if they can't?
Joseph Forte: I think time will tell that. I think the two freshmen are capable, it's just a matter of how they will respond under pressure.

From EnloEagle in Raleigh, N.C.: Who do you feel will be Carolina's best competition this year? Who is the toughest player you have ever played against?
Joseph Forte: This year, I think a lot of our opponents will be tough. But the rivalry game against Duke probably will be one of the toughest. And the toughest player is Ted Dupay from Florida Gators. He had a lot of heart on defense, a lot of pride.

From Bob Littral in Springfield, Ky.: As a Kentucky fan, knowing you and Keith Bogans played high school ball together, I want to know, in your unbiased opinion, who is the more complete player between the two of you guys, and why?
Joseph Forte: (Laughs.) Wow ... that is a good one. I am not going to say who is the better player, or who is more complete. Both of us do things differently. I probably shoot better than him, but he probably handles the ball better and he is definitely stronger than I am.

From diesel_02: What do you think about getting to play against Bogans this year?
Joseph Forte: I think it will be fun. He's a premier two-guard in the country I'll be able to see what I need to work on going against Keith.

From Malcolm in Pennsylvania: What is your assessment of Brendan Haywood thus far under the Doherty conditioning regiment?
Joseph Forte: I think he is a beast right now. He is probably in the best condition he has been in since he started playing basketball.

From a guest: When you play your brother, Jason, one on one who usually wins?
Joseph Forte: I usually win, but he always sneaks a game in.

From Den: Joseph, is winning a national championship reason enough to come back for your junior year?
Joseph Forte: It definitely is a strong enough reason, along with many other things.

From Tiner in Lake Charles: What were you thinking about while Roy Williams was considering coming to UNC? Were you thinking he would come and did you meet with him?
Joseph Forte: Yes, I thought he would come, but no I didn't get to meet him. I was at ABCD camp with Drew Gooden, who plays for Kansas. We both were talking about it. I think Coach Williams did what was best for him, and Carolina did what was best for us.

From Mark in Atlanta: What did you think of playing with Gooden this summer?
Joseph Forte: Drew's smooth. He's fundamentally sound around the basket, and on top of all that he is a fun person to be around.

From Sidney White in Memphis: Do you feel any added pressure this year, with all the preseason honors that you have earned?
Joseph Forte: I don't look at it as pressure. I look on it as a personal challenge for me to go out every game and go beyond the expectations.

From an on-line guest: Who do you try to model your game after if anyone and why?
Joseph Forte: If anyone, it is Ray Allen, because of his smoothness and how effortless he makes the game look.

From TT: Does your popularity drive you crazy sometimes?
Joseph Forte: Sometimes it is annoying, but the majority of the time it is fun and great.

From Spectr1701: How do you handle having been tagged with the phrase "The Next Jordan"?
Joseph Forte: (Laughs.) I actually don't pay any attention to that, because there is no "Next Jordan."

From Daniel Klatzkin in N. Potomac, Md.: How do you think you will fare in your match up against Juan Dixon on January 10th?
Joseph Forte: I think I'll fare pretty well. Juan Dixon is a pretty good player, and I am a pretty good player. So maybe we cancel each other out.

From I: If you could change one thing in your game what would it be and why?
Joseph Forte: I probably would dunk more. (Laughs.) That would make everything complete.

From a guest: How did playing against Vince Carter with the U.S. Select Team effect your game?
Joseph Forte: He let me know what I needed to learn. And how good the NBA players really are.

From theman: Who's the better point guard so far in practice, Brian Morrison or Adam Boone in your opinion?
Joseph Forte: I don't think you can judge who the better point guard is thus far. Both need to be put into game situations.

From AG: As a former athlete at Carolina, I know how hard the class work can be and how tough practices are. As a sophomore, how are you feeling about your class work?
Joseph Forte: I feel great. I've been a student-athlete since high school. I know how to balance my load.

From James Damon in Kansas City, Mo.: Joseph, you received so many accolades and finished the season strong making that great run to the Final Four. How much does it mean to you and to the team to enter this season ranked where you are? Do you like that "underdog"-type role or do you feel you have more to prove ranked where you are at to start this season?
Joseph Forte: Well, I don't put a lot of stock in preseason rankings. Those are just expectations. We know we have a lot of talent, and we know we should be playing in April.

From ChrisA: With the emergence of the Internet, do players read message boards, etc.?
Joseph Forte: We read the UNCbasketball.com message boards and laugh at how some fans think they know a lot of information about us.

From Spectr1701: Did you grow up watching Carolina, and if so, who was your favorite player and why?
Joseph Forte: I didn't grow up watching Carolina, but my favorite player was Vince Carter. He had so much talent and it hadn't been shown in college.

From I: I saw you dunk this summer at Poconos Invitional camp. I am just curious what is your vertical leap at this moment?
Joseph Forte: (Laughs.) I don't know what it is. We're supposed to measure them some time soon.

From AG: What type of defensive pressure can we expect to see from the Tar Heels this year? Will it be the same old 2-3 zone defense or will we see some full-court traps, etc.?
Joseph Forte: Right now, we're denying the ball and pressuring the ball once it's caught.

From josh: Do you regret not getting to play for Dean Smith?
Joseph Forte: I don't know if it is a regret, it was more like a wish.

From finalforte: What was the most intriguing team you played last year?
Joseph Forte: (Laughs at the guest's nickname.) Probably Michigan State because they had so much energy and that time their best player -- Mateen Cleaves -- was off the court, but he was leading them even though he wasn't playing.

From Sally: Why do you wear #40? Is it because of your last name?
Joseph Forte: Yes, it is definitely because of my last name. I've been doing that since my junior year in high school.

From John_Reimold: Did it upset you at all when coach Doherty brought in a whole new staff and got rid of three great assistants on a team that reached the Final Four?
Joseph Forte: It didn't upset me. It just made me miss the former staff and just appreciate them more.

From AG: I want to ask you about your first shot as a Tar Heel -- the DEEP three in Maui. Was that planned just to get your nerves calmed or did you just take what the defense gave you?
Joseph Forte: I took what the defense gave me. I wanted to create some type of buzz about myself.

From TT: Do you keep in touch with Ed Cota?
Joseph Forte: Yes, all the time. Actually, he comes down here to Chapel Hill sometimes. We hang out whenever he is here. That's my right-hand man.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with North Carolina sophomore guard Joseph Forte. Thanks again for your time, Joseph. Good luck this season.
Joseph Forte: Thanks for your questions and Go Heels!

CNNSI Host: Thanks for all your great questions. Sorry we did not have time to get to them all. Check back tomorrow for chats with Big East stars Troy Murphy and Troy Bell.

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