University of Tennessee Athletics
Chism Growing Up in Junior Season
February 26, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2009
By Tony Williams, Sports Information
Wayne Chism's face has the average onlooker believing the junior forward is merely a child in a 6-foot-9-inch, 250-pound frame.
His facial expressions always seem to suggest he's in awe of the world around him much like a toddler on Christmas morning. His frequent smiles and laughter on the basketball court suggest that he is experiencing child-like glee at his every interaction with coaches, teammates, opponents, referees and fans.
But Chism is no child, and the proof is in his 2008-09 basketball season.
The Jackson, Tenn., native is leading the team in rebounding at 8.8 boards per game and is second on the team in scoring at 13.3 points per contest. He is also fourth on the team in minutes per game at 24.
"He's grown so much in his three seasons here," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "He's a better basketball player, a better student and a better person. I'm proud of all of my guys, but there's nobody I've ever coached that I'm more proud of than Wayne."
The stats and the praise from Pearl don't tell the whole story. Chism has grown in many ways since he arrived in Knoxville as a freshman.
Chism began his career as one of two options in the paint for Pearl and the Vols. He started 18 games as a freshman, splitting time with teammate Duke Crews and averaging nine points and five rebounds per game. By his sophomore season, he had convinced Pearl he was the one with the potential to dominate. He started 34 of 36 games, but still split time with Crews and Brian Williams. Consequently, he didn't add much to his scoring or rebounding averages.
But by midway through the 2008-09 season, Chism had established himself as the top inside scorer and rebounder on the UT roster and one of the top frontcourt players in the Southeastern Conference. He is pulling down four more rebounds and scoring four more points per game than he did in either of his first two seasons.
Chism attributes his growth as a basketball player to an increased focus on consistency.
"That has been the biggest thing for me on the court," Chism said. "I've made an effort to be the best player I can be every game and give the same performance every night."
Chism has increased Pearl's trust in him as well. For two seasons, when the Vols found themselves dribbling up the floor for a key offensive possession late in a game, Chism was often relegated to screener or rebounder while Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith or Tyler Smith took the shot. This season, Tennessee has found itself in many tight games, and Pearl is making sure that Chism touches the ball on those late possessions.
"I put more confidence in the coaches and then they put more confidence in me," Chism said. "Coach Pearl will put the ball in my hands late in the shot clock or late in the game and I expect to be able to get the job done when he does."
Another area where Chism has demonstrated growth is in his leadership. After two seasons of being able to leave that to the likes of Dane Bradshaw and Lofton, Chism has had to assume those responsibilities along with fellow juniors Smith and J.P. Prince.
"Becoming a leader was the biggest challenge," Chism said. "It doesn't come that easily to me, but I take pride in it and I'm treating that responsibility the same way I treat practicing and playing in games."
Thanks to his looks and personality, Chism will always appear youthful. But with his improvement as a player and growth as a leader, he is leaving little doubt that he has turned into quite the big man at Tennessee.
