Washington Huskies Guard David Crisp Chooses Fight Over Flight. Ain’t Going Nowhere

While Change Doesn’t Suit all University of Washington Huskies Basketball Players. Coach Hopkins Connects With Guard David Crisp. Crisp States: “Ain’t Goin Nowhere!”

The University of Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball Team, and new Head Coach Mike Hopkins, needed to hit bedrock. Commitments for 2017 were leaving. Some players had begun to question their role into the future. But the cut that hurt the most was the announcement that forward Noah Dickerson had requested his release.

And so you see, Noah Dickerson was showing promise and played awfully hard. Not surprisingly, his departure would be a tough loss to absorb.  But if Dickerson was willing to leave, that meant the barn door was wide open. How many players would cross that line to a new team. Would any players stay?

Crisp Becomes Husky Lead Dog

One has. Before it’s chic to do so, David Crisp has just stepped out of the shadows of Markelle Fultz and become a leader of this team.  Not for what he did or will do on the basketball court, but for standing up and holding fast to the dream of playing for the University of Washington Huskies.

And so, in that moment, I paused and took a deep breath. The stampede is over.

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Huskies Like It Crisp

And if you get right down to it, David Crisp can play. In his sophomore year, he put up 22 points against USC in the PAC-12 tournament. He scored 31 points in a game against Utah earlier.

In fact, he nearly doubled his scoring average to 13.8 points per game on a team featuring Markelle Fultz.  And he had a pretty accurate shot too, at 41.1 percent from the floor, and 36.7 percent from the perimeter. He played all 31 games, and averaged 32.9 minutes.

Back in February 2017, I watched Crisp struggle in a game against cross state Washington State Cougars.  In retrospect, it seemed a surprise to everyone, even Crisp, that Markelle Fultz would not suit up for the game.  As a matter of fact, even in an off-game, Crisp has three different speeds: normal playing speed.  He can slow it down to a crawl. And he can burst, flashing an acceleration to the basket. In fact, when he gets on a roll, it appeared as though nothing can stop him. He scored 14 and managed four assists.  He is audacious.

And as it turns out,  it’s that audacity that has placed him front and center here and now.  In fact, his announcement could not have been timed any more perfectly.

Saving A Dollar For A #PurpleReign Day

The program just announced the hiring of former assistant coach Cameron Dollar.

As the venerable assistant who helped Lorenzo Romar create something special on staff, Cameron Dollar is a huge hiring for the team.  But now, the team needs a beachhead among the players. One young man who would stay, and fight with the Huskies.

Carlos Johson Stays

On one hand, David Crisp is that young man. But he is not alone at all. On the other hand, he is joined by guard Carlos Johnson. In fact, Johnson is a freshman whose presence became much greater as Markelle Fultz sat. He had a helluva game against Washington State, putting up 17 points coming off the bench.  In fact, his season high was just two games previous at 19 points against Arizona State.

Good things will happen to these young men this season. Not because of the events that happened around them.

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But two young men have the courage to believe in themselves.  Two young men have no better knowledge about their futures than any other players. But they have the faith, the courage, in themselves to believe they will handle it with flying colors.

Bright Future Beginning To Dawn

Come what may, I am looking forward to watching the development of Crisp and Johnson. As they showed today, they are a proud testament to what athletics programs nationwide should be delivering: confident young adults.  In this moment,  I am quite proud of David Crisp and Carlos Johnson. Not because they chose to say with the University of Washington Huskies. Not because they will remain with “my team”.

I am proud of two young men who are committed to see thing through. Two young athletes who plan to see it through. The same two men whose future is uncertain, but will hoist up the University of Washington Huskies banner and will press ahead.

In summary, they are: Commitment. Loyalty. Integrity. Self Confidence.

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As a matter of fact, there are reasons these are admirable traits. And so in each of our lives, we face defining moments. Both David Crisp and Carlos Johnson have met theirs and passed with flying colors. And so, thank you David Crisp and Carlos Johnson for giving back to the fans so boldly and proudly. In the end, you will be glad you stayed.