Fresno State Athletics
A Family Matter
12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - When he was nine years old, Fresno State freshman guard Paul George received his first set of basketball hoops and court from his father. His mother inspired him to take his game to the next level.
The youngest of three siblings, George was born into a family of basketball, growing up watching his older sister, Teiosha, play the game he would later come to love.
"I would just go out on the court and play all the time," said George. "I just kept staying with it and I kept improving."
Finally at the ripe age of 11, George was ready to start playing on his first team, the YMCA boy's team in Palmdale, Calif.
Now nine years later and just four games into his first season as a college player, George has joined the Bulldog family and has shown maturity, strength and passion for the game, pouring sweat, adrenaline and heart on the floors of the Save Mart Center and on the road.
"I came up for a visit and chose to attend Fresno State because I liked everything about it," said George. "You hear about big schools and all but Fresno State showed a lot of love."
But making the jump from the high school game to a Division I team requires great adjustment, for every student-athlete, including George, who was a shooting guard in high school.
"It is a much faster game in college," said George. "You have to be more physical, take care of the ball, give the ball to bigger men down low and play smart."
George earned two game highs against Saint Mary's, scoring 25 points for the `Dogs and catching 10 rebounds. He is currently second highest on the team for averaging 12.8 points and four rebounds per game.
And his goals and motivations are anything but small, both on and off the court.
"I want to stay consistent and help the team out in any way I can," said George. "I really look up to senior Dwight O'Neil and my roommate Mychal Ladd. They push me to go forward and we play one-on-one before games."
George proved he is a force to be reckoned, showcasing a crowd pleasing slam dunk against Saint Mary's College in his first collegiate ESPN appearance.
"The slam dunk felt so great," said George. "I was so pumped to play on ESPN. I really had no idea what was going on. I just saw an open lane and went for it."
A self-proclaimed jokester, recreational bowler and fun loving guy, George brings a positive attitude to the team and he is ready for what is still to come.
"I want to bring a lot of energy and excitement to the team and the game," said George. "It is important to stay positive and we stand for a great group of positive young men. I love every part of the game and I'm ready."
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs host the UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the 2008 Papé Slam on Wednesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. It's Working Wednesday and fans can enter to win via their business cards for prizes or free tickets to future games. Tickets are on sale now through the Save Mart Center box office, by calling (559) 485-TIXS or online at ticketmaster.com.
