Xavier retired David West’s No. 30 jersey before he even graduated!
CINCINNATI — David West is beloved at Xavier University for what he did at the university and helping to establish the basketball program’s legitimacy in the early 2000s. West, a three-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year who graduated in 2003, won 94 games at Xavier and led them to a top-ten ranking.
As the Pacers visited West’s old stomping grounds Wednesday to play the Cleveland Cavaliers in an exhibition contest, West ran into numerous familiar faces, including head coach Chris Mack, trainer David Fluker, and Associate Athletic Director for Communications Tom Eiser.
[Pacers fall to Cavaliers, 98-93, as Xavier welcomes home David West]
Xavier head coach Chris Mack calls David West “the best player that’s ever played here..”
Coach Mack is a program guy. After attending Xavier from 1990-93, Mack stepped back on campus and joined the late Skip Prosser’s staff as the Director of Basketball Operations in 1999. After a brief stint as an assistant coach at Wake Forest (2001-04) under Prosser, Mack returned once again to aid Sean Miller on the bench.
Then, in 2009, Mack took over as head coach after the Miller left for the University of Arizona. They went 21-13 last season and actively recruit athletes in Central Indiana.
[PHOTOS: David West and the Pacers face the Cavaliers at Xavier]
Coach Mack was gracious enough to give me a few moments prior to the game as he stood in the hallway with his family. They then took their seats three rows behind the Cavaliers (home) bench.
Read his conversation with VigilantSports.com below:
What is your first memory of David and what he was like as a student-athlete?
He’s really matured into the guy you see now. He was always unbelievably competitive. He always had a self-confidence in everything that he did. He was hands down the best rebounder that I had ever seen; from day 1 as a freshman. And then, like I said before, just his confidence level in everything that he did really stood out to me.
Was he a leader from the outset or did it take him a couple years? He’s a vocal guy, but he’ll also lead by example…
I would say as a freshman that he deferred, but he wasn’t in awe of any upperclassmen. He knew that he was of that level. He knew that from the beginning. But he also understood that there were guys that had been there three and four years and he really respected some of our juniors and seniors that were in that locker room his first couple of years.
Xavier made sure the Pacers, the visiting team, had the home locker room so David could use his old locker.
The halls are lined with (former player’s) jerseys. You guys have obviously built this program into something very, very special. How much do you use David as an example, not only for what he does on the court but also as a great man for your guys to model themselves after?
I’ve said it many times. He’s an ambassador not just for our basketball program but for our entire university. He is a very deep thinker. He represents more than just being a basketball player and anybody that’s met Dave understands that.
(Sidenote: At this point, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers walked by to take the floor. Coach Mack’s two daughters, one in a Pacers jersey and the other in a Cavs jersey, were very excited.)
How often are you in contact with him and how frequently does he make it back?
Usually once or twice a year. Dave is such an ambassador for our program and does a great job of coming in and talking to our guys.
Did you have a hand in getting David’s locker organized or make sure it happen?
I’ve seen it. Our that was director of administration, Mario Mercurio, was really the brains behind that and I thought it was a special touch. He’s the best player that’s ever played here. Every time he walks into the Cintas Center, whether it’s for a preseason game or an open gym in the summer, we want him to always feel like this is home.