Sept. 5, 2008
The Nova Notebook, by Villanova director of media relations Mike Sheridan, appears weekly during the fall and into the basketball season and periodically from May through August. In this entry we catch up with former Wildcat forward Chris Charles.
As he followed Villanova's 2007-08 campaign from afar, Chris Charles couldn't help but draw a parallel between his own situation and that of former teammate, and current Villanova senior, Dwayne Anderson.
In the Wildcats' storied 2005-06 season, both Charles and Anderson were often members of Villanova's "blue" team, the second unit generally charged with preparing the starters by providing strong opposition in practice each day. The two were both good soldiers, dutifully filling their role each day though their appearances on game night were infrequent.
Of course, each man harbored hoop dreams of his own. So it was with an extra measure of pride that Charles watched as Anderson broke through in February to become the kind of rotation constant that every player aspires to.
"I hit him with a text," recalls Charles, who played professionally in the International Basketball League in '07-08 at Elkhart (Ind.). "I told him how proud I was of him. He never gave up, kept working and saw it come together for him. We all saw the talent when he came to Villanova. It just took him some time and now he's that guy we all want to be, a team leader.
"I'd like to think I can do what a guy like Dwayne has. At Villanova I was a skinny kid and I needed to toughen up. I think I have. I'm tougher, more confident and a more consistent shooter than I was here. I still hope to reach the NBA."
Charles has quietly made strides in that regard over the past 12 months. After a season spent playing in Serbia in 2006-07, Charles found a home in, of all places, Elkhart, Ind. He was recommended to the club by a friend, former San Jose State player, Phil Calvert.
"A lot of people may not be familiar with the IBL but it's a good league," he says. "I got a chance to play a lot and that really helped me."
In fact, Charles became a frontcourt fixture for the Express and was one of the reasons that franchise advanced to the IBL finals. Despite the loss, Charles took nothing but positives from the '07-08 campaign.
"That season was a springboard for me," he states.
Following the campaign Charles continued to hone his basketball skills. He spent time in his native Milwaukee and also travelled to Minneapolis, where he worked out with former college teammate Randy Foye. Among those who took notice of Charles' efforts was Timberwolves team president Kevin McHale who is said to have put a good word on Charles behalf with the Chicago Bulls.
In June, Charles received a telephone call that got his attention.
"Phil (Calvert) is a prankster," he says. "So when my phone rang and the person calling said he was from the Chicago Bulls, I thought it had to be Phil pulling a prank. I was like, `who is this?' But it really was the scout from the Bulls inviting me to a camp where I could tryout for their summer league team."
Charles was one of 17 aspirants and he excelled to the point that he was ultimately included on the Bulls' roster in Las Vegas. Though some of his teammates were men with guaranteed contracts, Charles made it a point to play "Villanova Basketball." He concentrated on the dirty work and appears to have made a favorable impression.
His performance did not go unnoticed. There have been a number of professional offers from overseas but at this point, it is unclear where he will play in 2008-09. Charles' original contract in Serbia is a point of contention and that team still views him as its property. The international governing body FIBA is mediating the dispute and Charles believes a resolution will be reached.
"I'm on the phone with my agent every day," he says. "I'm optimistic that something will get worked out. There have been a lot of good offers so that part is exciting."
The thoughtful Charles has not forsaken his hopes of one day playing in the National Basketball Association. On a recent day, he walked down a Davis Center hallway alongside former teammate Kyle Lowry, who will begin his third year with the Memphis Grizzlies in October. Noting the long wall with a mural featuring all the Villanova basketball players who have gone on to the NBA, Lowry smiles at his friend.
"C's we need to get your picture up here," he says with a smile.
"That's what I'm hoping for," he says, sweat still dripping from his brow after the morning's on-court session. "Just a little one would be great."
The upbeat attitude that sustained him at Villanova is intact. Charles is hoping a dose of added experience and muscle will do the trick to give him the kind of vital role at the next level his friend Anderson enjoyed on the Main Line last winter.
