Rashad McCants, 2007.

ANSWERS TO ALL QUESTIONS about Rashad McCants can be found in a single place.

In his heart lies the championship fire of a supremely gifted basketball talent, the impassioned soul of developing poet, the fierce loyalty of a teammate, the enterprising spirit of an entrepreneur, and the devoted love of a brother and son. Taken together, they are the qualities that led him to a national championship at North Carolina, and made him the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first round draft pick in 2005. They are the same qualities that ensure that Rashad will continue to excel – not just on the basketball court, but off it as well.

Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, with his sisters Rashanda and Sade, and parents Brenda and James, Rashad’s basketball ability made itself known in his youth, and took center stage in high school. He was a standout at Asheville’s Erwin High, but transferred to the New Hampton School in New Hampshire to complete his education. In the process, he captured the 2002 New Hampshire state championship, and MVP honors in the title game. His other notable accomplishments in high school included:

• Parade All-America and Second Team All-America by Basketball America
• Participated in the McDonald's All-America Game and Capital Classic in 2002
• Gatorade Player of the Year in New Hampshire as a senior
• Two-time New Hampshire Player of the Year (2001 & 2002)

Tarheel days (Getty Images).

Also worth noting were Rashad’s off the court accomplishments. Not only was he an honor roll student at New Hampton; he was named Student of the Year in 2001.

It was just the beginning. Lured back to his home state by arguably one of the strongest recruiting classes in NCAA basketball history, Rashad spent three seasons at North Carolina, joined current NBA players Sean May, Raymond Felton, and Marvin Williams. In his junior season – his last – Rashad helped bring the Tarheels their first national title since 1995, defeating Illinois on April 4, 2005, in the championship game, 75-70.

In the days after the game, Rashad declared for the NBA draft.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams agreed.

Selected by Minnesota with the 14th overall pick, Rashad entered the NBA as the teammate of superstar Kevin Garnett. After his experiences at North Carolina, where he had issues with media, Rashad was eager for a new start, and to let people see who he truly was.

His interview with the St. Paul Pioneer Press in the fall of 2005 was illuminating:

Joining the Timberwolves (Getty Images).

Q: What's the biggest misconception about Rashad McCants?
A: I think people are just trying to understand me too much. I think they overthink. I think they overexaggerate it. I'm just a rookie trying to come in, trying to make the team, trying to be a part of something special. Some people get the misconception of me being arrogant or cocky. I could be just sitting there thinking about a play I made in the game or be on the bench thinking about what coach just said, and people think I'm sitting there mad. And I'm just focused in.
Q: So far, you seem pleasant enough.
A: That's mostly the thing. When people talk to you, they change their minds.
Q: What would you like to change about your game, whether it's good or bad?
A: I would change my defensive consistency and be a better ball handler.

The insights went beyond basketball.

Q: Not every pro athlete plays the sport he likes best. Is basketball your favorite sport?
A: I think this is definitely the best sport for me, but I was pretty good in football, too. I was a receiver.
Q: Do you think you could have played in the NFL?
A: As a receiver, I think so. I've got the ability, the hands, everything.
Q: If you weren't playing basketball, what would you be doing?
A: I would probably be acting. I did some improv in college. And I'd probably be doing some music. Not musicals, but hip-hop and poetry, stuff like that.
Q: Do many people know you like those things?
A: Nobody does.

Rashad spent much of his first professional season finding his way: learning to be part of his team, adjusting to the challenges of the pro game. His stats – 7.9 points per game, 17.2 minutes played – were far below what he expected from himself. He returned to North Carolina the summer after his rookie season determined to improve, but soon found a very different kind of obstacle in his path.

It felt like a muscle tweak at first, so Rashad kept playing. A month later, the pain in his right knee was sharper. Doctors told Rashad he would require minor surgery.

When he awoke from the operation, things were worse. Rashad had a bone bruise, and would be out nearly eight months recovering from microfracture surgery.

"I thought it was a joke," he said. "After a while it set in.”

During the course of rehab, he talked to Jason Kidd, who had suffered a similar injury earlier in his career. “He told me to take it slow, don't rush it. Do exactly what they said and you'll be back."

Rashad signs an autograph just weeks from returning from his injury (Getty Images).

So for most of the next year, Rashad did just that – rehabilitate his knee. Most of the 2006-2007 season rolled by. Rashad could only watch as Minnesota compiled its worst season in nearly a decade.

As the Minnesota Star Tribune reported, being unable to help his team was almost as excruciating for Rashad as being hurt.

It's safe to say that McCants and the Wolves medical team have gotten as close as family. But perhaps nobody has gotten to know him better than Andre Deloya, the team's physical therapist. Hundreds of hours working toward a common goal will do that.

And what Deloya saw was a young man channeling all his frustration into his rehab.

"It was hard for him," Deloya said. "I think he has distinct visions of what his role would be and when he would have achieved that status, and this was a huge detour from that time-frame. He believes and thinks he should be an impact player. Instead, he's had to sit and brood."

Despite not playing, teammates noted Rashad’s devotion to his recovery.

"Rashad is transcending himself," Garnett said. "He's been away from the game, but he's tried to be a lot more connected with the team. Some guys they're hurt, you don't see them around. He's been the opposite. He's been around.”

Rashad played his first game after the injury on January 31, 2007, logging five minutes against the Sacramento Kings. Afterward, he felt pain free – and relieved. He played in 37 games over the rest of the season, regaining his fitness and confidence, and looking forward to next year.

After a productive off season and summer league, Rashad was ready to roll in 2007-2008. Over the summer, however, things changed dramatically in Minnesota.

Feeling it against Denver (Getty Images).

First, Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics, and shortly afterward, another Timberwolves veteran – Ricky Davis – was off to the Miami Heat.

Not only did Rashad find himself with new teammates. He found himself in a new role: starting at the two.

It was a difficult season, but Rashad continued to develop his game. He scored a career-high against the Denver Nuggets on January 4, 2008, dropping in 34 points on 12 of 18 shots (67 percent). No. 1 went on to become the team’s second-leading scorer (14.8 ppg), and while Minnesota struggled, one of the league’s youngest teams has a ton of promising young talent.

Off the court, Rashad is continuing to develop his entertainment company, Young, Black and Gifted Inc. (YBG), and his poetry, which has a spoken word/hip-hop vibe to it, and can be found in the Writings by Rashad portion of this site. He also gives his younger sister, Rashanda – herself a basketball star at North Carolina – advice as she needs it. Rashad is also active in the NBA’s community programs, and is actively working to help fight breast cancer, which his mother survived.

In all his endeavors, the future is looking bright for Rashad McCants. As he told the Asheville Citizen-Times this past summer:

“I’m real excited. I’m growing as a player and a person. And I’m just ready to see where it’s going to take me.”