Central Michigan University Athletics
Wallace Working To Help Chippewas Win
12/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 5, 2000
J.R. Wallace enters his sophomore season at Central Michigan with high expectations and lofty goals.
"I expect us to win the MAC this season along with winning all of our home games," Wallace said.
During the middle of last season, Wallace's mind was far from basketball because of reoccurring seizures that plagued him.
"It was an eye-opener to have something like that happen in the thick of the season," J.R. continued. "I was wrapped up in scoring points and getting playing time and this really brought things into perspective."
J.R. had to go through many tests including cat scans and MRI's to try and discover what was causing the seizures. All the tests never found anything wrong with him so it was concluded that they were caused by stress and anxiety.
"I was constantly worried about playing well and it caused me a lot of stress," explained Wallace. "This season I have relaxed a little bit and worried more about the team than myself."
With the seizures hopefully behind him, Wallace can refocus his energy back into basketball. He entered this season with a shot at a starting spot but manages to keep his goals modest.
"I want to do what it takes to make the team better whether it means that I play 20 minutes a game or five minutes, I just want to win," Wallace said.
Wallace was highly recruited coming out of high school where he finished sixth in voting for Michigan's Mr. Basketball Award. J.R. also earned Class A all-state honors as a senior and set the Reeths-Puffer High School career scoring mark with 1,362 points.
With all these accolades, Wallace was recruited by many schools such as Purdue, Xavier and most MAC schools. J.R. chose to become a Chippewa for many reasons including the coaching staff.
"I really liked all the coaches and players when I visited," explained Wallace. "Coach (Jay) Smith is a great recruiter and after I met him I knew that this is where I wanted to play."
J.R.'s uncle, Mark Hughes, was a member of the 1989 Michigan NCAA championship squad and is now the head coach of the CBA's Grand Rapids Hoops. He played a big part in getting J.R. interested in basketball.
"I remember when my little brother and I used to visit him in his dorm room," said Wallace. "He was roommates with Terry Mills and Loy Vaught and we used to shoot hoops with those guys that are now in the NBA, and that always meant a lot to me."
by: Caleb Buhs, Sports Information Assistant
