By Bill Sheehan
Point guard is perhaps the most demanding job in basketball, requiring an individual to direct the offense, find open teammates, pose a scoring threat and defend the opponent's playmaker.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is the starting point guard for the Cal State Fullerton' this season, and he's off to a strong start. The 6-foot-3 junior from Omaha, Nebraska, tops the team in scoring (15.5 points per game), assists (2.9) and steals (1.2) while serving as a team leader.
He was named the Big West Player of the Week after notching career-highs of 27 points and eight rebounds in a mid-November overtime win at Pacific. This month, he sank a career-best six 3-pointers in a victory over San Diego Christian.
Dedrique Taylor, who is in his 10th year as Fullerton's head coach, doesn't put his players into specific categories. "I don't get caught up calling guys a 1 or 2 – that's antiquated," said the coach, referring to the practice of labeling point guards a 1, shooting guard a 2, small forwards a 3, power forwards a 4 and centers a 5.
"Latrell can play both guard positions. He can pass, has unbelievable vision and is a good decision-maker. And he is a shooter who can score from all three levels – three-point range, mid-range and underneath the hoop.
The Titans are 6-6, with three of their losses decided by seven points or less. They play UC Santa Barbara (9-2) on Thursday in the Big West Conference opener for both teams. Tipoff at Titan Gym is 6 p.m.
Wrightsell played just eight minutes in the Titans 59-49 win over Sacramento State last week after suffering lower back spasms from a fall in practice. He said he'll be ready for the conference opener.
"Santa Barbara will be a good test, a good barometer, for our group," said Wrightsell. "We went on a winning streak at the start of conference last year, and we'll be trying to repeat that. We must take it one game one at a time."
"We have many new guys, so the [drills] have been a little harder and more detailed in practice," Wrightsell said of the Titans, who have a total of nine transfers and freshmen on their 16-man roster. "We've endured a five-game losing streak and understand that we're playing with a small margin for error. We've got to eliminate some silly mistakes and miscommunication."
This year's team must overcome its lack of size by focusing on doing the dirty work underneath the basket, he said. "Boxing out and rebounding – that could help determine if we are a good team or a bad team."
He has embraced his role as a team leader. "Dedrique talked to me about it. I'm trying to fit into that role and do as best as possible to help us come out with a championship.
My effort has to start on the defensive side – making steals, filling in the gaps and being more vocal on the court," he said.
Wrightsell began learning the ins and out of basketball at age 5 from his father. Latrell Wrightsell Sr. was a four-year letterman at Creighton University, a Jesuit university in Omaha. A point guard, the elder Wrightsell averaged 11 points and 5.4 assists as a senior starter.
"I enjoyed working with my son," he said. "It's always fun to watch a child grow and develop and use the skills he practiced. We worked a lot on his ball-handling. He became a point guard who could shoot with a high efficiency. He can spread the floor because the opposition must respect his shooting and guard him outside. That opens things for his teammates."
"He has a competitive spirit and a high basketball IQ that continues to rise. He's knowledgeable and anticipates well, puts himself in the right position and makes the right pass and the right reads."
The younger Wrightsell said playing both point and shooting guard in youth, club and high school basketball was a godsend. "It's benefited me a lot, understanding both positions and being able to contribute more."
Fullerton's coaching staff got its first in-person look at Wrightsell in February 2019. Then-Titans assistant coach Brandon Dunson traveled to Omaha to watch Wrightsell and his Omaha Central High School team take on Nebraska's No. 1-ranked Millard North. The latter had several future Div. 1 players in its starting five.
Wrightsell, a senior, scored 34 points as No. 4 Omaha Central upset Millard North, 83-81, in overtime. The next day, Taylor called and offered him a scholarship.
He averaged 24 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals that season while guiding Omaha Central to a 21-4 record. He also broke the school's single-game scoring record with a 43-point performance against Benson on his Senior Night.
Wrightsell, who was coached by Eric Behrens, was a First Team All-Nebraska selection and the No. 3-ranked player in Nebraska by PrepHoops.com.
"We liked Latrell because he is a high-character kid with talent and DNA basketball in him. We're looking for good guys that are so important for winning and finding success, and he fit the bill," said Taylor, who signed a three-year contract extension in August.
As a Fullerton freshman, he started nine games, collecting 9 points and 2.2 assists per game. But Wrightsell also faced myriad challenges. He experienced homesickness, tested positive for COVID-19 on two occasions and fractured his ankle late in the season. Shortly thereafter, the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament.
"It was crazy. There was no family to lean on when I encountered some difficult situations. But I learned a lot, and that helped me in the long run."
As a sophomore, Wrightsell's stats declined slightly (6.7 points and 1.7 assists per game), but he started 20 games and backed up Damari Milstead at point guard. The Titans won the Big West Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four seasons
"It was kind of a roller-coaster ride. Some new players joined the team, and people bumped heads at first. We must have had 10 team meetings to address some issues. But everyone put aside their differences, and we began to win games.
"Winning the Big West Tournament was surreal. We were big underdogs, but we knew we had the ability to win the tournament. We wanted to prove everyone wrong, and we did."
Wrightsell admires Taylor for his intensity and urgency. "He's an uplifting guy. When you're around coach, you're unlikely to become complacent."
Teammate Cameron Carter roomed with Wrightsell during the Nebraskan's freshman year and has closely watched his development. "Latrell came in as a role player at first. Over time, he had bigger roles and earned a starting position last year. He scored in clutch situations."
Fullerton guards Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Cameron Carter celebrate Fullerton's 2022 Big West Tournament Championship.
Carter, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, said Wrightsell has filled the role as a leader. "He is taking the position that this is his team. What he says goes, and we agree with him because what he says is usually right."
A kinesiology major from Reno, Carter said Wrightsell is his best friend. "He is funny and a character." Wrightsell Sr. said his son tends to be quiet "unless he knows you."
Wrightsell's parents watch every Fullerton game on broadcasts or streaming. His father is an education specialist for the Upward Bound Math and Science Program at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha. His mother Chandra is a business consultant.
His older sister, Jaden, played basketball for four years at Tennessee State in Nashville and one year as a graduate transfer at High Point University in North Carolina. A forward, she finished with 1,073 points and 779 rebounds in her five-year career. She is in the process of transferring to an accelerated bachelor-of-science-in-nursing program.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. poses with his father Latrell, mother Chandra and sister Jaden in an undated family portrait
Wrightsell Sr. is called Trell by family and friends. Chandra, adding a "y," gave her son the nickname Trelly.
Wrightsell, 20, enjoys video games and shopping for clothes. "If you ask anyone on the team, they'll say I'm a 'fashion freak.' I shop for exotic clothes online and at the mall. I try to wear a different outfit for every game."
A self-admitted "fashion freak," Latrell Wrightsell Jr. said he tries to wear a different outfit to every basketball game.
Religion is also an important part of his life. He is a member of the Salem Baptist Church in north Omaha and streams its services online on Sundays. "Each day, my mom sends me a prayer to help me get through the day."
He has a couple small Name, Image, Likeness contracts but said he's too busy during the season to seek larger deals. With COVID ending the 2019-2020 season prematurely, Wrightsell will have two years of eligibility remaining after this season.
After his collegiate career ends, Wrightsell plans to pursue a professional basketball career in the U.S. or overseas. A kinesiology major, he would eventually like to become a chiropractor.
"When I've had injuries, especially the broken ankle, my chiropractor helped me get back to my same old ability with his exercises and movements. I want to help athletes get back on track."
At the end of the day, Wrightsell insists on putting his scoring feats and other achievements in perspective. "I take pride in my accomplishments. But whatever I'm doing, I hope it's helping the team. If we don't win the game, the individual statistics don't matter."