Terrance Joyner is a lot of things.
He’s best friends with Oklahoma City Thunder super sub James Harden.
This past season he helped lead Mississippi Valley State to the NCAA tournament.
He compares himself to the likes of Steve Nash, George Hill and Ramon Sessions.
More importantly, he gives credit where credit is due.
Joyner, in an interview with The Hoops Report, attributes his on court growth and development to former Delta Devils head coach Sean Woods.
“Sean helped me extremely on and off the court. His intensity and passion for the game rubbed off on me,” Joyner said.
When the 6-3, 180 pound guard arrived at Mississippi Valley after a tumultuous freshmen stint at New Mexico State that included a suspension and arrest, Joyner said it was Woods who now is the head coach at Morehead State helped him find stability.
“We had a father and son type of relationship. He was a great defensive player under Rick Pitino (at Kentucky) and he challenged everyday to be a great defender, which I did become this year. He played in the NBA briefly so he always told me I had to work because it would be hard coming out of MVSU,” Joyner said.
Joyner did work hard an improved each year under the watchful and demanding eye of Woods’ tutelage posting career highs in points per game (13.1), assists per game, (2.5) three-point shooting percentage (.378) and steals (1.3). Those accomplishments resulted in Joyner being selected to the 2012 All-SWAC Second Team. His stellar play was key in MVSU dominating the SWAC and securing a berth in the field of 68.
“Everyday knowing that some of the guys I played with and against are in the NBA and me being at a SWAC school made me hungry and that was the fuel to my fire, but I didn’t feel underrated because I was highly rated coming out of high school. I knew if we won I would get my chance again,” said Joyner.
These days Joyner is preparing for the NBA Draft. During the process the aspiring professional has sought advice from Harden, a 2009 first-round draft pick himself who he befriended while in Los Angeles.
Joyner said the reigning Sixth Man of the Year has given him advice what to expect throughout the entire pre-draft evaluation process.
“I really believe I will have a successful NBA career whether I get drafted or not,” he said.
I truly hope that Coach Woods told him to hit those books also. Best wishes to Joyner.