Ivory Wants to Show and Prove

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Temple's Anthony Ivory, a D.C. native, is seen here at Georgetown University this summer. Ivory believes this season is extremely important to his collegiate athletic career.

July 18, 2006 – The last two years have been rather tumultuous for Anthony Ivory. In the summer of 2003-2004, the 6’9” behemoth center with balletic footwork and soft hands, had just spent a stellar year at National Christian Academy, and was planning to attend upstart Marriott Academy. Marriott, a DC charter school planned on fielding a national level team comprised of several Division I-level players, but due to an apparent administrative gaffe, the squad never competed, leaving Ivory with no athletic experience his last year in high school.

When asked about the obvious disappointment of not competing as a high school senior, Anthony responded during a telephone interview, “That hurt me a lot”. You always want to play your senior year. That got blown out the water”. Despite the athletic setback, Ivory did graduate, but could not take the scholarship offer provided by Providence College, due to NCAA clearinghouse issues.

Given that, Ivory headed to the Bible Belt, enrolling at Genesis One Prep in Mendenhall, MS during the 2004-2005 school year. Despite experiencing “major culture shock” given his D.C. roots and Mendenhall’s rural location, Anthony shared he averaged “around 14 points and 9 to 10 rebounds” per game, which was good enough to earn scholarship offers from “The University of San Diego, Northeastern, Morgan State, and Louisiana-Monroe”.

But a twist of fate would land him at Temple University, his current college home for 2005-2006. “It kind of fell into place” recounted Ivory. “I’m good friends with David Hawkins (the leading scorer in Temple history and a Washington native). He actually thought I was going to play (Division I ball) out of Marriott…He gave a call to Temple. They knew of me, and offered”.

When asked about the Temple experience generally, Ivory shared “I love it. It’s just how I imagined college to be”. In his opinion, “Even though it’s in the city (Philadelphia, PA), it still feels like a campus”.

His first year basketball experience on Philly’s Broad Street was more challenging. Playing for future Hall of Fame head man, John Chaney, Anthony shared “I started the first seven games of the season”, before being derailed by a “shin injury”. He would only play in nine games for the season, and resultantly his conditioning suffered. Add to those challenges, Chaney’s year-end retirement.

Enter Fran Dunphy. After seventeen years at cross-town rival University of Pennsylvania, Dunphy took the Temple job this spring, a move Ivory supported. “I’m happy Coach Dunphy came” he said, as “He’s familiar with me (from local Philly Big 5 tournament action), and he’s a great coach”.

Dunphy, also reached recently by telephone, expects much of Ivory, a young man he deems “a good person” who is “very quiet and reserved”. “I’m looking forward to working with Anthony” said Dunphy. The first year Temple Owl coach also feels that if Anthony’s “commitment level” improves, specifically as it relates to conditioning, the big man “could be a formidable player” in college.

Ivory agrees, and this summer has taken steps to increase his fitness level. “I’ve changed everything I had been doing” he said, which includes “Working out at lest twice a day, and watching what I eat”. As a result, he regularly eschews starches such as bread and rice (per the advice of Temple trainers and a class he took last semester), and works out at a local health club under the guidance of a physical trainer.

From a basketball standpoint, Anthony stated “I shoot around five on five at Rolling Crest Recreation Center (in Prince Georges County, MD)”, and will start going to his old school, National Christian Academy soon for workouts. It’s his belief playing at National, with the likes of Georgetown guard Jessie Sapp, and possibly VA Tech’s Deron Washington – both alumni of that school – and others will be beneficial to not only his fitness level, but hoops skill set as well.

Even though Temple’s Dunphy considers Ivory a skilled basketball player, he believes the young guy has much to prove. “It is time for Anthony to arrive as a college athlete” the head Owl said. “He has a great opportunity provided him at Temple University”.

Ivory recognizes his situation’s urgency. “I want to be a starter” next season, said Anthony. “I want to be everything he (Dunphy) wants, so he doesn’t go out there and try to recruit over me…I have a lot to prove this year”.

A truly motivated, conditioned Ivory would be a great boon to Temple, and the bane of that school’s Atlantic 10 conference opponents. Anthony has accepted the challenge, to make that happen.