By Nick McCoy
Urald King, a redshirt senior forward from West Monroe LA, came into last season with the same ambition as the previous year. Averaging 11.3 points a game in 2011-12, King began the 2012-13 season with a spring of evolving talent behind him.
King played last preseason before he fractured the scaphoid and radius in his wrist, sidelining him for the entire season without even practicing. This injury forced him to redshirt which saved his eligibility to play for a season.
King said, “A lot of people think not playing is all negative, but it’s actually the opposite. I was able to see the game in a whole new perspective, very similar of a coach’s perspective. I could also diagnose the game and garner knowledge for when I returned to the court to play.”
Head coach Kelly Green said, “Urald has an internal motor that doesn’t stop. Some guys have to work at their motor, his is built in. He goes a high level all the time. And when your best player is the hardest working player, it makes everything easier for me as a coach.”
According to Green, King is extremely athletic, a very coachable player and a guy who leads by example. Green said, “His skill set has increased over the years. He was previously just an athletic guy who played hard. He has worked hard at his shooting as well as his ball handling so he has increased in those areas. All he needs now is repetition to return to form.”
For a player who has not played in 12 months, a lot is expected from him, and his self-expectations are even higher. King said, “My goal coming into the beginning of this season is to play how I know I can play.”
In his first game back on the court, he had 16 points in the exhibition game against University of Texas at San Antonio Oct. 31 and followed that up with 12 points and 13 rebounds against the University of Texas EL-Paso in another exhibition game Nov. 2.
King recently earned the Great American Conference Player of Week for his performance in the Nov. 21 and 23 games, in which he contributed to SE’S 2-0 start in conference play.
King said he wants to go out on top, with a conference championship and a few player accolades. He is on the verge of the 1,000 point club, which he would like to pass by season’s end.
Athletes are driven by different things. King said, “My driving factor is to win the Great American Conference. No team from Southeastern has had an opportunity to put a banner up for this conference. I don’t see why we can’t be the first to do so in my senior season,” King said.
Known by his peers as U.K, King’s coaches and teammates see him as a selfless hard working guy on and off the court.
Junior transfer Taylor Smaller said, “U.K. is a guy who comes to work every day, so you know what you are going to get from a guy like that, whereas in a freshman it may be hit or miss.”
King said, “When I walk in the locker room I, am very vocal and loud. Jokingly I come in messing with everyone and having fun so they see this and say he may be the man, the leader and captain. At the same time he cares about us.”
One way King has tried to show this concern for his teammates is by going out to eat together and getting to know one another.
Teammate and senior guard Travis Timmons said, “U.K. helps my game by being in the right spot at the right time. All you have to do is throw it by the rim, and he will go get it.”
Sophomore guard Quinton Threadgill said, “I see U.K. as a lead- By example guy. He doesn’t say too much; he shows it by the way he plays.”
The 6-6 King said, “I look up to and seeks advice from my family about life and sport.” His older cousin Shawn King was defensive end at Louisiana Monroe and a second round NFL draft pick in 1995 by the Carolina Panthers. Shawn’s brother Jerome King was also a standout athlete, playing his college ball at Louisiana Tech and in the NFL for the Bears.
King said, “I have a really athletic family. I don’t know what person in my family that didn’t play a sport.”
King may not have stayed in state like his family, but he still loves home and stays connected with loved ones and friends.
The West Monroe, La. native was originally signed to play at Regis University in Denver, Colo., but King said, “I decided to switch to Southeastern because it was closer to home and I felt it was the place for me.”
A 12 month recovery, sitting on the bench and watching his teammates play without any contribution has given Urald King an urge to get back on the court and prove himself, contribute to his teammates and go get some wins. As he said, he’s hungry.