Mt. Tabor's Grace dribbles past inquiries
? LM'^Tabor P0'"1 ?uard
Mike Grace is one of my
favorite student-athletes in the
city. He's been one of my
guys ever since I met him two
years ago.
I still remember interview
ing him for the story, think
ing, "This kid sounds like he
does interviews all the time "
And, he was only a ninth
grader back then. 1 definitely
know I can get a good inter
view out of Grace any time I
need one. I thought it would
be a good time to get his
thoughts on the basketball
season since things are start
ing to swing into gear right
now.
He said he and his team
mates are ready for the sea
son. I have to believe him.
Grace had a great summer. So
did his teammate, C.J. Harris.
And. the Spartans added some
nice pieces to the puzzle dur
ing the off season.
He and 1 talked about the
new additions, Chris Paul,
other city athletes, Sean
Taylor and a few other things.
We also talked about his sis
ter, Taylor Dewberry. Take a
look at some of the other
things CP5 and I talked about
on Tuesday evening before
the Spartans game against
Reagan.
Anthony: What's good,
Grace?
Mike: How are you
doing, man?
Anthony: I'm holding it
down. I can't really complain.
But tell me what's up with
you.
Mike: Nothing much. Just
trying to get ready for this
game tonight.
Anthony: Who do you
play tonight?
Mike: We play Reagan
tonight.
Anthony: Oh, OK: How
did you all do in that tourna
ment over the weekend?
Mike: We won our first
game against East Chapel
Hill. We came out a little flat
against Trinity and lost that
one in overtime.
Anthony: I know it's still
football season at Mt. Tabor,
but how excited is everyone
about the basketball team?
Mike: Everybody is excit
ed about this season. A lot of
people feel like we can do
some big things this year.
Football is still king right
now, though.
Anthony: I know you had
a big summer, man. Kind of
tell me what went on with
you.
Mike: Whew. 1 had a
great summer playing AAU.
We started off winning the
state championship in North
Carolina. Then, we went
down to Myrtle Beach and
won the Big Tyme. Then, we
went to Vegas and won the
Main Event. So, we had a
great summer on the AAU cir
cuit.
Anthony: (Smiles.) No
doubt about that. 1 know your
name was circulating like
crazy. But honestly tell me
File photos
Mt. Tabor point guard Mike Grace, who's a junior, has added new dimensions to his game.
how good you feel heading
into this season.
Mike: I mean, I'm com
ing in with a lot of confidence
in myself and teammates. I'm
really expecting real big
things. Everybody has one
thing in mind, and that's that
(state championship) ring.
Anthony: How much eas
ier does C.J. (Harris) make
your job?
Mike: C.J. takes a lot of
pressure off me. I mean, he's a
guy that can go through and
breakdown a defense by him
self. He can handle the rock,
and do all the things that he
does with the ball. As a point
guard, I don't have to do near
ly as much.
Anthony: You're the
point guard. But he's also list
ed as a point guard.
Mike: Right. I mean, we
both do the same things to
help our team win. We don't
really look at it as a point
guard and shooting guard. We
just look at it as we're both
guards. We can both handle
and shoot the ball. We both
can also score and distribute. I
mean, we're both guards.
Anthony: What's the best
part of your game?
Mike: It would have to be
the mid-range (jumPer) My
mid-range jump shot. I had to
pick it up. I'm not growing
any more. I can't take it up
better at soccer than I was at
basketball. 1 played soccer
from the time I was 5 or 6
until I was 13 years old. So it
would probably be soccer.
Anthony: I know I woke
against those trees. So, I got
to pull up.
Anthony: What is the
biggest difference between
this team and the one from
last year?
Mike: There's definitely
more defensive pressure. We
run full court now. We're run
ning the whole game. We're
guard heavy, so we have to
run to beat teams.
Anthony: OK. What
other sport would you be
playing if you didn't play
ball?
Mike: Uh, soccer. 1 was
up to some sad news this
morning. What were your
thoughts on the death of Sean
Taylor.
Mike: Ah man. That's
crazy. Me and C.J. just talked
about that. That was wild. He
was on top of the world. He
just lost it like that. That
shows that we need to sit back
and appreciate what we have,
and enjoy life.
Anthony: True. Hey, you
got a new sister, Taylor
Dewberry. (Mike's dad
recently married Taylor's
mom).
Mike: Yes sir. Track star.
Anthony: What's that
household like?
Mike: It's crazy. But we
don't really talk that much.
But I got her whenever she
needs anything, and she's got
me. She supports me with bas
ketball. I support her with
track. We have a good rela
tionship.
Anthony: (Smiles.) OK.
What's your favorite thing to
watch on television?
Mike: College basketball.
I love college basketball. I'm
not really into the NBA. It's a
lot of one on one and bad
shots right now.
Anthony: Who's your
squad right now?
Mike: Carolina. I'm a
Tarheel until I die. I love
those Deacs too. If they play
then I'm going to root for
them, but I am definitely a
Carolina fan, though.
Anthony: Give me a top
three of teajps in the city.
Mike: I have to go with
Mt. Tabor at number one.
Prep, with big Reggie, is a
tough squad at two. Then, I
got to say Calvary with Torez
(Young) and Carter Cook.
They're a tough group too.
That's my top three.
Anthony: Give me a top
five list of individuals.
Mike: OK. I'd have to put
C.J. (Harris) at number one.
Big Reggie at number two.
Marcus (Wright) and Carter
(Cook) at three and four. I'd
have to go with my man, Josh
Hicks. No one really knows
about him over at Tabor. But
he just transferred from
Greensboro Day. He can real
ly play. >
Anthony: No doubt. I
heard he's a beast.
Mike: Yes sir.
Anthony: You guys are
going to be really crazy
(good) if you reach your
potential.
Mike: That's right. On
paper, we have a squad. We
just have to put it together. We
saw that any team can beat us
if we don't come out to play.
We're going to be tough to
beat if we play together.
Anthony: I know you're
still young, but have you
taken the SAT yet?
Mike: Not yet. But I'm
going to take it next spring,
though.
Anthony: OK. Stay on
top of that. If you could play
anyone, one-on-one, who
would it be?
Mike: Um, either CP or
Michael Jordan. I look up to
the both of them.
Anthony: Is CP going to
make the NBA All-Star team
this year?
Mike: Of course. If he
don't then it's highway rob
bery. He's got to make it.
Anthony: Let's switch it
up a little bit. Um, what's
your favorite class at Mt.
Tabor?
Mike: U.S. History. My
favorite teacher teaches that
class, Mr. Niesel.
Anthony: (Smiles) Coach
Niesel. OK. That's cool. Let's
finish with free association.
Uh, Brian "Big Cuz" Watson.
Mike: (Laughs.) Hey,
biggest fan in Winston.
Anthony: (Smiles.) I'm
about to give you a history
lesson with this one.
Mike: OK.
Anthony: Dr. Robert
Cade.
Mike: (Long pause.)
Anthony: That was the
inventor of Gatorade in 1965.
He died today.
Mike: Ah man. I love
Gatorade. That's all I drink,
but I'm sorry to hear that he
died.
Anthony: OK. Mt. Tabor.
Mike: State champs in
football and basketball.
Anthony: Hunter Furr.
Mike: A monster.
Anthony: Ed Gainey.
Mike: Most talented play
er in Winston.
Anthony: L.D. Williams.
(Wake guard)
Mike: A freak of nature .
Anthony: Mike Grace.
Mike: A true point guard.
Anthony: Best point
guard to play at Mt. Tabor.
Mike: It's got to be Chris
Gaynor.
call us first.
76Q.491 1
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