Rasheed Wallace
From Hoopedia
Rasheed Abdul Wallace grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He began his basketball career in Philadelphia and attended Simon Gratz High School. He was named USA Today High School Player of the Year after the 1992-93 season and was selected first team All-American by Basketball Times. Despite limited playing time of just 19 minutes per game, Wallace still managed to average 16 points, 15 rebounds and 7 blocks during his senior year. In addition to basketball, Wallace also ran track and high jumped as a teenager.
College
University of North Carolina coach Dean Smith lured Wallace to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for his college years. Smith was a revered mentor to Wallace as he was to Wallace's eventual Detroit coach Larry Brown; Wallace has indicated that this North Carolina bond with Brown helped Wallace adjust quickly to the Piston system. During his time at North Carolina, Wallace had success in the national spotlight. Named a second-team All-American by the AP his second year, Wallace ranks as the leading career field goal shooter in Atlantic Coast Conference history with a .635 percentage.
Personal
He and his wife, Fatima, have three sons and one daughter. Has two older brothers. His foundation, RAW, holds annual coat and food drives in Philadelphia and Detroit to help the less fortunate. Runs annual summer basketball camps in Philadelphia and Chapel Hill. Has his own website. Names Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and Andre Agassi as the athletes he most admires Is a fan of the Philadelphia Flyers and Phillies but not the Eagles, rooting instead for the K.C. Chiefs. He is an avid video game player.
