Spencer Dinwiddie, formerly of Taft High School in Woodland Hills, CA. (Courtesy of Long Beach Press-Telegram)
As an emerging prospect out of the west, Spencer Dinwiddie has his sights set high.
“For me personally, I want to start from day one,” Dinwiddie said.
He is one of the top prospects CU men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle has recruited.
During his senior season at Taft High School in Woodland Hills, Calif., Dinwiddie, who plays as point guard, averaged nearly 11 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds and 2.5 steals a game.
He led his Taft Toreadors to victory at the City Champion Finals.
“Since I’ve known him, he’s always been competitive in everything,” friend Tre Williams said. “When we played basketball, he was always taking things too seriously.”
The 6-foot-3 inch, 160 pound Dinwiddie, who chose Colorado after considering attending UCLA, Oregon, UNVL and Harvard, made location his deciding factor in determining where to go for college.
“It really came down to Colorado and Harvard,” Dinwiddie said. “Both coaches loved me, but it really came down to location. It’s closer to home than Boston. I’ve always wanted to play in the Pac-12 since I grew up in that area and got a chance to see all those teams play. After I met coach Boyle, I knew it was a good choice.”
When Dinwiddie isn’t creating opportunities for his teammates on the court, he spends his time relaxing with friends, listening to music by artists such as Big Sean, Drake and J. Cole, or being with the ladies.
“Yeah, I definitely like going after the ladies,” Dinwiddie said.
He hopes to bring his talents, which have allowed him to be ranked among the top 25 players in California, to the Buffaloes in the upcoming season.
“I’m hoping to be a good point guard for the team,” Dinwiddie said when asked about his goals for the season. “My play style is passing first, so I like to get the ball around. My vision is up there with some of the other top point guards in the country. I feel that my offense is a little underrated. I can shoot the ball from the outside, and can get to pretty much anywhere on the floor.”
He said he feels that he can make some improvements as well.
“I’m just working on my speed and my quickness,” Dinwiddie said. “I have a lot of things I can take to the college level, like my explosiveness, but my speed and my quickness are the two I’m working on.”
His family has high hopes and aspirations for him also.
“I expect for him to compete this season,” Dinwiddie’s cousin Kourtney Ricks said. “With him on the team, I can see them being able to be the best team in the Pac-12.”
Sam Natt, Dinwiddie’s brother, said he hopes he can bring his strengths to Colorado.
“He has good speed and quickness,” Natt said. “He knows a lot about the game, especially point guard. He knows how to get the ball to his teammates. He’s a good defender and his arms get him length in the passing lanes.”
His friends also said he can bring his great personality and humor to the team, alongside his skills on the court.
“He’s the guy who likes to make people laugh. He’s cool, calm and relaxed,” friend Emily Martinez said.
For Dinwiddie, it’s about establishing an identity.
“I really just want to show everyone who I am and what I’m about,” he said.
Fans will be able to see if he can accomplish his goal when he takes the court beginning in the 2011-2012 basketball season.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Shay Knolle @ Shay.knolle@colorado.edu.
