SEATTLE – Ryan Appleby is aware of the questions.
Krvin Nortz / The Herald
He knows that when it comes to point guards at the University of Washington, the bar has been set extremely high, and people are wondering if he is good enough to carry on what was started in recent years.
He knows comparisons will be made between him and last year’s two points, Will Conroy and Nate Robinson – two of the best players in the history of the program. Behind Conroy and Robinson, the Huskies reached levels the program had never experienced, and no one wants to see a drop off.
So, if Appleby is feeling a little pressure, it’s understandable. But the sophomore from Stanwood said he isn’t worried about answering any questions.
“I don’t look at it as I’m trying to replace Nate or Will,” Appleby said. “I just have to play how I can play. We all play different from each other. I just have to be myself and not try to be them. I have to do what I do well.”
What does he do well?
Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said Appleby is the best shooter on the team. When Appleby left Stanwood High School in 2003, he was the school’s career scoring and assist leader. He’s played in big games, against big-time schools and against big-time players. So all of the questions concerning Appleby kind of confuse his teammates.
“It’s not like he’s just a new guy who hasn’t played before,” senior forward Bobby Jones said. “He played at Florida, he played with us all last year. We know he can play.”
“People say, ‘Is Ryan going to be tough enough to play with you guys?’” senior Brandon Roy said. “Ryan played a whole year against Will and Nate and there wasn’t one day you’d say Ryan wasn’t tough enough. Every day, he brought it.”
It’s been awhile since Appleby suited up for a game. After his outstanding career at Stanwood, where he led the Spartans to two state tournaments and averaged 24 points and nine rebounds as a senior, Appleby joined the University of Florida. But while he played in 23 games as a true freshman, Appleby realized late in the season that the slower style of play the Gators employed was not a good fit for his game. He was granted a release from his scholarship and contacted Romar, who was happy to bring Appleby into his emerging program. It didn’t take long for Appleby to fit in.
“We knew who he was, but we’d never seen him play much,” Roy said. “But from the beginning he was up here playing with us every day. We tried to make him as comfortable as possible and he did a good job of trying to fit in.”
“I just went in and worked hard every day, trying to get better and make them better,” Appleby said. “They saw that I was there to work and do what I could to help.”
Appleby had to redshirt last season because of NCAA transfer rules, the first time since he started playing basketball when he was 5 that he didn’t play in any games. But he practiced against Conroy and Robinson every day, saying “it was one of the best things I’ve done in my life.” But it was tough to sit and watch the team have one of the best seasons in Washington history, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and reaching the Sweet 16.
“It was real hard,” Appleby said. “They were having so much fun. It was tough to just sit there and watch. I still felt a part of things at home, but when they went on the road, it was different. I missed being out there.”
Appleby’s work in practice has made his transition this year easier for him and his teammates. Appleby is competing for the starting point guard job with true freshman Justin Dentmon, though it’s possible Roy will do much of the ball handling.
“We were already used to playing with him,” Jones said. “We knew what he could do, so it’s been easy playing with him.”
“We don’t look at him as a new guy,” Roy said. “There were times last year we thought that Ryan could really help our team. We’ve been waiting for him to be eligible to play.”
But even his teammates haven’t been as eagerly waiting for the season to start as Appleby. The Huskies open Nov. 6 with an exhibition game at home against Simon Fraser. He says it feels like he hasn’t played in five years, and he’s ready to get back on the court and help the team pick up where it left off. And if he isn’t quite Nate or Will, he says that’s OK – as long as he helps the Huskies keep winning.
“I can’t worry about what other people think,” Appleby said. “Everyone can say what they want. I still have to do what I have to do. I can’t try to live up to everyone’s expectations or live up to what somebody else did.
“All I can do is play my game.”
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