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Movin’ Mavs player comes from an Army background to bring energy to the court

Written by Travis Detherage, The Shorthorn staff

Thursday, 05 November 2009 06:41 PM

Anthony Pone’s Movin’ Mavs wheelchair basketball career almost never was.

The 6-foot-9-inch sophomore was close to committing to Edinboro University in Pennsylvania two years ago, but that changed after he met former Movin’ Mavs head coach Jim Hayes in the 2007 National Veteran Wheelchair Games in Milwaukee, Wis.

“We were talking about me coming to UTA,” Pone said. “Then I started to acquire information about UTA so me and Jim Hayes started to talk back and forth on the phone for about seven to eight months before I made my final decision.”

Pone never got to play under Hayes. A month before Pone got to UTA, Hayes passed away due to an intestinal blood clot at the age 58.

Pone said he enjoys being a part of the Movin’ Mavs.

“It’s like a family and it’s a real tight, cohesive unit,” said Pone. “You got your issues and everybody comes from a different walk of life, different cultures and every bodies blending in. It’s fun and it’s interesting to be around all these people at once.”

Junior Josh Rucker, who is playing in his first season with the Movin’ Mavs, said Pone is a big guy on the court.

“He has the height of a giant,” Rucker said. “As long as we keep him fired up there’s no stopping him.”

Pone was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa., and joined the Army in 2000 where he worked in supplies for three years. Pone lost his right leg when he was involved in a car accident at a military base in Fort Lee, Va., on Jan. 7, 2002. The vehicle was hit into a pole, which fell on Pone in the passenger seat. Pone was taken to a hospital where his right leg was amputated up to his knee and he spent two months in a coma.

Pone started playing wheelchair basketball in the January 2006 at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center-Philadelphia. Pone said the reason he started playing was to get in shape.

“I was asking my counselor at the Veteran Affairs if there was anything I could do to get into shape, because I was getting a little fat,” Pone said. “He told me I could play wheelchair basketball and I thought about it because I wouldn’t be half the player I was when I was able-bodied, but once I went out there and started to play and move around I fell in love with basketball again.”

Pone, in his second season, said playing for head coach Doug Garner is an adventure.

“He makes it fun, but it’s very challenging and hard,” Pone said. “He’s the king of conditioning if you ask me. We have been conditioning since August and we are still conditioning, so it’s probably not going to stop for the next three or four years I’m here.”

Garner said Pone brings a positive attitude to the team.

“Anthony is a very friendly guy and wherever he is at he is going to have fun, but one of the big things we have been working with him on is being more competitive,” Garner said. “He brings a more mature prospective than a lot of the freshmen and he brings a lot of potential with his size to help the team.”

During the Movin’ Mavs Blue and White scrimmage on Aug. 22. Pone lead the white team with 17 points. Pone said his goal for the season is to be an All-American, be one with the team and get a national championship.

“Hopefully I can get spot on the national team, and if I get chance, I want to go overseas and play for a couple of years,” he said. “Then after that I want to come back and pursue my job in social work. Help kids, restructure communities and do my part by giving back.”

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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 January 2010 01:33 PM )

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