Looking ahead to 2007-08: Senior backcourt veteran begins his fourth season as point guard starter...one of OVC's best players at position...most experienced Gov has started 79 games, including each contest of last two seasons...plays game with great passion... brings explosive quickness to position... considered outstanding ballhandler and passer... plays greatest in offensive transition... has great ability to get into the lane...improving shooter who has become dependable perimeter performer... also has developed into clutch performer... developed into dependable 75 percent free-throw shooter... possesses ability to finish despite his lack of great size... uses lateral quickness to be outstanding on-ball defender... type of player who can be disruptive on defensive end... product of outstanding prep program.
As a junior in 2006-07: Finished third in steals (2.09) and seventh in assists (4.06) in OVC...his 38 percent three-point shooting ranked sixth in OVC, pointing out his marked perimeter shooting improvement...led OVC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.09)...scored total of 10 points in first four games...however, did have season-high eight assists against Arkansas State while going scoreless...came to life against Tennessee Tech with 17-point effort that led to five straight double-figure efforts...was perfect from floor against Eastern Kentucky on four shot attempts, including a trio of three pointers...hit game-winning three against Colonels with 4.8 seconds left and then stole ensuing inbounds pass to seal the victory...scored career-best 18 points at Memphis...overcame poor shooting night at Jacksonville State by dishing out a career-best 10 assists, becoming the first Gov to hand out double-digit assists since Trenton Hassell against Tennessee-Martin in 2001...played career-high 43 minutes against Eastern Illinois, breaking into double digits for the first time in five games with 11 points...nailed 3-of-5 three pointers. ...recorded six assists against SEMO...had four assists and just one turnover in Govs win against Murray State...finished with 17 points, five steals and three assists in 20 minutes against UT Martin...tallied 14 of his points and four of his steals in second half...had five assists and four steals against Jacksonville State...dropped in 12 points, including a pair key free throws down stretch against Samford...had 10 points and just one turnover at SEMO...dished out six assists and tallied team-high five rebounds at Tennessee State...put together 10-points, five-assist and two-steal performance at Tennessee Tech...set career-high with seven steals against Eastern Kentucky...it was most steals by a Govs player since Reggie Crenshaw nabbed a school-record nine steals during the 1997-98 season...had nine assists and no turnovers in OVC Championship game...recorded season-best five rebounds at Air Force.
As a sophomore in 2005-06: Starting point guard improved steadily in second season...recorded four or more assists in six games...had then-career offensive performance with 12 points and nine assists against Eastern Kentucky...those nine assists were most by Gov since Trenton Hassell had 12 in the 2001 season...proved to be superb defender, slowing such stalwarts as East Tennessee’s Tim Smith, Middle Tennessee’s Fats Cuyler and Jacksonville State’s Walker Russell...matched career-high with five steals against Murray State...was seven-for-eight from free-throw line against SEMO...also had four assists and two steals in game...scored 15 points against Tennessee Tech, going five-for-eight from the floor and 5-6 at free-throw line...tallied seven points and four assists with only one turnover at home against UT Martin...had 10 points on five-of-eight shooting against Jacksonville State. Also had six rebounds and five assists in game...tallied six assists and three steals against Samford...recorded eight points, six assists and two steals against Murray State...collected seven points and five rebounds against Tennessee State...made four key free throws in final minute against EIU...connected on two field goals plus made both free-throw attempts in overtime at Samford...tied for team lead in rebounds (five) at Tennessee. State...scored career-high 18 points against Arkansas State on seven-of-eight floor shooting...also had five assists and five rebounds...tallied 10 points on four-of-six shooting at EKU...
As a freshman in 2004-05: Endured typical roller coaster freshman ride...got off to strong start and moved into Govs starting lineup eight games into season...slump saw him coming off bench midway through OVC season... regained starting assignment down stretch... delivered career's first double-figure scoring game against Vanderbilt, scoring 15 points on six-of-nine shooting..had three other double-figure scoring performances... in fact, had 10 points, six assists and season-high five steals against Chattanooga... recorded season-best seven assists against Eastern Illinois (1)... also had five assists to go with 12 points, on four-of-five shooting, against Jacksonville State (2)... had four or more assists in a game six times.
In high school: Point guard for Russell Otis at Dominguez Hills High School... led team to 32-4 mark during the 2003-2004 season, averaging 14 points and eight assists per game... paced Dominguez to 2003-2004 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division II state championship and a No. 1 West Ranking by USA TODAY (finished season as nation’s No. 11 overall team)... 2004 McDonald’s All-American nominee and was a second-team All-Dream Team selection his senior year... selected first-team All-Daily Breeze and All-Los Angeles Times... also was first-team All-CIF... .played first three prep seasons at Rolling Hills High School... named All-Southern California as sophomore and junior... averaged 20 points and 10 assists per game as junior.
Personal: Public relations major... son of Derek and Ethel Wright... born Sept. 17, 1986... age 21... nicknamed D.J.
