What was I supposed to say? Hi, my name’s Mr. Red, I worshiped you when I was growing up. Hi, I write a sports column now for a new paper and your poster once adorned my bedroom. Hi, my buddies and I would all call “I’m Wheat!” when playing pretend in driveway games? Nah, you can’t do that. Not when you’re talking to a Louisville legend. Not when you’re talking to Dejuan Shontez Wheat.
It would be easy to think that when Dejuan Wheat left Louisville in ’97 his legacy was completed. His name was etched in every record book; his face defined Cardinal basketball in the ‘90s. But when you speak with Dejuan Wheat now, it’s clear his Louisville legacy didn’t end the moment he took off his jersey. Whether it’s by using his star power to raise funds for Swheat Foundation, or by organizing basketball camps for kids in underprivileged areas, Dejuan Wheat still has the power to change lives in this community, one dribble at a time.
Thanks for talking with me today, Dejuan, I really appreciate it. You’re back home, you retired from professional basketball last year. Can you tell me what you’ve been up to, what your plans are for post-basketball life?
I’ve been spending time with my family and doing work with my foundation. We’ve got a bunch of projects going on and coming up. We’ll be going out in communities, working with youth, having basketball camps for underprivileged kids, things like that. We’re also raising funds for a cancer walk, which hopefully will be happening real soon.
Why cancer in particular? Is it a cause that’s close to you personally?
I think it’s personal to everyone. I know in my family, I’ve had four or five members diagnosed. It’s affected everyone. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do.
When I read autobiographies by athletes from all different sports, one theme they all have in common is that retiring from the game is a very emotional time. It’s tough to put away something you love. What’s it been like for you having hung up your professional sneakers?
It’s been tough. For me, I still felt I could have played for two more seasons, I felt my body could go for two more seasons. But I retired to spend more time with my kids, my family. Being away from them for seven months is hard. I watch basketball on TV a lot. When (last season) started up, I was OK. But once mid-season came around, I was like ‘Oh my goodness, I need to be out there’. But things have to end. My kids play basketball now. So I want to be there to see them. I’ll see them make their legacy.
Often when my friends and I are talking about UofL basketball over beers, the conversation always drifts back to your tournament run in ‘97. You were playing great basketball then, the team was gelling, but you were injured in the Sweet 16 against Texas with a badly sprained ankle and had to be carted off the court. Do you remember what your thoughts were in those moments?
I’ll never forget it. I had never been injured like that. I had never missed a game because of injury. It was the worst pain I’ve ever been in. They took me to the hospital after the game, I remember laying there with wires attached to my ankle and I told myself ‘If it’s not broken, I’m gonna play’. I’ll never forget because I was awake all night, I didn’t get any sleep.
And you did play against North Carolina in the Elite Eight. Your scoring was slowed, but you still played for 34 minutes and dished eight assists. The Cards actually cut the lead to 3 with 7:00 minutes left. Looking back, do you view that game as your time, your best chance at the Final Four, and possibly a title?
Definitely. I think about it a lot. And I get asked about it a lot. And when I do get asked about it, I end up thinking about it for the rest of the day.
Oops, sorry about that. Either way it was a really gutsy performance, one that left its mark. It’s definitely one of the great “what ifs” in Louisville basketball history. But in terms of the present, we’ve had a lot of changes going on in the city, none bigger than the new KFC Yum! Center. But you’ll always be partial to Freedom Hall, I gather?
Definitely. I loved playing at Freedom Hall. People can say it was old or whatever, it was probably built before I was born, but every time I stepped on the court it felt new to me. Every time it felt new.
You had a signature leg-kick on your jump shot. Earlier when I said you were a beloved figure, maybe that’s not entirely true because there must have been some upset elementary coaches with teams filled with players mimicking that motion. Is there a story behind it?
(laughing) No, there’s no real story behind it. When I was little I used to play on an 8-foot goal all the time, that’s how I learned the game. Maybe that had something to do with it, I dunno. I don’t even think about it until I see myself on video.
Since you left, Louisville has had solid play at point guard, but no one has stepped into “the man” role quite like you did for your team. But now, with Peyton Siva, Louisville has high hopes that we’ve found a guy that can lead the team the same way you did. Have you seen much of Siva’s game, and what are thoughts about him?
I’ve seen him play quite a bit. He’s a solid player. He’s really strong and athletic. He runs the team well, so I’ve been impressed. I think he can take his team far.
And I promised a friend of mine I’d ask you this. What was former teammate Beau Zach Smith like? Was he as goofy as he seemed?
(laughing) Let me tell you, Beau Zach was one of the coolest guys on the team. I don’t know how he looked on TV, but believe me, he was one of the coolest guys. You’d be surprised.
Alright, I’ll let you go. But I did want to ask about what it’s like being back home. Louisville is famous for loving its homegrown players. Guys like Darrell Griffith, Tony Kimbro, Dwayne Morton, recently, Larry O’Bannon. Perhaps none more than you. What’s it like being back?
It’s really weird. Sometimes it’s like the exact same as when I played. Louisville fans love their team. Sometimes it’s like the last 11 or 12 years or whatever never happened. There’s definitely something special about it. And that’s what we’re trying to do with these camps, helping and teaching kids, and maybe find the next player out there from Louisville.
–Tim “Mr. Red” Johnstone
Great Article! Dejuan was always one of my favorite players and it was great to hear about him
Thanks