Whatever It Takes

By Christy Cabrera Chirinos
HurricaneSports.com
 
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – He arrived at Miami two years ago with a glittering resume.
 
Jordan Brand Classic Regional Team selection. All-Met Player of the Year. DC State Athletic Association MVP. Washington, D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year. And an ESPN Top 50 ranking.
 
Chris Lykes, for most of his basketball playing career, had known nothing but success.
 
Then, during his sophomore year as a Hurricane, things changed.
 
Miami, hampered by injuries and depth issues, struggled through a 14-18 season. There were just five conference wins and there was no postseason berth to celebrate.
 
Lykes posted impressive numbers — his 16.2 points-per-game average led the Hurricanes and ranked ninth in the ACC. His individual performances earned him praise from some of the biggest names in college basketball, but the guard wasn’t happy.
 
His individual success meant little if the Hurricanes weren’t winning and so, with his junior season looming and a high-profile season opener against Louisville now less than two months away, Lykes has vowed to do everything in his power to make sure this year, Miami is a winner.
 
“Whatever it’s going to take for this team to win more games, I’m going to do,” Lykes said. “Whether that means getting more assists or being the defensive leader of the team, I’m going to do it. Winning is what I care about. I think I help set the tone, but at the same time, we have a lot of guys who are hungry. Our freshmen are eager to show that they can play at this level. We’ve got a lot of guys on the same page right now, but I do feel like it starts with my intensity on both ends of the floor, so, it’s a good job for me.”
 
That mindset, that willingness to go above and beyond and to make sure his teammates are involved is exactly what Hurricanes coaches want to hear from their standout junior.
 
Before Lykes and the Hurricanes traveled to Italy this summer for a foreign tour that included three games against European opponents, Miami coach Jim Larrañaga challenged the 5-foot-7 Lykes to take his game to the next level by not only working on his defense, but finding ways to make his teammates better and be a leader on and off the court.
 
The message was heard, with Larrañaga saying he noticed an improved defensive intensity from Lykes and an effort from the guard to distribute the ball evenly.
 
That, Larrañaga said will make a difference once the season begins and the Hurricanes are facing some of the top teams in the nation in conference play.
 
“I think he made a sincere effort in doing all the things the coaches were asking him to do,” Larrañaga said. “Be a leader on the court, be a leader when you’re on the bench, be a leader when you’re in the huddle. Talk more. Be more positive. Chris has a tendency to be emotional and we don’t want him to lose that. We just want him to channel it in a positive way. … He handled everything [in Italy]. I was very, very pleased and excited to see the steps he’s taken in the right direction.”
 
While he understands why it’s important he become the leader his coaches have asked him to be, Lykes concedes that’s a task that hasn’t always come naturally.
 
As a freshman, he didn’t feel right speaking up while surrounded by older teammates. Even last year as his production on the court increased, Lykes tried to find his voice. But there were times he still deferred to the veterans in the locker room, especially as the losses kept mounting.
 
Now one of those veterans himself, Lykes knows he’s got to step out of his comfort level, especially given how many newcomers are on the Miami roster this season.
 
He even did some of that Wednesday during the Hurricanes’ first practice of the season, pulling a younger teammate aside to offer encouragement and guidance during the workout.
 
“I think naturally I’ve always been more of a show-by-example guy, but coaches have really stressed to me that they need me to be a little more vocal. I started a little bit last year, but I think I’ve matured a lot more and I can do even better job,” Lykes said. “I want the young guys to see how intense it’s going to be because we’re not having a season like we did last year.”
 
And while Miami’s coaches have asked Lykes to change some of his approach heading into his junior season, one thing they want to see stay the same is Lykes’ passion for the game.
 
In his first two years at Miami, he’s become a fan favorite in South Florida and beyond.
 
His ability to drain long shots and connect on no-look passes often draw cheers, while the fearlessness he shows against opponents with a clear size advantage has earned him respect.
 
“He’s an exciting player. You can expect the unexpected from him,” Larrañaga said. “I’m not surprised by the unexpected, but he’ll make a great move and there’s probably no one else on the court that can do it. He’s made so many plays in his first two years where the crowd just responded. … He’s like a little dynamo. … He’ll have a very good year if the other guys play well, too.”