Fitzpatrick Playing Key Role

Posted Jan 27, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jan 27, 2010 at 12:11 AM

USF freshman Toarlyn Fitzpatrick has been a popular guy around campus since hitting that big 3-pointer Saturday night at Providence that forced overtime.

Three things you might not know about Fitzpatrick, who played his high school ball at King High:

** Bulls coach Stan Heath said the 6-foot-8, 230-pound Fitzpatrick would shoot 3-pointers all day if the coaches didn’t get on him to play inside; Fitzpatrick has attempted only six this season, but played outside regularly in high school.

** Fitzpatrick caught the attention of teammate Dominique Jones when Jones dated his godsister and attended a few King High games; Jones said he knew then Fitzpatrick would be a good addition to the program.

** Fitzpatrick is rather shy, especially around adults he doesn’t know. However, Heath said he is one of the team’s biggest pranksters.

Fitzpatrick’s college career is only 19 games old, but he’ll have a difficult time topping the shot he made with 0.3 seconds left Saturday at Providence. Click here to read our story on Fitzpatrick’s shot and his emergence in the absence of Gus Gilchrist.