Where Are You Now: Josh Pace All-Access

Josh Pace drives to the hole and puts up a floater, Orange lead! Josh Pace, a National Champion, a great attitude, a great amount of respect for others, but most importantly a hard worker.  “Always do everything you can,” said Pace. “Give it your all, you don’t get time back.”

In Pace’s senior year of high school he would average 26.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3 steals per game. He would win All Region Player of the Year for the second year in a row and be selected for both the All Region and All State team. He would also be selected for Street and Smith’s and the Nike All American teams.

“My top choices out of high school were Georgia, Miami, Texas, Maryland, Syracuse, and Alabama,” said Pace. After thinking it all through Pace would decide to choose Syracuse and not the hometown school the Georgia Yellow Jackets. “I chose Syracuse because I wanted to do something different,” said Pace. Just go somewhere away from home.”

After playing sporadically in his freshman season Pace’s most defining moment would come in his sophomore season. After finishing the season 24-5 the Orange would get the number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. “I didn’t really feel that we were a number one seed,” said Pace. I was a little nervous, but not that much.”

The Orange would go onto cruise by the first two rounds by beating Manhattan and Oklahoma State getting rid of those pre-tournament nerves. However the pressure and intensity began to settle in. Games in that atmosphere are different, because it’s win or go home,” said Pace. So there’s a little more pressure and intensity.”

Despite the pressures and obstacles that the Orange endured they would overcome them as they were now in the final game of the tournament, the National Championship game. I felt good going into the championship game, I didn’t do anything different during my pre-game routine,” said Pace. Just relaxed, listened to music and got ready for the game and we watched some video of Kansas as well.”

As the first half came to a close the Orange lead 53-42 and looked as if they were in command of this game. However in the second half the Jayhawks would slowly creep back into the game pulling to within a couple points and then slowly fading away. It was a battle all the way until the end.

Michael Lee of Kansas would receive the ball in Kansas looking like it was going to be an easy three however the hustle of Hakim Warrick would save the Orange the game and the National Championship as Warrick would go onto block Lee’s shot and help lead the Orange to an 81-78 victory. It felt great to win the championship or any championship,” said Pace. It’s hard to describe the feeling you really just have to experience it to understand.”

Pace would go onto play another two seasons for the Orange and finishing out his career before graduating. Also in his senior year he would win Big East Conference Sportsmanship Award. “What it meant to me was that I was respected by my peers and coaches as a player and as a person,” said Pace. . I don’t regret choosing Syracuse, I learned a lot, graduated, made new friends and networks…and obviously won a championship there.”

After graduating from Syracuse in 2005 Pace has been playing professionally overseas bouncing around from team to team. Currently now Pace is playing in New Zealand wearing number 9 and averaging 20.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Pace is the sixth leading scorer in the league behind Dora, 22.3 ppg., Webster, 22.3 ppg., Pledger, 22.0 ppg., Leasure, 22.0 ppg., and Hudson, 20.8 ppg. Pace now plays for the Bay Hawks, they’re 7-0 and first in the NBL.

Despite his ups and downs Pace still goes by his motto, “Always do everything you can,” said Pace. “Give it your all, you don’t get time back.”

To stay updated on Josh Pace visit- http://www.australiabasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=NZL&PlayerID=45661