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By Steve Schaack
The day Ronnie Price signed a two-year guaranteed contract with the Sacramento Kings members of the Utah Valley State basketball team marked February 3 on its calendars. February 3 was the first time the Kings visited Salt Lake City to play the Jazz.
"We've been talking about this since he signed," junior forward David Heck said. "When he came and played Utah we were all going to come and watch him. We've been looking forward to this for months."
Although Price didn't enter the game in an 89-79 loss to the Jazz, his former teammates took up nearly an entire row in the Delta Center in support of their friend and former teammate.
"It's cool just seeing him on the big stage," Heck said. "That's our dream so seeing him it feels like we are down there too."
Price, who signed his guaranteed contract after going un-drafted, is Sacramento's third point guard. In his rookie season he has appeared in 18 games off the bench. In those 18 games he is averaging 2.1 points, in 5.7 minutes a game.
He scored a career high 11 against Dallas the Mavericks earlier in the season. Price isn't complaining about the lack of playing time. Instead he is soaking up the chance he has to learn from an NBA All-Star in Mike Bibby. "I have a great opportunity to learn from one of the best," Price said.
Despite not seeing the floor much during the season, Price is the first player off the bench to congratulate his teammates when they do something good on the floor.
"He's been a terrific young guy," Adelman said. "He hasn't had an opportunity to play much because he is playing behind veteran guys but we are very high on him. We think he is going to be a player in this league. He is the type of kid who everyday he comes to work. He works hard and never gives in. That is a great attitude to have."
Price's strengths on the floor have carried over to his teammates and friends on this years Wolverine basketball team.
"Keeping my poise offensively and defensively was a big thing I learned from him," Utah Valley State senior Pierre Thomas said. "He was a great leader by his actions on the floor."
During Thomas' three years playing with Price the two would sit and watch NBA games on TV and talk about players in the NBA. Now Price is one those players Thomas watches on TV.
"Now that he is in the league it is all a reality now," Thomas said. "It's exciting. I am happy for him being out there."
Being in the NBA doesn't mean Price has forgotten his three years at Utah Valley State.
"I have amazing memories at Utah Valley," Price said. "I can't lie to you. I miss it." On Thursday Price was in the stands at the McKay Center to watch the Wolverines beat UMKC 63-61.
"It was great seeing the guys," Price said.
