Hard Work, Great Attitude Define Selvy

Jan. 10, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. - It has been quite a year for Daryan Selvy, a transfer from Carl Albert Junior College in Poteau, Okla. The West Memphis, Ark., native passed a full load of units last spring to graduate from Carl Albert, got married over the summer to his wife, Tritimia - whom he met at Carl Albert two years back - and now is adjusting to a major role on a top-20 Division I basketball team.

To some it would be overwhelming, but to Selvy, who takes pride in his strict religious beliefs, it has been a time of great opportunity and blessing.

"I have been blessed with some great people who love me, believe in me, and want me to succeed in life," said Selvy, who attended the same high school and junior college as former Sooner and NBA draft pick Corey Brewer. "I have a great life right now, to be able to attend the University of Oklahoma with my wife, and play basketball for a great coach and great program."

Selvy possesses a tremendous work ethic and an unbelievable desire to be successful in anything he confronts. He has already affected the team with his relentless style of play and his willingness to work hard in every drill of every practice.

"Daryan is a worker, plain and simple," said Sooners Assistant Coach Ray Lopes. "He is a Dennis Rodman type of player, a guy who brings it every day and makes his teammates better with his toughness and his work ethic."

At Carl Albert last year, Selvy garnered first-team National Junior College Athletic Association All-America honors after averaging 22.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists. Even more impressively, he led the nation with 4.7 steals, not to the surprise of OU Head Coach Kelvin Sampson.

"He is so active and always keeps his arms moving," said Sampson of the NJCAA Region 2 Player of the Year. "He will be really valuable to us at the top of our presses because he can get so many deflections and be so bothersome to opposing offenses."

Led by Selvy, Carl Albert posted a 23-7 overall record last season and finished first in its junior college region. Carl Albert Head Coach Ron Murphree, who also coached Brewer, praises Selvy as one of the best he has ever tutored.

"I have had some good players over the years, but I feel that Daryan is the best I've ever coached because he can do so many different things," said Murphree. "He does so many things that can help you win a game and that is what it is all about."

Selvy was also recruited by Arkansas and Memphis, both while in high school and during his time at Carl Albert. He chose Oklahoma because of "a good honest coach by the name of Coach Sampson."

"Some coaches will just tell players what they want to hear and try to keep them happy," said Selvy. "I have never wanted a coach like that. Coach Sampson tells guys what they need to hear and really motivates you to get better and play to the best of your ability. That's what it's all about to me."

Selvy is also valuable to the Sooners with his fun-loving mood and spirit. His teammates adore him because of the way he positively affects team chemistry.

"You can never have a bad day or be in a bad mood when he is around," said fellow junior college transfer Aaron McGhee of Selvy. "He just won't allow it. I've never been around anyone like him - he appreciates every day and all of the little things in life."

Selvy, whose nicknames range from Butterbean (he loves beans and corn bread), to Psycho Selvy (because he plays so hard all of the time), to Cricket (because he will make cricket noises during his weight workouts), says there is one thing he would like people to know about him.

"I am a very, very, very nice guy," he says.

Everyone who has met him almost certainly would agree.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Hard Work, Great Attitude Define Selvy

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