Forte tale is a lesson of regret

With every game, his draft stock rises.

Fifteen points and 10 rebounds against Virginia.

A team-high 20 points versus N.C. State.

But while Marvin Williams contemplates making the jump to the NBA, he should take a look at a cautionary tale from Tar Heel past. It is a story that takes place a long time ago, in the dark ages of the Matt Doherty era.

Joe Forte was one of the most dominating players in North Carolina history.

In his first year in powder blue, he put up 16.7 points per game, the highest ever for a North Carolina freshman.

As a sophomore Forte scored more than 20 a game, was co-ACC player of the year and a consensus first team All-America.

He seemed destined to be mentioned in the pantheon of UNC greats.

When one takes a glance at the jerseys in the Smith Center rafters, familiar names and classic memories come to mind. Jerseys such as Jordan, Wallace and Jamison stand out because of their exemplary college careers, as well as years of success at the professional level.

But the trip down the rows of hallowed names stops at No. 40. The fan pauses, scratches his head, and asks the all-important question:

I wonder what he’s doing now?

The answer lies 200 miles and a lifetime away for Forte, who now plays for the Asheville Altitude of the NBA Developmental League.

He has averaged 7.4 points in 20 games with the Altitude this season and has yet to make a start — a far cry from his historic numbers at UNC.

“It’s a little bit embarrassing to be here,” Forte told the Washington Post. “I mean, All-Americans aren’t supposed to end up in this league.”

The road to Asheville began when Forte left Chapel Hill after his sophomore year and was the 21st pick in the NBA Draft. The Boston Celtics handed him a three-year deal worth $3.2 million.

“I was a 20-year-old kid with a lot of money and a lot of responsibility,” Forte told the Post. “I mean, I was used to being cared for, and all of a sudden I’m keeping my mom on a budget. It was too much too soon, and I just couldn’t handle it.”

The money was only part of the problem. The Celtics tried to convert Forte to the point guard spot because he was too small to play the 2 in the pros. But Forte’s ball-handling was not good enough to consistently run the point, and his playing time dropped.

That’s where the frustration began.

Forte clashed with teammates and coaches in Boston and was traded to the Seattle Supersonics. The change of scenery was no better.

Friction with teammates hit rock bottom after a close loss to the Washington Wizards. Forte was singing gleefully in the shower despite his despondent teammates and was attacked by fellow Sonic Jerome James.

Before the 2003-04 season the Sonics released Forte, and he was out of basketball for a year before joining the Altitude in December.

The Forte story should be told to every underclassman or high school star that dreams of NBA glory.

Rumors are flying that Williams could be the No. 1 pick in the draft when he leaves school, but even the top choice is not immune from failure.

Take it from Forte, disaster could be closer than you think.

Contact Daniel Malloy at dpmalloy@email.unc.edu.