basketball born july argentine professional basketball player father point guard number professional basketball teams argentina convinced play basketball alma mater joined temple team december sophomore named atlantic tournament valuable player struggling prolonged shooting slump junior hit balance foot shot seconds play defeat ncaa men named team addition college exploits led argentina gold medal world championship early life born july argentina father point guard number professional basketball teams argentina earned nickname spanish little wolf starring basketball team wolf mascot little brother named fell chair wheelchair life wheelchair tennis players world age family operates restaurant urging father began playing basketball years old described fat little kid interested soccer showed star potential junior club teams given nickname father known teenager offered deals play spanish league graduated time considering playing college basketball united_states mother went connecticut months learn english persuaded good place student athlete argentine basketball player played college basketball offered advice mail kind guy people kids like juan ask tell greatest experiences basketball playing college team national team times money wasn involved chance represent school country opened mind spoke juan struck college right situation told regardless happens basketball plays nba europe going college biggest difference life recommended coach alma mater dispatched assistant recruit temple recruiting trip drove hours argentina searching practicing national team instead home rio thought official visit philadelphia campus september signed letter intent graduated high school december enrolled temple college career freshman played college basketball men basketball team temple drew immediate comparisons dubbed jump shot chose jersey number said honor father unfamiliar practice lifting weights wore gloves session drawing laughs teammates contributed points assists temple debut days arriving united_states scored season high points february power temple past reached ncaa tournament winning atlantic tournament title games averaged points assists game basketball court earned grade point average classroom sophomore sophomore year moved shooting guard temple starting lineup change felt strange playing point guard frequent positions led team assists game increased scoring average points game second team led atlantic point percentage scored double figures games december career best points upset local rival ranked shot arc earned player week honors week december result performance points versus hall named atlantic player week december game january took blow head forced leave second half missed february game richmond post symptoms fan favorite temple time temple student section hall fans kind mocking little realize favorite soccer players comments served inspiration return flights argentina strangers frequently went recent performances helped temple season capture share atlantic conference regular season championship record earn consecutive atlantic conference tournament title automatic bid named atlantic tournament valuable player scoring points final versus richmond temple seeded fifth matched seed round points upset following season honorable mention selection junior graduation switched natural position point guard junior campaign preseason second team selection honoring point guard college basketball shooting slump lasted majority season saw field goal percentage drop point percentage drop scoring average drop points game led team assists game miss games middle season bone knee shooting slump devastating caused consult sports psychologist worst games career tournament loss richmond went field committed game convinced shots teammates involved led temple record seven seed ncaa men round hit balance foot shot seconds play defeat finished season high points preceded shot teammate convinced coach draw play despite struggles season finished points fell double overtime named conclusion regular season senior preseason team selection senior named conclusion regular season professional career began professional career signing club beginning season loaned del games played italian 2nd division averaged minutes points assists game released signed division club season returned del posting games regular season season played games regular season averaged minutes points assists game second division playoffs started games averaged points assist game helping basket win finals games returning years argentine national team participant world championship representing junior national team argentina matches averaged points assists steals minutes game victory united_states squad world championship game scored points world championship averaged points rebounds assists game member senior argentine national basketball team statistics ncaa awards accomplishments college atlantic honorable mention atlantic tournament mvp atlantic team atlantic academic team
Juan Fernández (basketball)