April 9, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - During his freshman campaign, A.J. Rompza (Chicago, Ill.) was the envy of fellow point guards across the country. Playing with senior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla.), Rompza had the benefit of passing the ball to one of the premier players in the nation.
Taylor, who averaged 26.2 points, was a big reason why Rompza ranked third in Conference USA in assists per game (5.2). With Taylor on the floor, Romzpa did not need to look for his shot. As a result, he averaged 4.3 points during the year, which ended with him earning on a spot on the C-USA All-Freshman Team.
Taylor is now heading to the professional ranks, so expect to see more scoring out of Rompza in 2009-10.
"I will be able to show more of my offensive game," he said. "A lot of people say I can't shoot, but a lot of the time I was trying to get Jermaine involved. I wasn't really looking for my shot. I think that is why I didn't make a lot of shots. If you aren't looking for your shot, it is not going to go in."
Rompza, who is usually the first UCF player in the gym before practice each day, was pleased to garner all-freshman team recognition. He credits the award to his work ethic and his teammates.
"Anytime that you can add something to your résumé, it is something that you can be proud of. It shows that if you do put the work in, the results will show. I was proud of myself, but I wouldn't really be able to do it without my teammates. They are the ones who make me look good."
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Notes: The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament began Wednesday in Virginia, but Taylor's squad will play its first game Thursday evening. The tournament is a showcase for some of the top seniors in the country, giving the players the opportunity to compete in front of professional scouts... Taylor is the first Knight since Mark Jones in 1998 to participate in the P.I.T... Following his senior campaign at Florida, UCF assistant coach Craig Brown played in Portsmouth in 1994.