March 25, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
Read the current issue of Dime
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Having just completed his junior season, UCF point guard A.J. Rompza is featured in the current edition of Dime Magazine. In 2010-11, Rompza helped the Knights go 21-12 overall, knock off No. 16 Florida, Miami and USF in non-conference play and enter the national rankings for the first time in school history.
The story in the April edition of Dime is written by Sean Sweeney and is titled "One Love." The piece details how the diminutive Rompza overcame plenty of adversity while starting his basketball career in his native Chicago, and also focuses on the autobiography/motivational book that he completed last season at UCF.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
"Despite growing up playing against Derrick Rose and Sherron Collins in Chicago, nobody loved A.J. Rompza's game. It was simply a ravenous hunger that drove him to become the starting point guard for the University of Central Florida from the moment he stepped on campus. Rompza's about overcoming and overachieving. Whether the generously listed 5-9 junior is writing motivational books or slaughtering athletic stereotypes, he relishes the hate. So keep laughing it up. It won't stop him."
Rompza appeared in 31 games for the Knights this past season despite battling a nagging foot injury. He averaged 6.4 points and 3.2 assists, and was also second on the squad with 34 steals.
In three years at UCF, Rompza has totaled 394 assists, good for fourth on the school career register. He is also fifth all-time in program history with 161 steals.