Transfers can have a difficult time ingratiating themselves to their new surroundings. Especially senior transfers, who join a team for one season as a quick rental for a team looking to achieve high marks.
Donovan Atwell has had no such issues. Joining the Texas Tech basketball team after three years with UNC-Greensboro, Atwell quickly endeared himself to Red Raider faithful, and his head coach Grant McCasland, who has touted Atwell’s consistency throughout the year.
Being a dead-eye 3-pointer shooter helps — who doesn’t love the 3-ball? — but Atwell’s time in Lubbock has been fruitful in more ways than one. Entering the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his career, Atwell has left a lasting impression on Texas Tech, holding almost every single season 3-point record of note. He’s shattered the previous mark for most made 3s in a season and is among the best snipers in the country.
Atwell’s accolades, which include earning a spot on the all-Big 12 newcomer team, are things he won’t boast about himself. His parents, Tim and Allison, often have to stumble upon his achievements since their son refuses to speak on them. As Atwell chased the 3-point record, Allison had to keep tabs on it herself.
“He’ll say, oh, hey, so-and-so told me that I’m about three shots away from the 3-point record,” Allison said. “I was like, yeah, I knew that about 10 shots ago.”
Team Atwell, as they call themselves, even developed an acronym to summarize their son: S.L.O.D.A, or The Secret Life of Donovan Atwell. After being born, raised, and spending the bulk of his college career in the state of North Carolina, Tim and Allison weren’t the least bit concerned about Atwell shipping off to Texas for his final go-around.
“It’s been, I would say, rewarding in the way that Donovan has been able to connect from a basketball perspective,” Tim said, “but also from a people perspective because I think it’s the perfect place for his character and his heart to be seen.”
Donovan Atwell’s path to Texas Tech basketball’s top 3-point shooter ever
Much of Atwell’s character can be traced to how he treats his little sister. The only member of an athletic family (Tim played football, Allison ran track and played volleyball) to pursue a college career, Atwell and his sister, Joy, are best friends, constantly communicating throughout the day via phone calls or FaceTime.
No matter how busy Atwell is being one of the key pieces for the Red Raiders on the court, he always has time to pick up the phone for Joy.
“I think,” Allison said, “that shows the kind of person he is.”
Atwell’s parents said their son first started taking basketball as an occupation serious as he entered high school. His exceptional shooting form was evident several years prior. Other parents even reached out to Tim asking who his trainer was, hoping their child could produce the same ability.
There was no trainer to speak of. Atwell’s shot was natural from the get-go.
“The form is the same as it’s always been,” Tim said. “We’ve never changed his form other than the catch point, the launch point just a little bit, but everything’s the same.”
Tim has become so accustomed to Atwell’s shot that he knows exactly when it’s not going to fall.
“Nine times out of 10,” Tim said, “if his shot doesn’t go, it’s because he’s leaning back, or he rushed it, even with a quick release. Those are the two reasons why he won’t make them, the least bit of leaning back, because in some of that subconscious, I want to get back on defense.”
How Donovan Atwell took Jaylen Petty under his wing
Atwell’s shooting ability has put him on the stage Tim always envisioned, in front of national audiences against the best competition in the country. His defense and willingness to lead by example are traits of Atwell’s that have benefited the Red Raiders the most.
As Texas Tech prepares to face Akron in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Atwell is the only Texas Tech player to appear in every game this season. He’s posted career-highs in scoring average (13.5 points per game), minutes (34.8), 3-point makes (124) and attempts (273). Atwell is also tasked with guarding the opponent’s best scorer, pitting him against the likes of BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, among plenty of others.
Confident as he is, though, Atwell isn’t one to provide the team a rousing speech before a big game. Rather, he lets his work ethic and attitude do the talking.
Freshman Jaylen Petty has gravitated toward Texas Tech’s elder statesmen, often going to Atwell for guidance, such as when he went through a mid-season shooting slump. As the season progressed, the pair took to having shooting competitions with each other after practice.
“You wanna talk about fun to watch,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said earlier this year. “I’ll rebound for that because you stand right underneath the basket and pass it back out.”
Atwell has rubbed off on Petty, the pair often asked to guard the same players and provide the same sparks on offense. Tim knows how the two have connected, even pushing his son to check in on Petty after Texas Tech’s loss at Arizona State.
“He was like, dad, I already did,” Tim recalled. “He said Jaylen is fine. He just wants to win. That speaks to that relationship.”
Donovan Atwell writing final chapter with Texas Tech basketball
During Atwell’s first availability with Texas Tech media, he noted that the idea of winning was the ultimate drawing factor to being a Red Raider. He’s more than held up his end of the bargain.
Basketball, though, is only one part of the equation. The Atwells pride themselves on their academics, something not lost on their son. As Tim recalls, after one big game in Lubbock, while other teammates went out for the night, Atwell returned to his apartment to do homework until around midnight. He then got the homework for the next week done, not wanting it to hang over his head while Texas Tech went on a big road trip.
“That’s the level of maturity that he’s always had,” Tim said, “but not quite this level. The maturation process in all dimensions have just increased.”
Tim and Allison have been able to see all but three games in person this season. Throughout the year, they’ve been able to see the level of love Atwell receives from Texas Tech fans grow more and more. As Atwell writes the final chapter of his college career, Allison and Tim can rest easy knowing their son has put everything into this season, and Texas Tech has put everything into him.
“We weren’t really concerned about him being far away,” Allison said, “because Donovan rises to the occasion where he is. He makes that place his home. He connects with the players wherever he is.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: How Donovan Atwell became Texas Tech’s record-setting 3-point shooter
Reporting by Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
