Fleming lends a helping hand

He’s not the leading scorer. He’s not the player opponents look to keep from rebounding the ball. And he’s not the defender teams fear in the post.

Chris Fleming knows what he is, though — blessed.

That’s why the George Mason senior forward spends what little free time he has helping out whenever possible.

Sure, he is an asset during practices, playing his teammates tough and making them improve and refine their games. But Jim Larranaga, the Patriots’ coach, says there is more to Fleming than just being a role player off his increasingly deep bench.

“He is absolutely a fantastic young man. He’s a perfect role model for what a student-athlete should be,” Larranaga said following Mason’s victorious season finale last Saturday. “This year his role has been very different and I’m sure very difficult, but I love him.”

Playing in 90 games entering tomorrow night’s Colonial Athletic Association quarterfinal, Fleming’s tenure has been a productive one. When his name was announced for senior night festivities a week ago, it came attached with a stat few can share: over his years wearing green and gold the Patriots have won more games (88) than any other four-year stretch in the program’s history.

One of Larranaga’s go-to guys when it comes to volunteering, Fleming makes sure he aides others as well. He knows there are people in the world that are less fortunate than himself, particularly kids.

“I’ve been blessed with what I’ve been given and the opportunities I’ve had,” he said. “I mean, I’m getting an education and many aren’t blessed in that way. I’m just trying to give back.”

Recently Fleming, along with Larranaga and teammates John Vaughan and Cam Long, visited Lanier Middle School to help promote the Ticket to Reading Rewards program, a new initiative created by Fairfax County Public Schools and the National Association of Basketball Coaches to encourage kids to read.

He’s also gone with Larranaga to spend time with kids in cancer wards and Fleming took part in a walk for diabetes awareness with teammate Dre Smith and former Patriot Lamar Butler earlier this year.

“I just took an interest in [volunteering],” Fleming said. “I just talk to them and try to form a bond with them. You try to relate to their interests. It’s fun, they get all excited and you get a warm feeling.”

“I think that comes from his background — his family, the way his parents raised him,” Vaughan said. “He’s good with kids. When we do the Coach L camp he usually gets the younger guys and he’s a good role model to look up to. I think Coach L saw that quality in him and Chris is willing to do things like volunteer work.”

Fleming’s freshman orientation four years ago included an improbable run to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four as a backup center to Will Thomas before working his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore. An ankle injury just three games in sidelined him and allowed Darryl Monroe emerge as the future starter.

Despite playing as a reserve last year and sparingly this season, Fleming has kept a positive attitude all along.

“He’s been a very good leader, even in a different way,” said Vaughan, a redshirt senior. “I don’t think there are very many senior basketball players who can respond to the way his role has changed this year.”

That role has meant he only steps onto the hardwood when a front court player is hurt, in foul trouble early or during the final moments of a game that’s virtually decided.

When home, that latter situation is typically accompanied by the Patriot Center faithful chanting “We want Flem-ing! We want Flem-ing,” and Larranaga bending to the request by sending the 6-foot-7 Osbourn Park product to the scorer’s table.

Last week it was a different situation, though, as Fleming started his fourth game of his career for senior night against visiting Towson. Ever the fan favorite, Fleming may have earned the loudest ovation from the underdog-loving sellout crowd when his name was called during the starting lineup announcements.

Fleming rode that support to three rebounds and his first field goal of the season in 11 minutes against the Tigers.

“When he got that start,” Vaughan said, “you could see how happy he was. And when he got that basket in the first half, I was happy for the kid because he works extremely hard, especially in practice.”

Practice is where Fleming truly makes an impact for the Patriots. From frustrating guards by drawing charges on drive attempts and battling with his front court mates as a stand-in opponent, Fleming pushes his teammates to get better everyday.

“We battle a lot and he’s real strong, always pushing me around, trying to make me tougher,” said Mike Morrison.

A freshman forward, Morrison has taken to Fleming’s teaching both in practice and on the bench during games.

“He’s always, especially during the games, telling me what to look for when I go in,” Morrison said. “Usually when I do look for it, it works out for me — he’s always trying to help me out. He knows the game very well.”

“It’s tough taking on a different role on the team,” Fleming said. “It was great playing every game as I did the past couple years, but, this is a special group of guys. It’s hard not to help them and work with them to get them to achieve what they can be.”

Though Fleming admits there have been times he wished his name was in the scorer’s book more often to start games, it’s been a good experience in Fairfax.

“I know in high school I was a leading scorer and was a great player,” he said, “but as a team we never got very far. When I got here I told Coach L that I wanted to help the team and make sure we won, whether that was me playing or in practice. I always wanted to win and trusted in him.”

In addition to the time spent with classes (where he’s earned multiple dean’s list honors while majoring in marketing), basketball and volunteering, Fleming is now working with the Borenstein Group as an intern for the marketing agency.

“His intelligence on the court stems from how seriously he takes his schoolwork off the court,” Vaughan said. “When he uses his intelligence on the team, it really helps us out in a lot of ways.”

And when Mason needed him last year during the CAA Tournament, Fleming was more than ready, putting together his finest performance against William & Mary in the final, scoring eight points and grabbing two offensive rebounds on his way to earning a spot on the CAA All-Academic second team.

“Last year in the CAA Tournament, without him, I don’t think we’d have been able to win it,” Vaughan said. “I just think Chris is a guy who takes advantage of his opportunities.”

“He is absolutely a fantastic young man,” Larranaga said. “He’s a perfect role model for what a student-athlete should be. He’s just an extremely positive person and I just love being around him.”

NOTE: Freshman Ryan Pearson is day-to-day with a right hand (non-shooting) injury.

Pearson sat out the season finale last week with his ring and pinky fingers wrapped to the wrist. The 6-foot-6 forward from Christ the King in Far Rockaway, New York aggravated a hand injury in practice and was examined by doctors earlier this week.

X-rays revealed there is no break, but it is still unclear whether Pearson would be available to return to action this year.