Man on a mission

The best athletes are those who know they can always get better.

Finding an athlete with that mentality at UB isn't difficult. On the men's basketball team, senior point guard and captain Greg Gamble encompasses that mindset in and out.

Gamble is certainly the player to ask when questions arise concerning the direction of the team. The captain has not only earned the respect of his teammates, but he has also garnered the respect of his coaches.

"He is the hardest worker and most respected player on the team," said assistant coach Jim Kwitchoff. "He was the unanimous choice for captain as voted by his teammates. He is absolutely committed to winning and puts the team before himself 100 percent of the time."

While the team is the most important part of Gamble's basketball life, the captain remains focused on himself, on and off the court.

Gamble will be the first one to admit that he has his share of weaknesses.

"I have to get more aggressive offensively," he said. "Since I've moved to the point, I have to work more on my ball handling."

Even though he knows he is far from a perfect player, Gamble understands why he was elected captain of the team.

"I'm honest with my teammates," Gamble says. "I don't sugarcoat. Nobody wants to be told 'good job' when they didn't do their job. It's all about leadership and following up what you say with play in the game and especially in practice."

Kwitchoff agrees that Gamble has the responsibility of being one of central faces for the basketball program.

"[Gamble] understands the role he plays as a local student-athlete who is the face of the UB men's basketball program," he said. "He does not shy away from the responsibility that comes with that role on and off the court."

Speaking of being off the court, Gamble is just as active away from the gym as he is when dissecting an opposing team's defense.

School remains one of Gamble's priorities, but the combination of school and sports is one that can prove difficult at times.

"The difficulties that I have are the travel of basketball and the fact that both things are time consuming." Gamble said.

Besides school, Gamble has proven that he can be a leader in the community as well.

"[Gamble] is very dedicated to his family and proudly serves as a role model for his four younger siblings [Stephon, Joshua, Jeremiah and Taloria]," Kwitchoff said. "He is a very religious young man who is active in his church."

The Niagara Falls native's decision to enroll at Buffalo was partly influenced by the community around him.

"I saw that UB was on the rise," he said. "I wanted to play somewhere in the area."

All and all, Gamble's love is and will always remain basketball.

"After school I'd like to go into the NBA or go play in Europe," Gamble said. "Anything is possible. There is no limit on God."

After this school year, Gamble will depart Buffalo and begin the next phase of his life, wherever it happens to take him. Looking back on his career here at Buffalo, he wants to be known for both his actions and attitude.

"I want to be remembered as a competitor," Gamble said. "I also want to be a part of the Buffalo team that gets that NCAA bid."