“If you can’t be on time, be early.” It was more than a rule for Coach Skip Prosser—it was a standard. One he drilled into players like Chris Paul during their time at Wake Forest. Prosser, who passed away in 2007, left behind a legacy built on discipline, honesty, and heart. And this week, Chris Paul made sure that legacy was remembered.
On the 18th anniversary of his coach’s death, the official Wake Forest Men’s Basketball account (@wakembb) posted a tribute, writing, “18 years later we continue to remember the legacy of coach skip prosser.” The post included a series of photos, one of which featured a young Chris Paul with his coach. Paul then reposted this to his own Instagram story, adding a simple, heartfelt message of his own: “miss you coach!!”
The bond between the two was forged long before Paul became the “Point God.” Prosser personally recruited the young guard, who was, at the time, a die-hard North Carolina fan. “Me and Coach were so close because most of the schools, when they recruit you, an assistant recruits you,” Paul once explained. “Coach Prosser recruited me himself. The letters that came from him. He came to the games.” Their connection deepened after the tragic murder of Paul’s grandfather, a time when Prosser became a crucial pillar of support for the young star. It’s a debt Paul has never forgotten. As he once said, “If it wasn’t for Coach… I say a prayer before every game thanking God for putting Coach Prosser in my life.”
That foundation built at Wake Forest is what turned Chris Paul into one of the most respected players of his generation, a 12-time All-Star who has led the league in assists five times and in steals a record six times. He is, without a doubt, one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game. And as it turns out, one of his biggest rivals and former teammate agrees.
In a recent interview, Stephen Curry was asked to name the players with the highest basketball IQ he’s ever seen. His answer was immediate. “Between [Chris Paul] and [LeBron James], those two,” Curry said. “Every possession he knows what he’s trying to get out of it. At [Paul’s] peak it was insane.” It was a powerful confession from one legend about another. And in a full-circle moment, the very basketball genius that Curry was praising is a direct product of the mentorship of Coach Skip Prosser, a legacy that continues to shape the league nearly two decades after his passing.
(This is a developing story…)
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