Where are they now - Chris Bosh

I tell, you kid is special. He is just so grounded, so eager to learn, so humble, so anti "NBA flash bling" culture. And you know what else, the sky is the limit. Could he be the next Kevin Garnett? That's saying a lot, but that is the type of player he is and the type of potential he has. The inside out game, the ball-handling, he's got skills. He has the right learning attitude. He seems to be gaining toughness at a rapid clip.

My biggest disappoinment is that his talent was so great that we only got to see him in a Jacket uniform for one season. But I'll take one year with that kid any time.

In the Raptor's season opener, Bosh dropped 20 points and 7 boards (and 5 fouls) against McGrady / Yao and the Rockets as they won handily. He was 8-12 FG, 4-7 FT, 3 off boards, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 TO's.

It also seems that he is taking some of the vocal leadership role from Vince Carter as he enstranges himself to the organization and fans. In this article he comments on Carter getting "dissed" in a Sporting News top 50 player list (came in 41):

"To rank him that low, it's kind of like a slap in the face," Bosh said yesterday. "But at the same time, that might be motivation for him to pick his game up and have the will to kill every night."

Can Carter ever get back to his high-flying days?

"I think he can get back to that, but he is a little older," Bosh said. "He really can't just jump over people and dunk over people, because it wears on your body. There's a lot of wear and tear, and he was doing it for about four years. But he still can be aggressive, take it to the hole and catch a few people if they're sleeping on him."

Here's what his head coach had to say:

Bosh quickly earned himself a spot in Toronto's starting lineup last season, averaging 11.5 points and 7.40 rebounds in his rookie year. The 20-year-old then spent countless hours in the gym in the off-season to work on his weaknesses, earning the respect of Mitchell in the process.

"Bosh can be whatever Chris Bosh chooses to be, the sky's the limit for him," the coach said recently. "He's been great, his work ethic, his ability to learn what we've been teaching.

"He told me when he got here he wanted to be a complete player, he wanted to be one of the top players in the league. And to his credit, he's worked, he's put in the time."

Here is a look at the Raptor history of 1st round picks, with this on Bosh:

1. CHRIS BOSH

GEORGIA TECH (4TH); FORWARD/CENTRE.

The absolute perfect No.4 selection in one of the best draft years ever. Bosh, an all-rookie centre in his first season even though he is a natural power forward, was taken behind LeBron James (Cleveland), 7-foot centre Darko Milicic (a project taken by Detroit) and NCAA hero from Syracuse Carmelo Anthony (Denver). Set franchise record for most rebounds in a rookie season with 557 and ranked first among rookies in the NBA in blocks and rebounds, second in double-doubles (13) and fifth in scoring, field goal percentage and minutes. Bosh has the makings of a NBA star, and likely will get the chance to play forward, providing either Loren Woods, Jerome Moiso or Rafael Araujo can step up at centre.

Here's a story with some confident quotes from Bosh before playing Yao Ming:

Second of all, the Raptors have a real gem in 6-foot-10 forward/centre Chris Bosh, who is embarking upon his sophomore campaign.
.............But even if the Carter situation turns messy, at least Raptors observers can revel unreservedly in watching the dedicated Bosh develop.

"Aaaah, I'm not scared of Yao (Ming)," Bosh said yesterday, displaying an air of confidence, but not cockiness, when asked about the 7-foot-5 centre the Raptors will face tonight. "He's just a guy you have to work hard against."

Luckily for the Raptors, that is Bosh's attitude toward just about everything.