By Nikki Carnemolla

Campbell Athletics Media Services

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Everyday, a regular flow of people go in and out of Bishop's Market in Gadsden, Alabama. Some people grab a candy bar for an afternoon snack; some pick up bread and milk on the way home from work. Some, however, visit with no intention of making a purchase.

A framed orange basketball jersey hangs on the back wall of the store, surrounded by pictures.

A picture of a little boy standing proudly before a mini basketball hoop.

An eight-year-old holding the ribbon for first place in a free-throw contest.

A high-school senior leading his team onto the court. A college guard powering his way through two defenders.

Some people visit the store just to look at that wall, to see if any new pictures have been added, or to catch a few minutes of the taped college basketball game playing on the television. They remember Reggie Bishop, the boy in the pictures. Some can remember seeing him play recreational basketball at the YMCA as a child. Most remember watching him lead Litchfield High School to the Alabama 3-A High School Final Four three years in a row.

Now they eagerly follow his progress as he plays Division I basketball and pursues a bachelor's degree in computer information systems at Campbell University in North Carolina.

"Customers come in and ask how he's doing all the time," said his father and co-owner of the family-run market, Frank Bishop. "Teachers come in, coaches, everybody. Everybody asks about him and wants to know how well he's doing, wants us to say hello for them."

"It's his heart."

Reggie was three years old when it became evident to Frank and Blanca Bishop that their son's fondness towards basketball was more than just a fleeting interest. They bought what many parents would buy for a child at that age: a small indoor basketball hoop. Most kids, however, would take a few shots, pretending to be Michael Jordan, before realizing, to their disappointment, that being Michael Jordan is harder than it looks, and retire to the living room to watch a cartoon.

Not Reggie. He spent hours on end playing with that basket, devoting just as much time as MJ himself.

"He worked up a sweat just constantly going at it all day long," said Frank. "His mom had to make him stop playing so he could settle down and cool off."

The cool-down was temporary though, as Reggie's passion for basketball was just heating up. At the age of six, he began playing recreational ball at the YMCA. The nights before his games, his sleep was restless. He tossed and turned in bed, wearing his jersey for pajamas, as if maybe it would make tip-off come sooner. His shorts and beloved Jordans lay waiting for him on the ground at the foot of his bed.

During his pre-game warm-ups, he would get so excited that his nose would start to bleed. His parents would sit him down and stop the bleeding, and as soon as he got the go-ahead, he would run back into the action.

As Reggie grew older, his father and uncle, Anthony, worked with him, playing one on one and setting him up against some of the older, more physical kids in the city. Reggie was 15 years old when he defeated his father for the first time.

"I told him he wasn't gonna beat me until he got to be 16 years old," said Frank. "I was wrong on that."

Reggie made a lasting impact throughout his athletic career at Litchfield High. Basketball wasn't his only athletic success though. His senior year, Reggie made a deal with four of his friends on the football team. If they agreed to go out for the basketball team, he would play football.

Even though he had never played before, he made the cut. Despite his inexperience, Reggie caught on easily.

"They called him ‘Hands' because he was able to connect with the ball," said Blanca. "He always had that good hand-eye coordination."

At the end of the season, he even earned the team's Most Valuable Receiver award. To the relief of his mother, Reggie didn't want to pursue football any further. His mind was on one thing: basketball.

"Basketball is his love," said Frank. "It's his heart. That's his heart, other than his mother."

Reggie made the varsity basketball squad his sophomore year. As the season progressed, he found himself playing less than 10 minutes per game. His dad suggested he move back down to JV, so after talking it over with Frank and his coach, Reggie took his father's advice.

"He was obedient to his dad and it opened the door for God to bless him," said Blanca. "It opened the door for so much that he loves to do, first and foremost, playing basketball."

Reggie's basketball improved so much at the JV level that the coach moved him back up to varsity when it came time for the playoffs. Over the next two years, he surpassed everyone's expectations.

His stats were impressive — 17.6 points, 15.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game over his varsity seasons — and earned him all-state and all-area recognition.

He also gained the attention of Campbell University head basketball coach, Robbie Laing. The more Laing and his recruiting staff learned about Reggie, the more they wanted him.

"From the basketball standpoint, it was a no-brainer," said Laing. "But you've got to have more than just basketball players. You've got to have some solid citizens and I was convinced that he'd be a good fit for our university and for what I was trying to build down the road."

Reggie, Blanca and Frank were sitting in the den one night when Reggie received the call from Laing. He whispered to his parents that it was a call about college. After talking for almost half an hour, he said goodbye.

"He hung the phone up real nice and calm, but once that phone was down, he jumped up and yelled," said Frank. "He said, ‘Yes! That was Campbell University calling me and they want me if I'm interested!'"

"Don't ever give up on something you started."

It's been three years since Reggie left Gadsden to play basketball at Campbell University. Over 500 miles away in Buies Creek, North Carolina, Reggie finds himself the captain of a Fighting Camel team that just finished its most successful season in ten years.

In the fall of 2004, coming from a high school team that won the majority of its contests, Reggie joined a struggling Campbell squad under the direction of Laing in just his second year as head coach of the program. The struggles continued through Reggie's freshman season, as the team finished with a 2-25 record and lost every Atlantic Sun conference battle.

Despite the disappointing results, Reggie stayed positive. He understood that this was just the beginning. The team was young and the coach was new, and Reggie realized that as long as he and his teammates did the best they could, the team would only grow.

"He was used to winning in high school," Blanca said. "Then he got there and they were losing, but he wanted to stick with it because that's what he believed in."

"There were only two or three times that he said he was tired of losing," Frank recalled. "I remember I told him, ‘don't ever give up on something you started. You help it grow. You make the best of it. Don't ever give up spiritually or mentally. Keep working hard at it and it'll pay off.'"

A little while later, he received a text with a simple, yet significant message: "Thanks Dad."

Reggie never even considered looking for a new program. He simply resolved to work harder. And as his dad had reassured him they would, his efforts paid off.

His sophomore year, the Camels won three of their first six games, already surpassing the number of victories from the entire previous season. The team ended the year with a 10-18 mark, including a 9-11 record against A-Sun opponents. Reggie's stats improved as well, as he scored 8.6 points and pulled down 2.9 rebounds per game.

The 2006-07 team expanded on the prior year's success, earning 14 wins— the most a Campbell basketball team had won since 1996. Reggie, a junior, ranked fourth on the team in points with 8.5 per game. He was consistent from the perimeter and his .378 three-point percentage stood sixth in the conference. His rebounding continued to improve as he pulled down 3.6 per contest, and his playing time increased to just under 23 minutes.

Despite the distance, the Bishops managed to attend at least three of their son's games each season. They were in the stands for his career-high setting performance at Gardner-Webb in January of 2006. Reggie hit 6-of-9 field goals, including four threes, and 8-of-10 free throws to score 24 points and lead the Camels in a close-fought 79-76 victory.

"We were there for that one," Frank remembered. His voice radiated the pride he felt and the beam of his smile was practically audible. "He just went in and really stole the game from them."

"It's leadership by example and communication."

A bible scripture hangs in his locker. Underneath is a piece of paper with his goals for the season. A-Sun champions. NCAA tournament. All-Conference selection. Be the best player I can be for my team.

That last goal says a lot about Reggie. He's never been an "I" person. That's what makes him a good captain. Just as any player would, he'd like to see his numbers improve, but it's how the team does that really matters to him.

Last spring, Reggie received some advice from Laing that shaped the focus of his off-season.

"He told me that if I worked hard to get into the best shape of my life, I'd be the best player I've ever been," said Reggie.

So he decided to stay in Buies Creek for the summer, attending classes and following the workout plan that assistant coach Buck Harris created for him. He worked out for about three hours per day and ran on the track for an additional 20 minutes each night.

By the time the team gathered in August, Reggie had reached a level of physical strength and conditioning beyond even his own expectations.

Taking his personality, previous experience and highly improved fitness into consideration, Laing offered Reggie the position of team captain.

"He made some great, great strides in his off-season," said Laing. "He's really prepared himself well and conducted himself well, and I think he's very deserving of being captain."

Fulfilling the captain role is not an easy task. The captain has to be the responsible one, the accountable one, the one who has to tell his teammates what they may not want to hear.

"It's leadership by example and communication," explained Laing. "It's being able to say, ‘OK guys, tonight we need to get in bed and rest instead of being college kids. Tonight we have to be focused because two nights away is the Belmont game.'"

In the few months since the team assembled, Reggie has proven that he's capable of being successful as the team leader. The returning players were already fond of him heading into this year and the new players have quickly taken a liking to him as well.

"Not only does everyone like him, we also respect him," said junior transfer Julius Perkins.

"Everyone on the team pretty much likes me," Reggie agreed, not a trace of arrogance in his voice. He shrugged modestly. "I'm not really sure why."

While he may not realize it, there's a consensus among all of his teammates, friends, coaches, family and pretty much anyone who has ever encountered him: there's no reason not to like him.

"Reggie's one of those guys that on a road trip everyone would like to room with," said teammate Jake Wohlfeil. "He's honest, fun and he doesn't think too highly of himself. He isn't better than anyone— seniors, freshmen, walk-ons— everyone is the same to Reggie."

Reggie's hard work and dedication will culminate in this one final season. While the people in Buies Creek will be saddened to see him leave next spring, the Gadsden community will welcome him back with open arms. Pictures and jerseys on a wall are a nice substitute, but his hometown fans are more than ready for the real thing.

Nikki Carnemolla is a senior mass communication major from Richmond, Va.