Wynn turning tragedy into triumph

With his role model and inspiration gone, Fletcher Wynn (Orlando, Fla., Apopka, Louisburg College) opened his eyes.

The Grand Canyon University junior guard is a long way from his Apopka, Fla. upbringing, but as he steps on the floor Friday night to open the 2010-11 season at Utah, he feels at home and is on the right track of turning a tragic loss to a major gain for he and his family.

In 2004, just before Christmas, Wynn’s brother, William Tucker was murdered. He was only 22. He was buried on New Year’s Day 2005.

Wynn was only 18 when his brother lost his life. “I was always following my brother,” said Wynn, admitting his following frequently sent him down the wrong path. “Other people would follow and look up to Michael Jordan, but my inspiration was my brother. We were crazy close. He was the heart and soul of our family.”

Out of school and out of organized basketball for four years, Wynn said his daily routine would consist of going to work at a juvenile detention center, then come home and go straight to his room. “I went into a shell and would reminisce about old times.”

Wynn knew he had to change his attitude or he would end up down the same path as his brother. One day, he was staring at a picture of his brother and something clicked. He decided he was stepping out of his room and back onto a basketball court. “I had to man-up and step up to the plate,” he said.

That day he went to a local rec center and was discovered by a junior college coach. After four years without hoops and school, he was at Louisburg College in North Carolina.

“When I sit back and look at it now, you have to go through difficult times to get somewhere,” said Wynn. “That was a test. I had to lose my brother, someone I loved and cared about the most, to open my eyes to change my life around and not go down the same path he did.”

It was fate that got him to Grand Canyon University. A scouting service placed Wynn as a Division II talent. His Louisburg coach, John Meeks, had heard GCU coach Russ Pennell speak at an Athletes in Action sports ministry camp and he wanted Wynn to play for a Christian coach.

The recruiting process had begun.

Wynn knew if he chose GCU, he’d be a long way from home, but he also knew that Pennell was the only coach that offered a scholarship and wanted to speak with his mother. When Pennell asked Wynn -- after his official visit -- to tell him all the negative things about his Grand Canyon visit, Wynn couldn’t come up with anything (he laughs and said he tried real hard, too.).

“Fletcher is a deeply loyal person,” said Pennell. “He wants to do well and he trusts the coaches and wants to be successful. He wants to be mentored and you don’t want to let him down.”

Wynn is majoring in Justice Studies. He said his interest increased after his brother’s death. It was three months before the murderer was found. Wynn said he chose that major hoping others won’t have to wait that long for justice, he knows that pain.

“I know they’re all proud of what I’m doing,” Wynn said of his family’s thoughts of his improved attitude and determination to get a college education.

“This is why you get into coaching,” added Pennell. “You want a young man with drive, that may have been dealt a bad hand, and he has a chance because Grand Canyon has given him the opportunity.”

GCU-UTAH GAME NOTES

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos