Looking Back at Callaway’s Career as a Spartan

Three years ago, he was a freshman point guard under heavy fire. The University of Tampa was coming down hard on him, and his parents were pushing him to transfer.

At the time, Rashad Callaway was accused of sexual misconduct and facing expulsion from the school. Both he and the female involved in the incident were intoxicated, according to past coverage in The Minaret. The woman told her side of the story in a letter to the editor soon after she attempted to push the case into the legal system.

Legally, all charges were dropped. Callaway, along with his coaches, still preach his innocence. But the school proceeded to take conduct actions.

Michael Gilmer, judicial coordinator in the UT Office of Student Conduct, said the policy for sexual misconduct has changed a lot over the past few years.

Due to the fact that the Conduct Board is not a legal entity — it is an “internal educational” extension of the university — it is under a completely different set of guidelines when it comes to the hearing process.

“The legal process deals with evidence in a ‘proof beyond reasonable doubt’ fashion,” Gilmer said. “We act after a preponderance of information and determination of responsibility being more likely than not. The goal of the conduct process is to educate students and keep the campus as safe a place as possible.”

Callaway was found guilty by the school of sexual misconduct. He appealed his sanctions of expulsion, resulting in a lessening of the punishment. He was suspended from housing until the following fall semester.

It’s now three years later and Callaway, 21, is a week away from graduating.

“All in all, the experience was just humbling,” he said. “It just lets you know that stuff like this in life can happen. I’m glad that I’ve stayed here for another three years and that I faced everything that happened my freshman year.”

Three years later, he has put his name in the Spartan record books. Callaway has become the face of UT basketball, leading the team in scoring each of the past three seasons. The point guard finished his career fifth on UT’s all-time scoring list, second in three-pointers and second in assists. Overalll, Callaway will walk away from UT in the top 10 of 17 career record categories.

A native of Bayonne, N.J., Callaway has a large family and a unique background. He was raised with seven brothers and sisters, five of which still lived in the house while Callaway grew up. His parents were both athletes; his mother ran track and his father played basketball.

Callaway said his dad worked on ball-handling skills with his sons a lot because he was never good with the dribble. He had a great shot, though.

Bayonne is a middle class suburb that exposed Callaway to many races and lifestyles, especially since his dad grew up just north of where they lived, in a much poorer community.

During his senior year at Bayonne High School, his family suffered a great loss.

Callaway’s older brother, Al-Jabbar, died at 32 due to what the family thinks were complications from his epilepsy. Callaway said his brother had become very devoted to his Christian faith, and it began to clash with his daily reliance on medicine.

“He got very into God and started asking questions like ‘Why do I gotta keep taking these pills?’ Callaway said.

“We think he got to the point where he was just like ‘I’m not gonna take these pills and whatever happens happens,’ and he left it in God’s hands.”

Callaway said that when Al-Jabbar passed, a full bottle of pills was found in his residence, although the prescription had been filled more than two weeks before.

Callaway and his family are Christian. He said he prays before he goes to sleep every night.

Talking to Callaway is an interesting experience.

He can recite UT’s basketball record for each of the past four years as well as his own stats for any year in his career. He’s held a BC average during his time at UT, but proudly states he earned a 3.25 GPA last semester. He sports a goatee and stands 5 feet 9 inches tall. He’s likable.

Head coach Richard Schmidt and Callaway are an odd pair. During games, Schmidt could be seen yelling and cursing in Callaway’s direction after a missed pass or poorly thought-out shot attempt. Callaway is a competitor, but during games, he isn’t the most considerate listener.

But off the court, they sing nothing but the highest praises for one another. Callaway talks of how Schmidt’s family has been like a second family to him, while Schmidt says Callaway has been a pleasure to work with.

“He’s just so smart,” said Schmidt. “And he can shoot it and he can pass it. He handles the ball. He can do things that are hard to teach as a coach.”

Callaway led the Spartans to a 22-7 record this season, falling just short of his second NCAA Tournament bid. He averaged a team-best 19.1 points per game  to go along with four rebounds per game and a total of 166 assists for the season; Callaway’s assist total was over 100 more than anyone elses on the team. He was named to the All-SSC team for the fourth consecutive year and was a Division II bulletin All-American honorable mention for the second consecutive year, all numbers and accolades that might be telling of a bright future for the 21-year-old.

“Everyone looks up to him,” Schmidt said. “Even though a lot of times, he’s the smallest guy on the floor, he’s the biggest guy before the game’s over because of the way he commands the game.”

Callaway has three pro showcases scheduled, but also is looking into agents and other opportunities.

He says in 10 years, he hopes to be playing professionally as well as having a family. He wants to live in Florida, but visit New Jersey a lot.

Assistant coach Justin Pecka, who has been Callaway’s coach for two seasons, said he has never seen anyone as competitive and confident in his abilities as Callaway. And Schmidt said he has never seen anyone with such a broad knowledge of the game.

“Our new point guard coming in is going to have some big shoes to fill,” Pecka said. “That’s for sure.”

Miles Parks can be reached at mparks@spartans.ut.edu.