The 6-foot-7-sophomore forward, Louisiana native Terry Lee Winn II, plans to add more to his game in the 2016-17 Miner basketball season. Winn is looking to implement what the coaches are teaching the younger players as well as become more of a leader on the court as well as off the court.

“T. Winn” or “The Bully” is how his teammates refer to Winn. He gained the name “bully” because he dominants the paint, with a bully mentality.

Winn’s size and ability, in his position as power forward, challenges his opponents. With his ability to score when needed as well as defend the paint, along with leading the team last season in rebounding and being second in blocked shots, Winn has made a big impact on defense.

Winn knows after leaving UTEP, he needs to be more than just a defensive player. He is adding more to his perimeter game by being an offensive threat as well and being able to play multiple positions.

“I want to become more versatile with playing on the court,” Winn said.

With Winn adding an outside perimeter shot, he becomes more of a threat on the offensive end of the ball. Last season Winn averaged only 10 ppg. He hopes his improved shooting will fill the void of losing Lee Moore and Earvin Morris. Adding this versatility also gives Winn an advantage over other forwards in the conference.

Family has always meant a lot to T. Winn, and he knows that he would not where he is now without the support of his family. They have been have been his backbone and biggest strength throughout his journey thus far.

When speaking about his 2-year-old daughter Tehani, Winn couldn’t help but have a big grin as well as a look of accomplishment on his face. She has been his biggest motivation, besides his parents, grandmother and younger brother. His daughter has given him that drive to be a better player as well as a better person. He wants to make her proud of his accomplishments as a player, but most importantly, as a father.

“That’s my baby,” Winn said. “I do this all for her.”

After becoming a father, Winn has changed a lot of his old habits and found new ones. He has started reading a lot more because his grandmother always told him that education is the key to life. Winn has been reading a variety of books such as “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, to help him become a great leader.

“I know leaders read,” Winn said. “Lebron (James), Kobe (Bryant), all of those guys read books, so if I’m going to go down that path, I need to read too.”

Assistant coach Phil Johnson said Winn always strives to work harder.

“Terry has probably been one of the hardest-working guys we have,” Johnson said.

“The Bully” has been striving to get better. Even with being a veteran on the team, Winn still looks to the coaches for guidance on improvements they want the team to have. Being better is the goal for Winn and becoming an all-around player for the team.

“The coaches can say something in practice, which may not have an effect, but he follows it up with a tremendous effort in practice,” Johnson said. “He sets the tone for the younger players.”

Winn said that everyone on the team is here to get better, to have a more aggressive attack with the offensive end, as well as take any criticism that the coaches give them. He also said that having a veteran players Omega Harris and Dominic Artis will give the team an advantage against some big-named opponents.

Head coach Tim Floyd has always been about defense and not much has changed in the many years of his coaching career. Winn said that the team also gets what he (Coach Floyd) wants on the defensive end of the ball.

“Either you’re going to adapt or you’re not going to play,” Winn said.

Ultimately this season, Winn has hopes of winning Conference USA and going to the NCAA tournament and becoming the NCAA champions for the second time in school history.

Shericka Lawrence may be reached at [email protected].