Yellow Jackets' Peacock adapts to reserve role

By Carroll Rogers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt already knew Zachery Peacock was a "team guy" by the way he ran his sprints and plays in practice.

"You're talking about a guy he pours every bit of energy he has into whatever you're doing," Hewitt said. "If we're working on defense, if we're doing a running drill, a line drill, he wants to be at the front of the pack."

But Hewitt saw Peacock's unselfish attitude in a whole new light the day he called Peacock into his office two weeks into preseason practice.

With the addition of standout freshman Derrick Favors in the low post and the return of Gani Lawal, who withdrew from the NBA draft, Peacock was going to have to come off the bench. And this was a senior, who had started all 30 games last season.

"He felt like the lineup with Derrick and Gani would be the best to start with," said Peacock, a 6-foot-8 power forward who averaged 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds last season. "I trust whatever he's saying, so it was like ‘Hey, I accept it for what it is.' I think it's a great lineup. You've got two of the most explosive shot blockers, two of the best rebounders in our league. I'm all for it."

Not that Peacock didn't feel a twinge of disappointment.

"At first, to be honest, it was the kind of thing like ‘Hey, man, c'mon now, I'm a senior now,'" Peacock said. "But I respect Coach Hewitt as a coach and as a person, so I know whatever he's doing is in my best interests."

Hewitt knows Peacock would rather start, but Peacock didn't dwell on dissent in the meeting. It was short and respectful.

Hewitt had dreaded the conversation, just because of the loyalty and energy Peacock had showed him for three years. He talked beforehand to Lawton Williams, Peacock's coach at Norland High in Miami.

"Lawton's like ‘Look, Zach knows the deal,' " Hewitt said. " ‘It's not going to greatly impact his minutes. That's his role, you've got to go out and do it.' It's great when you get kids who come from a background when they've been taught about team first."

Peacock's minutes are down from 24.7 per game last season to 20.3 per game so far, but he showed what he can do in a short amount of time Sunday against Boston University.

Peacock scored a season-high 22 points in 23 minutes to lead the Yellow Jackets to a victory. He was 10-for-12 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from the 3-point line.

They were Peacock's first two attempts from 3-point range this season, and they were taken with a little prompting from Hewitt in a meeting the day before.

"I said ‘I expect you to be knocking down at least two threes a game because of all the attention you guys draw [down low],' " Hewitt said. "So the joke after the game was all I have to do is ask for it and I'll get it. So next game I want 10 rebounds along with two threes."

Next game is Friday at home against Mercer.

Perimeter shooting is something Tech is looking to develop, with teams sagging in the post to help on Lawal and Favors. That's something Hewitt values in Peacock, as well as the immediate experience he brings to the post when Lawal or Favors gets in foul trouble.

As for Peacock? He knows his role, and he embraces it.

"Coach Hewitt knows what I'm capable of doing," Peacock said. "I know what I'm capable of doing. That's all that matters."