Ryan Cline and his dad used to go at it in the driveway. One-on-one. Son vs. father. That's where this all begins for the sharp-shooting kid from Carmel, Indiana.
"We had some good games out there," Cline said. "He pushed me to be good. He is my inspiration to play. He could beat me all the way to my sophomore year in high school."
What changed? Why was Cline finally able to take down his father, Mike, who was a point guard for Ohio State from 1976 to 1979 and a two-time team captain playing with the likes of Herb Williams, Clark Kellogg and Kelvin Ransey?
"I finally grew when I was a sophomore," Cline said. "And after that, he couldn't post me up and shoot his stupid fade-away jump shots anymore. There were times I would drive by him and he would give me a little shoulder when he got mad."
All of that work made Cline special in high school, but he didn't have much recruiting interest until his junior year.
"I was 5-foot-6, 5-7 as a freshman and 6-2, 6-3 as a sophomore," he said. "I had five, six inches of growth. And my recruiting took off after AAU season going into my senior year."
There was no offer from Ohio State, which his dad didn't like. Instead, the likes of Belmont, Creighton, Minnesota, Purdue and Indiana offered. Now, Cline is all grown up, a 6-6, 190-pound shooting phenom who has seen his role expand in his final season in West Lafayette. The staff counts on Cline being the yin to Carsen Edwards' yang when it comes to providing scoring punch for a Boilermaker squad that lost four key seniors from last year's 30-win squad.
"This year, I am a lot more of a playmaker than ever," Cline said. "Being able to make plays not just for myself but for my teammates. When Carson doesn't have the ball, I feel like I am the second option late in the shot clock."
Cline's numbers reflect that. He's averaging 12.6 points for the Boilermakers, second on the team to Edwards. That's a big step up for a guy who entered the season never having scored more than 5.4 points per game while at Purdue.
"I put in extra work before and after practice," Cline said. "I always am looking to stay sharp."
Cline also is always looking to stay positive. He knows he can go through some rough patches, that his shooting touch is going to come and go. That's when Cline knows he has to have a short memory. He knows the young players are watching him. If he is discouraged, that could rub off on others. It's all part of being a leader.
"I try to lead by example," Cline said. "I do that in practice. I show (the young players) through my effort. Not vocally, but showing them why I played here for four years. Putting forth the effort all the freshmen need to see."
Cline also is staying sharp this season doing a little reading. The current book of choice? "The Captain Class," a look at the hidden force behind that creates the world's greatest teams.
"It was recommended to me by my girlfriend's father, who is the Carmel hockey coach," Cline said. "I am not a huge reader, but I figured if this was recommend to me, it must be able to help me. It looks at some great teams of the past and what made them special. Just read about the 1960s Celtics teams and Bill Russell.
"I am learning a lot."
And given the youthful roster Purdue has this season, Cline has ample chance to apply his lessons as he looks to guide the Boilermakers to a fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in a row.
"We had some good games out there," Cline said. "He pushed me to be good. He is my inspiration to play. He could beat me all the way to my sophomore year in high school."
What changed? Why was Cline finally able to take down his father, Mike, who was a point guard for Ohio State from 1976 to 1979 and a two-time team captain playing with the likes of Herb Williams, Clark Kellogg and Kelvin Ransey?
"I finally grew when I was a sophomore," Cline said. "And after that, he couldn't post me up and shoot his stupid fade-away jump shots anymore. There were times I would drive by him and he would give me a little shoulder when he got mad."
All of that work made Cline special in high school, but he didn't have much recruiting interest until his junior year.
"I was 5-foot-6, 5-7 as a freshman and 6-2, 6-3 as a sophomore," he said. "I had five, six inches of growth. And my recruiting took off after AAU season going into my senior year."
There was no offer from Ohio State, which his dad didn't like. Instead, the likes of Belmont, Creighton, Minnesota, Purdue and Indiana offered. Now, Cline is all grown up, a 6-6, 190-pound shooting phenom who has seen his role expand in his final season in West Lafayette. The staff counts on Cline being the yin to Carsen Edwards' yang when it comes to providing scoring punch for a Boilermaker squad that lost four key seniors from last year's 30-win squad.
"This year, I am a lot more of a playmaker than ever," Cline said. "Being able to make plays not just for myself but for my teammates. When Carson doesn't have the ball, I feel like I am the second option late in the shot clock."
Cline's numbers reflect that. He's averaging 12.6 points for the Boilermakers, second on the team to Edwards. That's a big step up for a guy who entered the season never having scored more than 5.4 points per game while at Purdue.
"I put in extra work before and after practice," Cline said. "I always am looking to stay sharp."
Cline also is always looking to stay positive. He knows he can go through some rough patches, that his shooting touch is going to come and go. That's when Cline knows he has to have a short memory. He knows the young players are watching him. If he is discouraged, that could rub off on others. It's all part of being a leader.
"I try to lead by example," Cline said. "I do that in practice. I show (the young players) through my effort. Not vocally, but showing them why I played here for four years. Putting forth the effort all the freshmen need to see."
Cline also is staying sharp this season doing a little reading. The current book of choice? "The Captain Class," a look at the hidden force behind that creates the world's greatest teams.
"It was recommended to me by my girlfriend's father, who is the Carmel hockey coach," Cline said. "I am not a huge reader, but I figured if this was recommend to me, it must be able to help me. It looks at some great teams of the past and what made them special. Just read about the 1960s Celtics teams and Bill Russell.
"I am learning a lot."
And given the youthful roster Purdue has this season, Cline has ample chance to apply his lessons as he looks to guide the Boilermakers to a fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in a row.