Armed with deadly determination and brilliant versatility, Tayshaun Prince is the glue that holds it all together.

Tayshaun Prince is often thought of as the game’s most underrated player. And he intends to keep it that way.

Since the beginning, Prince has kept himself out of the limelight, letting heavyweights like Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton dominate the court. It may be an unusual tactic for a Pistons’ co-captain and leading scorer, but Prince knows that he has one uncanny ability, a quality that sets him apart from the rest: the skill to fit his game around that of his teammates.

While guys like Wallace and Hamilton battle on the front lines, Prince’s impressive versatility makes him the team’s secret weapon. From long-range shooting to game-ending blocks, he’s mastered all facets of the game. And given his epic wingspan, he could easily become one of the league’s biggest stars.

But Prince has always been determined to be the complement, not the conqueror. And that’s what separates him from the pack.

In spite of his glue-man role, Prince has been quietly setting his own records since the beginning. A native of Compton, he helped the University of Kentucky advance to the national tournament every year he played, leading the conference in free throw percentage and earning MVP in 2001. It became very clear, as he was rotated through all five positions on the court, that he could handle anything.

After joining the NBA, he emerged as the first Pistons rookie to start in a playoff since 1986. Over the years, his averages in points, rebounds and assists have increased steadily. And his basketball IQ is so strong, many have speculated on his future in coaching.

But it wasn’t any of these things, according to coaches, that got him a coveted spot on Team USA.

For them, it was his continuity that proved a winning asset. For the last decade or so, as the rest of the world started to catch up to Americans, reliable team players have been nowhere to be found. For years, it was all about big names and even bigger egos. But Tayshaun Prince has proven that he can be a solid cog in the machine, the man who makes things work on the court. And that’s exactly what this year’s team needed.

"What I bring to the team obviously is some defense and some rebounding, and also capable of hitting some outside shots,” Prince said. “But with this type of squad we have, obviously I don't have to score a lot or do anything in that type of role."

This summer, Team USA seems destined for success. Not because of the stats or the scores, but because of guys like Prince – the ones who show up, handle problems, and sacrifice everything for the team.

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