Big Time notebook: LV’s Watson earning raves

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, July 26, 2001 | 11:01 a.m.

In an adidas Big Time Tournament filled with flashy dunks, no-look passes and trash talking, at least one player is letting his unassuming brand of basketball speak for itself.

Playing his typically unselfish game -- the type that earned him last year's USA Today Nevada Player of the Year award -- Bishop Gorman senior point guard C.J. Watson helped lift his Pump N Run (Calif.) squad to an easy 88-62 over Team Breakdown (Fla.) Wednesday.

Often sacrificing his own offense to get his teammates, including Reno High center David Padgett and Westlake (Texas) big man Brad Buckman, involved, the 6-2 Watson still finished with 10 points to go with six rebounds and six steals.

"He's one of the greatest kids I've been around in my life, a hell of an athlete but an even better kid," Pump N Run coach Aubrey McCreary said. "He's so unselfish, and he's such a great passer. It's been fun watching him progress."

For his part, Watson said he has enjoyed traveling with the California AAU squad throughout the spring and summer.

"It's been great getting to know these guys," said Watson, who played games against both Padgett and Buckman during the 2000-2001 high school season. "I played against them, but I didn't know them. Now, we've become friends."

Watson, who is being pursued by several Division I schools, said he is still "wide open" about his decision. He added that UNLV remains one of his top choices.

TOUGH ASSIGNMENT: When Kevin Richardson learned his Las Vegas Rebels squad would face the NE Ohio Shooting Stars in Wednesday's opening game, the Cheyenne senior went directly to his coaches with a request.

His wish? To guard 6-7 LeBron James, a junior some are already touting as the nation's top prep player.

"To be the best you have to guard the best," the 6-4 Richardson said. "It doesn't matter if you're big or not, I'm still going to play you. I'm not intimated by anyone."

Though James finished with a game-high 34 points to lead the Stars to an 80-70 win over Southern Nevada's all-star squad, Richardson did an admirable job against the swingman, blocking three of his shots and forcing him into several turnovers and poor shots.

"He's a good player but I did what I could," Richardson said. "He's a pretty good passer for his size, but usually his teammates weren't ready for the ball."

ROUGH DAY FOR LOCALS: Southern Nevada's 12 entries were a combined 4-17 on Wednesday, with Green Valley accounting for half of the area's victory total.

The Gators downed Swarm (Texas) 74-52 in their first game behind 17 points from center Mitch Platt and 11 points apiece from Ron Dunlap and Chris Holm. Later in the day, Green Valley upended BWBA Red (Calif.), with Holm scoring 14 points and Trumaine Ross added 12.

The LV Shields, consisting primarily of Cheyenne players, defeated Montana Hoops I 59-53, with Mark Hill and James Mathews each chipping in 11 points for the victors.

The Boomers, a squad made up of players from The Meadows, Bishop Gorman, California and Australia, slipped past Gig Harbor Boosters (Wash.) 70-68. David Barlow and Brandon Knott scored 23 and 16 points, respectively.

Other top local scorers included: Foothill's Kevin Marshall (25), the Boomers' Mike Paulos (22 in the squad's second game of the day), Basic's Elliot Hinman (21), Viking Express' Terrell Green (21), Hawk Hoops' Pat Fain (20) and Palo Verde's Jamar Rankin (20).

First-year Las Vegas school Sierra Vista also got its first taste of the Big Time Wednesday, joining the field of 344 and playing an exhibition game against the Indy Metros White (Ind.). The Lions filled in for St. Louis Gameface 17s after the squad arrived in town too late for its opening contest and was forced to forfeit. The Metros won the make-up game 90-52.

TARK TO RETURN: George Tarkanian, that is. The basketball-coaching son of coaching legend Jerry Tarkanian is returning to Las Vegas full-time, to join the faculty at the Community College of Southern Nevada. Tarkanian is expected to be a leading candidate for the CCSN basketball coaching job when that sport debuts at the local community college in 2002.

George Tarkanian's last basketball job was head coach at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif.