THE Collegian Special Section Wednesday, November 17, 2010 PAGE 2 THE COLLEGIAN • 2010-11 BASKETBALL SPECIAL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010 SPORTS EDITORS, BEN INGERSOLL AND VONGNI YANG • [email protected] Smith aims high By Vongni Yang The Collegian Growing up Greg Smith idol- glory days when Fresno State ized former Bulldogs Courtney basketball was on the national Alexander and Melvin Ely. radar. He wants to be able to rees- The sophomore center remem- tablish a once proud program. bers watching the dynamic duo “I want to be able to bring this as a youngster in his early play- program and this school back up ing days as a child in Vallejo, to the high major where it was Calif. in 2000 when everybody knew “Those guys were amazing to the teams could compete for a watch,” Smith said. “Courtney championship,” Smith said. “I Alexander was a great scorer. I want to be able to bring that back remember Ely; he was a perfect here and have people thinking big man to watch because he had about us not just winning WAC, the shot off the glass. He hustled. but going to the tournament and He rebounded a lot. He was one making some noise.” of the best big man in the coun- Smith had a standout season try, so it was good watching those as a freshman last season when guys.” he averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 Alexander and Ely led the 1999- rebounds per game with a team- 00 Fresno State men’s basketball high 40 blocks en route to being team to its first appearance in named the WAC’s Freshman of the NCAA tournament since the the Year by conference coaches. 1983-84 season after capturing Expectations for Smith will the Western Athletic Conference be higher as he heads into his tournament title and compiling a sophomore campaign. Smith 24-9 record. was named a pre-season All-WAC Alexander led the entire coun- selection by both the media and try in scoring during that sea- coaches. son after averaging 25.3 points But Smith’s playing days as a per game as a junior and was the Bulldog almost didn’t come to 13th overall pick in the 2000 NBA fruition. After playing for three draft. seasons at Edison High School in Ely returned the follow- Fresno and leading the Tigers to a ing year to guide the 2000-01 Division II Valley Championship, Bulldogs to its first regular Smith transferred to Westwind season WAC championship, its Academy in Arizona and caught first conference crown since the eye of former Arizona head 1982, while making a second coach Lute Olson. consecutive appearance in the Smith made a soft verbal com- NCAA tournament. mitment to play for Olson before Ely led the No. 9 ‘Dogs to the his senior season, but when program’s first NCAA tourna- Olson retired, Smith decided to ment win since 1982 with an come back home and play for his 82-70 upset victory against No. hometown team. 8 California in the first round. “My dream school was to stay The ‘Dogs eventually fell to home, and Fresno State was my Michigan State in the second dream school,” Smith said. “I had round, and Ely was selected a other options, but at the end of year later by the Los Angeles the day I just knew that this was Clippers with the 12th overall the place that I just need to put a pick in the 2002 NBA draft. jersey on at.” Ely finished his career Although Smith only spent a at Fresno State as few years as a teenager living in the all-time lead- Fresno, he has embraced Fresno ing scorer. Smith as his home. hopes that he “I love this city,” Smith said. “I can achieve the love this community. I love the same kind of school and I love the program. success that I had a chance to go anywhere I Alexander wanted in the country, but this is and Ely had. my home. I love being here, and He remem- I’m glad I’m here for the next four bers the years and I’m just happy to be here.” Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010 THE COLLEGIAN • 2010-11 BASKETBALL SPECIAL PAGE 3 SPORTS EDITORS, BEN INGERSOLL AND VONGNI YANG • [email protected] Ross eyes Sweet 16 By Ben Ingersoll The Collegian Most fans are unaware that “I’ve grown a lot,” Ross said. senior point guard Jaleesa “I’ve matured a lot as a leader. Ross’ first three-point attempt It was definitely hard to learn in a Bulldog uniform hit noth- to follow first. But to be able ing. It was an air ball, possibly to actually follow some pretty the most degrading aspect of great leaders before us was the game and one that fuels actually good for me. opposing fans like nothing It’s got me to where I am else. now.” With 287 makes from beyond Ross was highly tout- the arc since that moment in ed out of Pinole Valley 2007, it is safe to say Ross is High School when as a doing pretty well now. senior her team posted Coming off her strongest a 30-3 record under head season statistically with coach Dan O’Shea. Ross’ Fresno State, Ross is eyeing a talent drew the atten- fitting conclusion to what has tion of Pac-10 schools been an amazing collegiate such as Washington, campaign so far. Last sea- Washington State and son, the Bay Area native gar- Oregon, but in the nered First-Team All-Western end, Fresno State was Athletic Conference honors, the right choice. was named the WAC Defensive “It was just like the Player of the Year and aver- perfect fit,” Ross said. aged a conference-best 17.4 “When I took my visit points per game. I knew this is where I But despite Ross’ numerous wanted to play. I love the accolades and accomplish- coaches. I love the com- ments a year ago, the ‘Dogs munity and I really liked dropped their final two games the way that the team after posting a school-record was structured at the 19-game wining streak. The time. It was more of a first loss came to Louisiana family atmosphere.” Tech in the WAC Tournament For Fresno State head coach Championship and the second Adrian Wiggins, who con- was to Baylor in the first round stantly stresses the family of the NCAA Tournament, the aspect of the game, Ross’ on- two most important contests and-off-the-court leadership of the year. has been a coach’s dream. Since the demoralizing con- “She probably retains infor- clusion to last season, Ross’ mation and can reuse that as performance has caught the good or better than anyone I’ve attention of conference vot- ever coached,” Wiggins said. ers as evident of being picked “She’s very intelligent. She’s a as this year’s pre-season WAC quick learner so to speak. She Player of the Year. But no mat- can hear something once and ter how much attention she do it. That’s special when play- gets, Ross has her goals set on ers can do that.” a bigger picture. With three of the top four “I don’t think too much scorers returning for Wiggins’ about that stuff,” Ross said. squad from a year ago, Ross “The biggest target we have and company have hopes of is being picked first. I know advancing to the Sweet 16 in there’s a couple teams in WAC the NCAA Tournament this who don’t feel that way.” year, if not even better. In her first season as a “I’d say really they could Bulldog, Ross proved she was probably even go further if anything but shy by jacking they were clicking at the right the tournament needs the said. “With her being unself- up a team-high 211 three-point time and had the right mental- help of a last-second shot, ish I don’t think she would attempts. ity, and I think we’re getting there is one player in the necessarily even have to raise That same season, Ross was there,” former Bulldog and huddle humble enough to not her hand and say I want to second on the team in scoring, current assistant coach Amy demand the shot, but talented take that shot. That would be but has acknowledged how Parrish said. enough to take it. something that we’d say we far she has come the past four And if the ‘Dogs do get to “She’s definitely never shied want Jaleesa to have it.” years. that point, and advancing in away from that stuff,” Parrish Matt Weir / The Collegian PAGE 4 THE COLLEGIAN • 2010-11 BASKETBALL SPECIAL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010 SPORTS EDITORS, BEN INGERSOLL AND VONGNI YANG • [email protected] Meet the starters 4 Greg Smith Sophomore Center 6-10, 250 2 • 2009-10 WAC Freshman of the 15 Year Jonathan Wills • Started every game as a freshman Ned Golubovic Junior Sophomore Guard Forward 6-6, 185 6-8, 240 • Transfer from New Mexico • Three-time Academic All-WAC • Played quarterback in high school • Born in Montenegro 11 5 Bennie Rhodes Tim Steed Junior Junior Guard Guard 6-6, 190 6-4, 215 • Transfer from CC of San Francisco • Transfer from Highland CC • Began collegiate career at SMU • Expected to fill void left by Paul George 45 Veronica Wilson Junior Center 6-3 • Transfer from Boston College 25 • Originally from Pickering, Ohio 2 Rosie Moult Hayley Munro Sophomore Senior Guard/Forward Guard/Forward 6-1 6-1 • 2009-10 WAC All-Freshman team • 2010 WAC All-Tournament team • From Olinda, Victoria, Australia • Ranked 10th on Fresno State all- time rebounding list 4 33 Jaleesa Ross Taylor Thompson Senior RS Freshman Guard Guard 5-8 5-5 • 2009-10 WAC Defensive Player of the Year • Used medical redshirt last year • Pre-season WAC Player of the Year • Hometown is Cache, Okla..