Cool hand Luke takes control: Arizona's Luke Walton was a shockingly-sweet junior. Now it's time for our Player of the Year to really shine - Men's All-America Team

"WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT ME?" ponders Arizona forward Luke Walton, the very embodiment of laid-back cool. "Actually, I'm a pretty boring guy."

Walton's is a Hollywood story not only due to dad Bill's superstardom but also because, just a short season back, the idea of Cool Hand Luke as College Player of the Year would have drawn a heaping helping of hardy-har-hars from the most down-and-out group of desperate depressives.

How did this blue-collared woodchopper--not much more than a hard-working reserve as a soph (5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg)--morph into this improvisational genius all of a sudden? When exactly did LW become so maddeningly multitalented that he's impossible to guard? How did he turn into the only player in Pac-10 history to notch more than 450 points, 200 rebounds, 175 assists, and 50 steals in a season?

No one knows--but Dad surely helped.

"Growing up, me and my three brothers, we pretty much ate, drank, and slept basketball," Walton says. Even when The Big Redhead wasn't there in the physical sense--the parents divorced a long time

Walton launched the Wildcats into contention last year; now he's shooting for an NCAA title. ago--he was, you know, there. "He still is," Walton smiles. "He calls every day. During the NCAA Tournament, he called 12 times a day, giving me John Wooden aphorisms and stuff."

"The great thing about Luke is that he listens," Arizona coach Lute Olson says. "And the other great thing about him that others listen to him as well. People are drawn to this kid. He is a natural leader." Which came in real Cool and tremendously Handy last year as the freshmen-laden 'Cats went from no-chance kittens into national championship-contending lions in about a minute, as Walton won game after game by hitting the biggest shots in the clutch.

Still, the best thing about Cool Hand's game is his uncanny vision. "Luke's our eyes on the court," soph sensation Channing Frye says. "You get to an open spot, he's going to find you." As a consequence, Luke--a 6'8" swing forward--found himself atop the powerhouse Pac-10's assists list last season, ahead of every pass-first point guard in the conference. Naturally, he also led all of the nation's frontcourt players in assists by an unnatural margin. The rest of the time Walton scored (15.8 ppg), boarded (7.3 rpg), and transported his too-young teammates to another level on his Phil Jaazksonesque angular shoulders.

This season, Walton returns as the best player on what's possibly the nation's best team--and 'Zona would be in an entirely other zone without or Cool Hand, according to Olson. "Everything we do runs through Luke," the coach avers. "So everything runs smo-o-o-o-th."

The nation's top smoothie--and our Player of the Year pick--leads our All-Americans. Here's how the rest of the first team, and our second and third squads, shake out:

FIRST TEAM

POINT GUARD

Brandin Knight (6'0" senior, Pittsburgh)

The Panthers are little more than a bunch of medium-talented pussycats. But with Knight's Toscanini-like conducting, Pittsburgh was a powerful 29-6 party-crasher into the NCAA Sweet 16.

Knight was the nation's statistical MVP in 2001-02, with his points and assists contributing a full 47.8% of Pitt's total production. Compare that, for instance, with Player of the Year Jason Williams' 37.8 with Duke and you'll begin to get the idea of Knight's worth.

The numbers don't lie: Last season Knight improved nearly every facet of his game (15.6 ppg, school-record 7.2 apg, and 4.8 rpg--as opposed to 8.0, 5.5, and 3.8 in 2000-01) to near-ridiculous levels. In addition, his three-point shooting shot from 32.5% to 36.7% and his steals from 1.8 to 2.3.

SHOOTING GUARD

Dwayne Wade (6'4" junior, Marquette)

Whatever this guy put into his Wheaties during his redshirt year should be marketed widely. When was the last time a first-year player went from obscure prep (No. 68 on the gurus' list as a senior) to immediate college stardom by not playing? If this isn't a world record, it should be.

Watch Wade crouch on defense, then snap like a cat--wham!--diving to knock the ball out of an opponent's hand? Watch him rise--and rise, and rise some more--on dunks and rebounds, hanging around the stratosphere like no one since Air.

The Michael Jordan comparisons are, for once, apt. Wade led the 26-7 Golden Eagles in scoring (17.8), rebounding (6.6), steals (2.2), assists (3.4), and blocks (1.1).

POWER FORWARD

Mike Sweetney (6'8" junior, Georgetown)

Nothing's sweet about Sweetney when he's on the hardwood. This otherwise gentle 260-pound giant, kind of a bigger and better version of Maryland's Lonny Baxter last year, is the type of throwback who puts the "power" into "power forward."

"Sweet is a power guy in the sense that he plays big," Georgetown coach Craig Esherick says. Huge, actually: 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game last year, without the benefit of a pass-first guard.

Sweetney has sticky mitts, shockingly nimble feet, all the inside moves, and a heart that simply "makes him go nonstop," Esherick says. The only thing that's raft about Sweet is his touch, and it's hard not to love his type of work ethic: Sweetney made the third-biggest jump in free-throw shooting percentage in the nation last season, improving from 61.9% to 78.8%.

CENTER

Chris Marcus (7'1" senior, Weslam Kentucky) Any player who can average 15.9 ppg and 8.9 rpg in only 24 mpg while playing on one leg is aces with us. Still, two stems are better, and Marcus, a fifth-year senior who battled a series of stress fractures in his left foot that held him to 15 games, is now said to be as good as new.

Marcus has soft hands, a deft touch, and a killer knack for the game. Plus, he's nearly Shaq-sized. The nation's lone talented lifesize center is not only an ill shot-blocker but is a rebounder who, using his neverending wingspan, goes after balls other big men can't even dream of, and is a vastly-improving offensive force as well.

SECOND TEAM

POINT GUARD

Jason Gardner (5'10" senior, Arizona)

Arizona is its good-looking serf heading into this season mainly because Gardner, with no fuss and little muss, decided to come back to school. That wasn't necessarily a clear--cut deal a year ago when this miniature bulldog--easily the top under-six footer in the nation--attended several NBA draft camps and failed to impress.

To get an idea about the kid's guts, Gardner responded to the dis by opening his junior year with a five-game run averaging 27 ppg--all against top 20 teams--that was unparalleled even in 'Zona's quarterback-rich history. "No one has carried us quite like this," Olson says. "Not Khalid [Reeves], not Jason [Terry], not Damon [Stoudamire]." Over the rest of the season, this tinyfied tough guy just kept on coming up big, especially in the biggest games.

SHOOTING GUARD

Hallis Price (6'2" senior, Oklahoma)

The Sooners' spiritual leader, the pulsating Price is priceless as a dominating force. And he does so on both ends.

The tone-setting Hollis quarterbacks Oklahoma's intimidating defense by applying pressure on the ball with uncanny hustle and quickness. The fun-loving Hollis goes off on some seriously sizzling shooting streaks (16.5 ppg on 45.5% from the floor, 38.2% from the arc, and 83.8% from the charity stripe) at a moment's notice.

SMALL FORWARD

Jarvis Hayes (6'6" junior, Georgia)

Other teams wouldn't take this Western Carolina transfer because his twin bro' Jonas came in the deal. "I would have given him a scholarship no matter what was in that package," smiles Georgia coach Jim Harrick.

Hayes, a virtuoso inside the paint or on the perimeter, immediately showed his appreciation by leading the SEC in scoring (18.6 ppg). In the process, his hardworking highwire act impressed some important personages even higher as well.

"This kid is a sensational talent who also hustles," one NBA GM says. "He's a garbage man with skills. I wish I had 12 of him on my team."

POWER FORWARD

David West (6'9" senior, Xavier) Big Dee--a very basic, blue-collar big man--decided to return to Xavier because he knew that this could be the school's best team ever. And that, without him, the Musketeers would be mid-pack.

A rampaging rebounder (9.8 rpg) who thrives on doing all the dirty work that wins games, West also felt that his offensive repertoire could stand some growing. So, after averaging an efficient 18.3 ppg (on only 11.4 shots) last year, he attended MJ's camp over the summer to learn some new tricks. "I was told I'd be late first round if I came out this year," he says. "[Now] I'm going for the lottery."

CENTER

Erwin Dudley (6'8" senior, Alabama)

Dud is currently working on extending his insistent inside game. "That's why I derided to come back," says last year's SEC MVP who considered jumping to the pros in the offseason. "I need more range."

The rocklike 250-pounder (15.2 ppg on 55.6% from the field and 8.9 rpg) is a major-league beast who's already a load and a half to handle. Still, the more stuff he throws at opponents, the tougher he'll be.

THIRD TEAM

POINT GUARD

Chris Thomas (6'1" sophomore, Norm Dame)

Few could believe how terrific this kid was as a freshman (15.6 ppg, 7.6 apg). And point guards, tend to improve far more in their sophomore years than other players.

SHOOTING GUARD

Reece Gaines (6'6" senior, Louisville)

Gaines (21.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg) has it all: size, shooting ability, and range. Plus he has Rick Pitino who, through his avid attention to individual improvement, has turned this heretofore-average player (just 9.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg as a sophomore) into a world-beater.

SMALL FORWARD

Theron Smith (6'9" senior, Ball State) Smith (19.6 ppg, 10.9 rpg), second in the nation in double-doubles last year behind Drew Gooden, is a unique combination of all-court toughness and all-world mobility. Pro scouts compare him to Bonzi Wells--but some feel he's even better.

POWER FORWARD

Nick Collison (6'10" senior, Kansas)

An ambidextrous, tough Moving Man who, in practice, looked good against Elton Brand and Jermaine O'Neal at the World Championships. Of course, so did several New Zealanders.

CENTER

Arthur Johnson (6'10" junior, Missouri)

This 265-pound dancing bear has improved almost game-to-game over the course of last season (12.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, and a school-record 2.0 bpg). "And he still has a world of untapped talent," Missouri coach Quin Snyder says.

BASKETBALL DIGEST'S All-America Team

FIRST TEAM

Pos    Name                 Year       School

PG     Brandin Knight      Senior      Pittsburgh
SG     Dwayne Wade         Junior      Marquette
SF     Luke Walton         Senior      Arizona
PF     Mike Sweetney       Junior      Georgetown
C      Chris Marcus        Center      Western Kentucky

SECOND TEAM

Pos    Name                 Year       School

PG     Jason Gardner       Senior      Arizona
SG     Hollis Price        Senior      Oklahoma
SF     Jarvis Hayes        Junior      Georgia
PF     David West          Senior      Xavier
C      Erwin Dudley        Senior      Alabama

THIRD TEAM

Pos    Name                 Year       School

PG     Chris Thomas       Sophomore    Notre Dame
SG     Reece Gaines        Senior      Louisville
SF     Theron Smith        Senior      Ball State
PF     Nick Collison       Senior      Kansas
C      Arthur Johnson      Junior      Missouri

COPYRIGHT 2002 Century Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group