Calabasas wants to run
Boys' basketball team, led by the ultra-talented Evan Smith, is quick, athletic
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers SHARPSHOOTER- Calabasas' Evan Smith, center, who's already been offered a scholarship to USC, made 50 consecutive free throws during Tuesday's practice despite being hounded by teammates.

As the Calabasas High boys' basketball practice came to a close Tuesday, head coach Jim Nielsen ordered his team to do one thing before leaving: make 50 free throws.

"Not take 50 free throws, but make 50 free throws," the secondyear coach said.

As if it mattered to Evan Smith.

The 6foot7 junior hit nothing but the last thread of the net over and over again. After Smith made 40 in a row, Nielsen sent several of his players near the key to do anything they could to distract their teammate. Smith remained unfazed, however, as he calmly converted his last 10 shots.

"You have to hit your free throws," Smith said. "I mean, they're free."

Smith has a scholarship offer on the table from USC. Unfortunately for Marmonte League teams, though, he still has two years left in high school.

Smith is one of six returnees for the Coyotes this season, which will look to improve on a 9-5 record in league last season. Although 9-5 is hardly a bad campaign, CHS had lost only three games in league play the previous two years.

"When I took over last year, the program was already in great shape thanks to the job (former coach) Russell White did here," Nielsen said. "My job now is to make the game as simple as possible for the kids.

"We are really now starting to come together as a team. Our ballhandling and court awareness have been better, and we're starting to fall into a Lawrence Welktype of rhythm on the court."

The four guards that will do most of the ball-handling will be seniors Eric Mont, Brian Stavis and Eric Bergman, as well as sophomore Mark Jackson.

Jackson, who transferred from Taft High, is the son of the former NBA point guard of the same name who's currently second in career assists in league history.

"Jackson has been a real pleasant surprise for us," Nielsen said. "He has an instinctive nature, and he seems to know the game real well."

According to Nielsen, the guard position could also feature Smith, who played the majority of his minutes at the forward and center spots last year.

"Smith is an extremely smart and hardworking athlete," Nielsen said. "In college, he will most likely be playing shooting guard, so I'm trying to prepare him for that by playing him at the No. 2 spot a little this year."

Smith said he learned a lot from playing with former Coyote guard Sean Foster a season ago.

"I was a captain last year, but as a sophomore I just echoed everything (Foster) told me," Smith said. "He said not to take (playing basketball) for granted. In two years it will be over, so make it worthwhile."

With Smith playing guard or forward, junior Matthew Graditor will be vital in the post. Early on, Nielsen has been impressed with the play of his new center.

"We call (Graditor) the 'blue lunch special' because he shows up every day with a blue-collar work ethic and battles every day," Nielsen said "He had the best fall season of anyone on our team and has demonstrated tremendous footwork around the post."

To win the Marmonte League, Nielsen said the team will need to improve its defense and rebounding, which according to the coach has been porous early on.

The Coyotes don't have as much height as last season, but the players are hoping they can make up for it with speed.

"Last year we had two really big guns (Sean Foster and Mike Field), and we ran more of Los Angeles Lakers-style of offense when they had Kobe and Shaq," Mont said. "This year, with those two guys graduated, we are looking at running more of a Phoenix Suns-style of offense."

Whatever type of offense CHS utilizes, expect it to run through Smith. Opposing teams may want to consider keeping him off the free-throw line as well.