Here's a feature I wrote last week on WSU basketball player Caleb Forrest ...
By Josh Wright
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
PULLMAN - Caleb Forrest was raised on a 35-acre spread in one of the most remote sections of America, a town so secluded that he didn't have a clue summertime AAU basketball existed until late in his high school career.
The scrappy Washington State forward, however, was far from isolated in Pagosa Springs, Colo., at least in a familial sense. Along with his parents and three siblings, Forrest grew up with a flock of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents within walking distance.
"We all live on this property," said Bayard Forrest, Caleb's uncle and a former NBA player, "so we're close."
That tight-knit upbringing made last weekend in Denver all the more memorable. Not only did Caleb help the Cougars march into the Sweet 16 for the first time, he strung together two sturdy performances in his home state with 40 to 50 family members and friends on hand.
After the initial euphoria wore off - and the scores of media requests died down - he labeled beating Notre Dame "definitely the highest point of my athletic career that I've witnessed or been a part of."
Three years ago, merely getting a chance to come to WSU - a Pac-10 program with a losing tradition at that point - was a big enough thrill for the 6-foot-8 post. He thought he was destined for the University of Denver or Wyoming, two schools that offered close-to-home comforts but not the sort of competition he was craving.
Deep into the recruiting process, though, things started clicking for Forrest. He stumbled upon an invitation to play in an AAU tournament in Denver, then was asked to join a Colorado Select summer team. After realizing it would cost $2,500, he eventually joined another offseason squad - one that paid for everything and showcased his fledgling talents.
That led to a recommendation from another coach to Tony Bennett, then the top assistant under his father at WSU.
"... Still sometimes I think about the amount of things that had to go right in order for me to get here," the junior said. "There were so many coincidences ... . And I'm a Christian, so I believe God had a big part in that."
Situated in the southwestern corner of Colorado, Pagosa Springs (population 1,600) is slightly closer to Albuquerque, N.M., than Denver. So it's understandable why recruiters - and even AAU coaches - weren't aware of Forrest at first. Yet some of them had surely heard of Bayard, his uncle who played two seasons (1977-79) with the Phoenix Suns.
Caleb and Bayard share similar skills on the hardwood, though the younger Forrest has far less natural ability. Bayard, who now goes by Bay, was an agile 6-10, 235-pound center who averaged 4.1 points per game before sustaining a career-ending back injury.
He's now a Christian speaker who skips between churches and religious conferences throughout the country.
"I think the one way Caleb has changed his game some in a real positive way is he has become a lot more aggressive and plays a lot tougher probably than what I did," Bay said when reached by cell phone. "He has worked his tail off to get to the point he's at. I was kind of spoiled because I had a 35-inch vertical, you know, and so I could really get up."
While Caleb might not have eye-popping athletic ability, he's earned playing time with a nonstop motor and keen mid-range shooting stroke. This season, he's provided quick buckets and solid rebounding in spurts while scoring 3.5 ppg.
One of his finest moments came Saturday. He buried two key jumpers as WSU surged ahead of the Fighting Irish in the first half. He also hauled in five rebounds before fouling out.
Thursday, he and the fourth-seeded Cougs (26-8) will get another chance to extend their season when they meet No. 1 North Carolina in the East Regional semifinal in Charlotte, N.C. Tipoff is slated for 4:27 p.m. Pacific.
"He doesn't move the smoothest," Bennett said, "but he was aggressive, loosening up (the defense) and knocking down shots at very timely times ... .
"He gives you all effort."
After Saturday's win, the quiet yet affable Forrest was besieged by media in the Cougars' locker room - more, in fact, than he's ever had focus on him. Communicating with so many reporters added to the special day.
But does he want to repeat it?
"I don't usually get that much (attention)," he said, "and I don't ... necessarily want that much."
---
Wright may be contacted at jwright@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2277.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Palouse a perfect fit for Bennett
Here's a column about Washington State basketball coach Tony Bennett. He turned overtures from Indiana, which has since hired Marquette coach Tom Crean ...
By Josh Wright
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
At the end of an exhilarating ride that lasted deep into March, Tony Bennett scoffed at the notion - uttered in the media and elsewhere - that the Washington State men's basketball program had topped out by going to the Sweet 16.
The Cougars might play in a conference chock-full of programs rich in resources. And they might have the disadvantage of being located in Pullman, 75 miles from any sort of metropolitan area. But none of that seems to sway their single-minded coach.
Not even a little bit.
"I understand that a lot of people say there's a ceiling at Washington State, but I don't buy that," Bennett said after losing last week to North Carolina in the NCAA Eastern Regional semifinals.
Then, in a move akin to an up-and-coming WSU professor turning down a job offer at Yale, Bennett affirmed his stance by spurning Indiana, one of the nation's top-shelf programs.
What exactly is going on here? Does this coaching prodigy know something others don't?
Well, the likely sanctions at IU after the Kelvin Sampson debacle probably played a part in Bennett's decision. But here's another possibility: Maybe he realizes he can make a lasting mark at Washington State, a school where he'll always be doubted but nevertheless a place capable of producing a consistent winner.
In some ways, he's an ideal candidate to hang around a while.
With the Cougars, the 38-year-old head man doesn't have to worry about pressure - at least, not the type of pressure he would face with the Hoosiers. He's already accomplished more on the Palouse than Coug fans could expect.
In Bennett's two-year reign, WSU has won a school-record 52 games, finished second and third in the Pac-10 and bagged three victories in the NCAA tournament. That's the same number of wins the program had tallied in the 66 years before last season.
After that much success, Bennett has plenty of wiggle room. He can take time rebuilding the club after the departure of three key seniors - Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill. And he can be selective in targeting future players.
Bennett and his staff have already made inroads in the recruiting department. The five-player class set to come to campus next year is viewed favorably in scouting circles, especially with the emergence of Klay Thompson, the son of former NBA standout Mychal Thompson.
Aside from personnel, though, there are other reasons to stay. Chief among them: WSU is a natural second-class program. That may sound odd, but Bennett is like his father - he flourishes in overlooked spots.
At one time, Dick Bennett was viewed as one of the sharpest basketball minds in the country. But he never made quick jumps to bigger programs. He spent 11 years coaching at the high school level and nine seasons at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a one-time NAIA school, before moving to UW-Green Bay.
Then, in maybe the oddest move of the elder Bennett's career, he came out of retirement three years after leading Wisconsin to the Final Four to take over the Cougars, a team in shambles after the forgettable Paul Graham era.
As UNC coach Roy Williams said last week in regard to the Bennetts, "That acorn didn't fall (far) from the tree."
Dick and Tony are made in the same mold, and both seem to have an underdog mentality in their DNA. Which is why not bolting after two seasons makes sense for Tony.
Next season, most experts won't expect much out of the Cougs. They'll have lost the sweet shooting stroke of Low, the leadership and interior defense of Cowgill, the versatility of Weaver. And they'll be relying on at least a few of their freshmen.
Yet amid all the question marks, you get the sense Tony Bennett will be right where he wants to be.
---
Wright is a Tribune sports writer. He can be contacted at (208) 844-2277 or jwright@lmtribune.com
By Josh Wright
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
At the end of an exhilarating ride that lasted deep into March, Tony Bennett scoffed at the notion - uttered in the media and elsewhere - that the Washington State men's basketball program had topped out by going to the Sweet 16.
The Cougars might play in a conference chock-full of programs rich in resources. And they might have the disadvantage of being located in Pullman, 75 miles from any sort of metropolitan area. But none of that seems to sway their single-minded coach.
Not even a little bit.
"I understand that a lot of people say there's a ceiling at Washington State, but I don't buy that," Bennett said after losing last week to North Carolina in the NCAA Eastern Regional semifinals.
Then, in a move akin to an up-and-coming WSU professor turning down a job offer at Yale, Bennett affirmed his stance by spurning Indiana, one of the nation's top-shelf programs.
What exactly is going on here? Does this coaching prodigy know something others don't?
Well, the likely sanctions at IU after the Kelvin Sampson debacle probably played a part in Bennett's decision. But here's another possibility: Maybe he realizes he can make a lasting mark at Washington State, a school where he'll always be doubted but nevertheless a place capable of producing a consistent winner.
In some ways, he's an ideal candidate to hang around a while.
With the Cougars, the 38-year-old head man doesn't have to worry about pressure - at least, not the type of pressure he would face with the Hoosiers. He's already accomplished more on the Palouse than Coug fans could expect.
In Bennett's two-year reign, WSU has won a school-record 52 games, finished second and third in the Pac-10 and bagged three victories in the NCAA tournament. That's the same number of wins the program had tallied in the 66 years before last season.
After that much success, Bennett has plenty of wiggle room. He can take time rebuilding the club after the departure of three key seniors - Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill. And he can be selective in targeting future players.
Bennett and his staff have already made inroads in the recruiting department. The five-player class set to come to campus next year is viewed favorably in scouting circles, especially with the emergence of Klay Thompson, the son of former NBA standout Mychal Thompson.
Aside from personnel, though, there are other reasons to stay. Chief among them: WSU is a natural second-class program. That may sound odd, but Bennett is like his father - he flourishes in overlooked spots.
At one time, Dick Bennett was viewed as one of the sharpest basketball minds in the country. But he never made quick jumps to bigger programs. He spent 11 years coaching at the high school level and nine seasons at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a one-time NAIA school, before moving to UW-Green Bay.
Then, in maybe the oddest move of the elder Bennett's career, he came out of retirement three years after leading Wisconsin to the Final Four to take over the Cougars, a team in shambles after the forgettable Paul Graham era.
As UNC coach Roy Williams said last week in regard to the Bennetts, "That acorn didn't fall (far) from the tree."
Dick and Tony are made in the same mold, and both seem to have an underdog mentality in their DNA. Which is why not bolting after two seasons makes sense for Tony.
Next season, most experts won't expect much out of the Cougs. They'll have lost the sweet shooting stroke of Low, the leadership and interior defense of Cowgill, the versatility of Weaver. And they'll be relying on at least a few of their freshmen.
Yet amid all the question marks, you get the sense Tony Bennett will be right where he wants to be.
---
Wright is a Tribune sports writer. He can be contacted at (208) 844-2277 or jwright@lmtribune.com
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