A.J. Newton of the San Jose State women's basketball team and Jordan Bachynski of the Arizona State men's basketball team are, respectively, the shortest and tallest players to compete at the Great Alaska Shootout this week.
Despite a two-foot difference in height, Newton (5-foot-2) and Bachynski (7-2) do have a few things in common. Both are freshmen, both started bouncing a basketball at the age of three and both learned the game from their mothers. On the court, however, their situations are much different.
Bachynski recently finished a two-year mission for the Mormon Church, so his rusty basketball skills haven't won him much playing time with the Sun Devils. Newton, on the other hand, is logging major minutes for the Spartans.
Bachynski, 21, said he was always tall for his age, growing about three inches per year, with no irregular growth spurts. He was 6-5 as a freshman at Centennial High School in Calgary, Alberta.
Almost without fail, the first two questions people ask him when they meet him is, "How tall are you?" and "Do you play basketball?" said Bachynski.
Height and basketball run in the Bachynski family. Bachynski's mother Yolanda (6-5) played college basketball at the University of Alberta, and his brother Dallin (7-0) played for Southern Utah University last season, before departing on a mission in Croatia.
Bachynski said he always intended to return to college basketball after his mission, but the one practice session per week he managed during the last two years wasn't enough to keep his game sharp. With the help of the ASU coaches, he is busy working hard every day to get back in basketball shape and develop into a strong post player.
"I have to get my legs back," he said. "I'm really, really close."
Bachynski said he and the coaches at ASU are both excited about the kind of advantage his size can bring to the Sun Devils and anxiously await the day Bachynski is ready to contribute.
"Being patient is tough for me and the coaches, but I don't think that day is far away," he said. "When I'm ready, I'll play."
Newton said Division I coaches used to discount her chances of playing at the highest college level, until she led San Jose's Valley Christian High School in scoring, as a freshman. She went on to lead the team in scoring as a junior and senior as well, and earned a scholarship to play at San Jose State.
Newton is already contributing mightily for the Spartans. On Tuesday, in a loss to UAA, she played 32 minutes, hit three 3-pointers to lead the team in scoring with 12 points and made three assists and three rebounds.
"She's so fast, and she's so smart," said Spartans head coach Pam DeCosta. "She knows just what to do with the ball."
Newton said she may look calm and in control on the court, but she gets as nervous as everyone else.
"As a point guard, you have to keep a calm look," said Newton.
In a game usually dominated by height, Newton said her lack of it is not always a disadvantage.
"They (bigger players) usually can't see me at all," she said.
In Tuesday's game, Newton snuck up on UAA's 6-2 Hanna Johansson and caused a turnover by knocking the ball loose as Johansson tried to bring the ball up for a shot.
"I was trying to get her at least once," said Newton.
DeCosta said Newton is an excellent shooter who always has the green light to fire from long distance. And opposing players better watch out, because Newton said she likes to bomb shots from a couple feet behind the 3-point line, because nobody ever expects her to.
Find Jeremy Peters online at adn.com/contact/jpeters or call 257-4335.
By JEREMY PETERS
jpeters@adn.com