Younger West is making a name for himself
Jonnie drawing attention from colleges
By Jim Masilak
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July 27, 2005
Whenever Jonnie West steps onto a basketball court, his famous last name is bound to draw attention.
That was the case at the recent Nike All-America Camp in Indianapolis, where the Lausanne senior and son of Grizzlies president Jerry West became an object of media focus more for his bloodlines than his still-developing game.
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But Jonnie West, who was teamed with the offspring of another basketball giant at the Nike camp -- Jeffrey Jordan, son of Michael -- doesn't resent the obvious if unfair comparisons to a man whose silhouette inspired the NBA logo.
"I don't think it's been that hard to deal with because I know I'm not my dad and will probably never be my dad," Jonnie said in a recent phone conversation from Los Angeles, where he's spending the remainder of his summer.
At the same time, he said, "I don't think it's that big a deal anyway. I don't think (college) coaches look at it like, 'Oh, it's Jerry West's son.' They look at you as another kid who plays basketball."
A 6-2 shooting guard who is just now beginning to attract interest from Division 1 schools, West is eager to be judged on his own merits.
That's one reason he enjoyed his experience in Indianapolis, where he was one of 120 prep players showcasing their skills for the nation's top college coaches.
"It was just a good experience to play against the top players in the country," West said. "It's an honor when they invite you because it's a select few people who get to go."
West hopes his efforts will have helped to increase his stock among Division 1 coaches.
"Not many (schools) have shown real interest but hopefully the Nike camp will help with that," said West, who said Florida, Florida State and Eastern Kentucky are among the schools corresponding with him.
Lausanne coach Jason Peters said smaller Division 1 schools like Davidson, Lehigh and William & Mary have also shown interest.
But the comparisons between father and son will only intensify if West realizes his dream of playing for West Virginia, his father's alma mater.
West has been in contact with Mountaineers coach John Beilein and has become enamored with the team's style of play, a fast-paced, perimeter-based game that suits his strength as a spot-up shooter.
"The big college I'm looking at right now is West Virginia," West said. "I'd love to go there. I think they have one of the best coaches in the country. ... It's really appealing."
When West enrolls in college in the fall of 2006, it will have been exactly 50 years since his father thrilled an entire state by matriculating to the Morgantown school.
Jonnie West is adamant that his father's experience at West Virginia has little to do with his interest.
"I wouldn't go there to draw attention to myself," he said. "I'd go there to play basketball.
"There probably would be some attention if I did go there but I'm not gonna go there because my dad went there. I like the school.
"My No. 1 goal is to play college basketball at a high level. To do that you've got to work hard and be dedicated, and I'm working hard to get better."
The Mountaineers have yet to offer West a scholarship, and he understands well that he has some work to do before he's prepared to contribute at a Division 1 school.
West, who averaged about 17 points per game for the Lynx as a junior, is being groomed to take over as the team's leader next season.
"He's always been a deadly shooter but he's improved his athletic ability so much over the past year," Peters said. "The main thing he's working on now is being more aggressive, whether on defense or driving to the basket. Now that he's stronger and quicker he wants to assert himself. ... Because of his attitude, he'll continue to improve."
West, who plans to attend a camp at West Virginia later this summer before returning to Memphis, is relishing the opportunity to take on added responsibility and, he hopes, enhance his reputation.
"It's a good feeling to know your coach is willing to put the game in your hands. When your coach puts his trust in you like that, it's an honor," West said. "Hopefully that's what will happen because I love challenges like that."
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
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