One came from Snohomish, one from Illinois, one from Russia.
Somehow, their paths intersected in 2005 as freshmen at the University of Washington. And now Jon Brockman, Justin Dentmon and Artem Wallace are preparing for their final game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion: 2:30 p.m. Saturday against Washington State.
“It’s definitely getting a little emotional,” Brockman said. “I was home (Sunday) with my parents – I hadn’t been home in a while – and we were kind of talking about how fast it goes: all the good memories and how much we will miss it. ... And even though the last two years were really hard, and they didn’t go the way we expected it, I’ve never had any regrets. This place is my home. I love it here.”
For most UW fans, that feeling is mutual.
Brockman will end his career as one of the most popular of Huskies in part because he’s a local guy who chose to stay home despite options all over the country. His success also helps: He is the school’s career rebound leader and the only player in UW history to reach 1,500 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
But much of Brockman’s appeal results simply from the player – and the man -- that he is: a good guy/tough guy, a star with a bull-in-a-china-shop approach to the sport, and the team’s unquestioned leader in word and deed.
“When your best player is your hardest worker and practices every day as if he’s trying to earn a scholarship and is your most selfless player – he is our most selfless player – then it’s going to rub off,” coach Lorenzo Romar said. “... You’re talking about Jon Brockman, who at times has taken four, six shots in a game because defenses just collapsed at him; and he’s out smiling and laughing and cheering guys on and diving for balls. That is special. That doesn’t happen very much today.”
Dentmon has had more of an up-and-down career. He reported to the campus as a stranger to most fans after growing up in Carbondale, Ill., and playing his final prep season at the Winchendon School in Massachusetts while getting his grades in order.
He made a solid first impression, playing in all 33 games and starting 32 of them as the Huskies progressed to the Sweet 16 and Dentmon was named to the All-Pac-10 freshman team.
However, Dentmon struggled in his sophomore and juniors seasons once he was no longer sharing the backcourt with Brandon Roy.
Then, just as many were predicting he’d be lost among the new guards of this season’s freshmen class, Dentmon rose again with a startling senior season that has him on pace for both graduation and all-league honors.
“I’m proud to say that I came a long way, but I’ve overcome adversity very well,” Dentmon said. “My coach always was feeding me with character: ‘You’ve got to have good character, if you don’t have good character then you won’t get over the hump that you want to get over.’ So, I believe that my character was good, so that’s why I did so well.”
Wallace was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. Then he survived the culture shock of moving to Toledo in Lewis County – first as an exchange student, and then as a resident after being adopted by his host family.
In his sophomore and junior seasons, Wallace became a regular part of the UW rotation, earning Romar’s confidence as a solid post defender.
However, he suffered a serious knee injury in the final game of last season and never quite regained a regular place on the floor as a senior.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen this way,” Wallace said Wednesday. “But then the injury came and at that point, I kept rehabbing the knee and hoped it got better. (But) it’s all about the team. I’m enjoying it as much as I would if I was playing.”
At the very least, he made it to the finish line. Romar points out that at times the freshman class of 2005 also included four players who fell behind or fell away: Martell Webster left for the NBA; Roburt Sallie was a grade casualty, Harvey Perry transferred; Joe Wolfinger redshirted due to injury.
Brockman, the forward from Snohomish; Dentmon, the guard from Illinois; and Wallace, the center from Russia, had at least one thing in common: They endured.
“There was a lot of diversity in that class, and not everyone finished,” Romar said. “But these guys are here.”
Fastbreaks
Forward Quincy Pondexter said he remained sore Wednesday after taking a hard fall during UW’s win over Seattle University on Tuesday. However, he said he is certain he will be ready to play Saturday. ... The public is invited to join Huskies players and coaches watching the NCAA Selection Show in the Don James Center. The doors will open at 2:30 p.m. March 15. The event and parking are free.
Don Ruiz, 253-597-8808
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