Marcus Capers, the human pogo stick who doubles as a senior guard on the Washington State men’s basketball team, has developed a well-earned reputation as one of the most spectacular dunkers in college basketball.
Alas, that did nothing to prevent WSU freshman DaVonte Lacy from planting a verbal slam dunk in Capers’ face after Lacy unleashed a vicious, two-hand jam in a recent game.
“(Capers) actually called me when I committed (out of Curtis High last season) and said, ‘I want to take notes from you on how to dunk,’ ” Lacy deadpanned.
Later, Lacy inserted the verbal needle a bit deeper into Capers.
“He knows the truth,” Lacy said with a straight face. “I’m the sensei and he’s the grasshopper.”
This just in: Lacy is nothing like most freshmen. Not only is Lacy a confident, fun-loving player who quickly earned the respect and friendship of older teammates like Capers, but he’s also an unusually strong freshman guard who quickly played his way into the starting lineup.
“There’s no doubt in my mind in time he’s going to be a really good player, and he’s pretty good right now for a freshman,” coach Ken Bone said.
Point guard Reggie Moore took that a step further:
“He’s probably going to be freshman of the year (in the Pacific-12 Conference),” he said.
The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Lacy, an All-State player at Curtis last season, averages 8.8 points, 2.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals. The Cougars (7-4) wrap up their nonconference schedule tonight at 7 against Pepperdine (6-4) in WSU’s annual “home” game at Seattle’s KeyArena.
Lacy has helped the Cougars win five straight games since going 0-3 at the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif., last month.
“I think it was a reality check for us, that we can’t come out and take the games for granted,” Lacy said. “We have to work hard any time we’re on the floor.”
Lacy’s development has helped WSU fill the void left when the Cougars’ two best players, Klay Thompson and DeAngelo Casto, turned pro before they were seniors. Lacy has been force-fed extra playing time because of injuries to backcourt partners Faisal Aden and Mike Ladd.
“I know a lot of people didn’t expect me to come in and play (right away), but I did,” Lacy said. “My family did, and the coaches believed in me.
“Once I got the opportunity, I know I can play with anybody. I think my season’s been going well.”
Bone agrees, but the coach is asking even more from Lacy. Bone wants him to improve his defense, and it’s a given that Lacy (who averaged nearly 20 points a game each of his last two seasons at Curtis) can improve on his 37 percent shooting from the field – including 30 percent on 3-pointers.
“We think he can be a really good scoring guard,” Bone said. “Whether it’s 1 (point guard) or 2 (shooting guard), who knows? And in a sense, who cares?
“He’s just a really good guard. He’s got a good feel for the game.”
Still, Lacy said he’s had to adjust to college competition.
“The game is a lot quicker and the guards are a lot quicker,” Lacy said. “When they say you’ve got to play defense, you really have to play defense or guys at this level will embarrass you and go by you.”
Bone said Lacy has “a great attitude.”
Lacy supports that statement by praising Moore and “all the older guys” for their guidance; saying he doesn’t care whether he starts or comes off the bench because “it really doesn’t matter to me;” calling Bone “a great coach;” and offering to play point guard, shooting guard or “the 5 (center); I’ll do anything to help the team.”
So far, Lacy has done just that.
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