OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT: Kittles is the catalyst

When most new head coaches arrive on the job, they are generally afforded the luxury of having a transition period to allow them to get accustomed to their new position. It usually takes a while for the coach to become familiar with the new program and actually make his impact felt. Villanova coach Steve Lappas did not have this grace period. The task facing Lappas as soon as he took over as Villanova's head coach in 1992 was a daunting one, and one that would define the future of Wildcats basketball. After former coach Rollie Massimino's departure for UNLV, Lappas was faced with the threat of losing Villanova's most prized recruit, a Louisiana stand-out by the name of Kerry Kittles. Kittles had already signed a letter of intent with the Wildcats, but after Massimino's decision to leave, Kittles began having second thoughts about leaving home. To smooth over the situation, Lappas boarded a plane and headed down to New Orleans to pay Louisiana's 1992 Mr. Basketball a visit. After meeting with Kittles, Lappas came away convinced Kittles had decided Villanova was the right place for him. That same evening in his hotel room, Lappas turned on the news and discovered a startling development. He saw Kittles standing on his front porch, addressing the media, saying he had made up his mind to attend Tulane University. Lappas was stunned. The thought of seeing a player of Kittles' caliber slip away was too much for him to believe. So the new coach arranged a second meeting with the youngster. This time he was able to truly persuade him to be a Wildcat. Kittles honored his commitment to Villanova. Since he has arrived on the Main Line, Kittles has exploded into one of the nation's best players. "I told Kerry that even if I released him from the letter of intent, he would lose a year of eligibility," Lappas said. "I convinced him to give it an 8-month trial. I told him to come play for a year, and if he didn't like it then he should leave. In the beginning of his sophomore year, good things started happening and I started to know for sure that he would stay." Everyone associated with the Wildcats is sure glad he did. It didn't take long for the youngster to adjust to his new environment. After averaging 28.5 ppg and 13 rebounds in his senior year at St. Augustine High School (which is currently the nation's No.1 ranked team), Kittles contributed 10.9 points per game in his first season at 'Nova en route to being selected to the Big East Conference All-Rookie Team. After coming off the bench for his first 10 games, Kittles earned a spot in the starting lineup. "His speed and quickness are extraordinary," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said. "It's fantastic how quick he gets down the court. He's the whole package. There's no question he's the real deal. He brings so much enthusiasm to the game. That's fun to watch." Kittles' versatility is his distinguishing feature. The 6-foot-5 junior's natural position is shooting guard, but he does so many things to help the Wildcats win. Not only did he set a Villanova record for the most three-pointers in a season last year, but he is also the team's leading rebounder this season. After scoring 37 points and guiding the Wildcats to Saturday's upset win over then-No. 1 UConn, the high-flying Kittles is at the height of his game. "He does so many things," said Penn guard Matt Maloney, who teamed up with Kittles on the Foot Locker/NIT All-star team last summer. "It's not just his athletic ability. He thinks the game. Defensively he reads passing lanes. Offensively he's a threat to score at all times. That's his greatest asset." Another feature enabling Kittles to justify his spot as a finalist for the 1995 Wooden Award as college basketball's premier player is he plays with an incredible amount of poise. Instead of forcing the action, Kittles is quick to get his teammates involved. The most telling aspect of his unselfishness came in a game at Florida this year. With the score tied at 70 in the final seconds, everyone in the gym expected Kittles to take the final shot. Instead, as three players collapsed on him, he kicked the ball to senior guard Jonathan Haynes, who hit the winning jumper to spark the 'Cats 11-game winning streak. "Some people say he needs to take a more aggressive approach," Lappas said. "I don't see that. That's not what the team is made of. He takes over when it's time to take over and he blends in when it's time to blend in. That's the sign of a great player." Whether Kittles will return for his final season at Villanova is still a mystery. His official line is he will be back for his senior season, but with his recent outstanding play and all of his explosiveness, it may be tough to turn down the NBA. "From talking and listening to what people are saying, it seems as though he would be a lottery pick if he came out," Dunphy said. "I'm certainly not advocating that, but that's the sign of a good basketball player. He's truly special." Kittles was a member of the All- Big East team and averaged 19.7 ppg a year ago, but he is seeking to better these honors. Before the Georgetown game, the junior was leading the league in scoring and is near the top in several other categories. Along with UConn's Ray Allen and Syracuse's Lawrence Moten, Kittles is among the favorites to be named the Big East Player of the Year. Scoring his career-high in the upset of the Huskies, Kittles may have vaulted his status even higher. "I feel very strongly that he should be the Big East Player of the Year," Lappas said. "I see what he has done for our program. I see where we are in terms of the national rankings. I see what he does every day. For me, it's Kerry Kittles." And to think he was so close to slipping away.