Out like a Lion

Published 11:45 pm Wednesday, May 2, 2007

When you help lead your team to 105 victories, four championship game appearances and two titles, winning becomes a bit of a habit.

Luckily for Christian Heritage School’s Tyler Watkins, it’s one he likely won’t have to break at the next level.

Watkins signed a full athletic scholarship with Trevecca Nazarene University on Wednesday at CHS, joining a program that has a growing tradition of success within its own conference and at the national level among NAIA programs.

That’s something Watkins is happy to be stepping into at the Nashville, Tenn. school.

“I just wanted to play at the highest possible school I could play,” Watkins said, “You know, competition-wise, there’s no higher school I could have gone to than Trevecca, unless I went (NCAA Division I).”

Watkins chose the Trojans over opportunities at Lee University and Tusculum College, with Trevecca’s interest largely coming because of an impression he made as a sophomore. Trojans coach Sam Harris was scouting CHS senior post Marco Kostic during the 2004-05 season, but noticed Watkins’ play at point guard, too.

He told CHS coach Steve Irwin to call him when Watkins was a senior. Irwin did, setting in motion the process that led to Watkins’ formal commitment on Wednesday.

“I did remember a little bit about him,” said Harris, who did not watch Watkins play this season but observed him in a workout at Trevecca. “We were looking for a guard, really a point guard, but we’re looking for a combination guard and I think Tyler fits that bill — a ball-handling guard that can also shoot it and score. We know he’s a hard worker who’s been well-coached.”

Watkins made plenty of impressions on the teams the Lions played during his varsity career, too, including some of Chattanooga’s top public and private schools.

He did the same in the program’s record book, exiting with career marks for points (3,689) and assists (805) and serving as a crucial element in the mix that won the Lions two straight Tennessee Association of Christian Schools championships during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.

He was named The Daily Citizen’s All-Area Player of the Year this season as well, but Watkins counted helping his team be successful among all those honors as one of the best.

“I think leading your team to four state championships and winning two of them is such an accomplishment,” he said. “And doing so well in those state games and being a leader for this school, on and off the court.”

Harris isn’t quite sure how Watkins will fit into the team’s lineup yet and knows Watkins will have to make some adjustments at the college level. But he’ll take it slowly.

“With our freshmen coming in, we try to give them three or four things to really focus on,” said Harris, who recently finished his 15th season leading the Trojans. “We’ll structure what we do, take his strengths and work on some of his weaknesses. And we’ll have the luxury of doing that because the other kids he’s playing with are pretty solid. It’s not like he’s going to have to come in and be the superstar right away.”

Irwin and Watkins, who both have acknowledged each other as friends beyond the court, had kind words about their relationship during speeches at the signing ceremony.

The CHS coach later said his time to teach Watkins was simply done, but that he expects his pupil isn’t finished getting better.

“He’s ready,” Irwin said. “Now for him it will be like starting all over. It will be up to him. Can he make the adjustment? Can he play at that pace, at that tempo? And I think the answer’s yes.”

For Watkins — who choked up a bit in bidding farewell to the program before ending his speech with a fist pump to the crowded cafeteria — the parting also had a bit of sadness. But he knows there are new challenges and rewards ahead, too.

The Trojans won TranSouth Conference regular season titles in 2005 and 2006 and made their national tournament’s final 16 those years as well.

That had some appeal to Watkins, as did the chance to play with athletes he expects will help his game develop by giving him time to grow — something he learned during a workout with the team during the recruiting process.

“Everyone of their guys were good,” Watkins said. “They had walk-ons, but you wouldn’t know they were walk-ons. They’re great players, they’re competitive and you could tell they just had a winning tradition there.”