Cat enjoys big time as an AAU ‘Star’

Published 1:57 am Monday, May 26, 2008

After just one game on Dalton High School’s freshman basketball team and two on the junior varsity, Watts Dantzler was thrust on to the varsity in the fourth game this past season.

The Catamounts were facing Rome, a team that featured Parade All-American and Wake Forest signee Tony Woods, who stands at 6-foot-11-inches, and Dantzler possessed an attribute that coach Mike Duffie was desperately seeking.

“We needed size, bottom line,” Duffie said. “We were getting ready to play Rome, so he came from need. He had something that you can’t coach.”

The 6-7, 270-pound freshman did his part to help slow Woods down as the defense held him to six points less than his 17-point scoring average. Dantzler even chipped in six points while playing limited minutes, including a 3-point buzzer-beater to end the first quarter.

Though Rome held on to win 56-49, Dantzler’s performance earned him a spot on two teams. In addition to remaining on Dalton’s varsity, an American Athletic Union coach approached him following the game with an invitation.

“One of their coaches gave me a card,” Dantzler said. “I called them and they interviewed me, then I went to try out in Norcross and made the team.”

Ever since the Cats’ season ended in late February with a Class 4A state playoff loss to Cherokee, Dantzler has been playing for the AAU’s Georgia Stars 16-under team, which plays in both state and national tournaments. His teammates come from all over Georgia, including Calhoun, Cartersville, Athens and Atlanta.

So far this season, he’s played in Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida, with his team winning the tournament in Kentucky. The Stars also won all six of their games at the Division II state tournament the weekend of May 16-18. Next up is a national tournament in late June in Arkansas, and the Stars will also travel to Orlando in July.

Dantzler said he likes playing in the tournaments, which includes participants from all over the nation.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Dantzler said. “Just hanging with a group of guys and traveling, hanging out in the hotels. And you’re playing three games a day usually, so if you have a bad game in the morning, you can turn around and have a better game in the afternoon. And it gives you the chance to see where you’re at compared to other kids around the nation.”

Dantzler, who mainly considers himself a defensive and rebounding specialist, said the constant schedule of AAU play is helping to sharpen and improve his game. He also noted the unique structure of an AAU game compared to that of high school varsity competition.

“It’s a lot different coaching-wise,” Dantzler said. “When I play on the (varsity) team, coach Duffie is the reason we’re good. In AAU, the best players are on the court and there’s not really any coaching. We just play.”

Last season, Duffie used Dantzler sparingly, playing him 10-12 minutes per game but sometimes more, depending on which teammate might be in foul trouble. Duffie said he plans to increase Dantzler’s workload next season.

Duffie views AAU play as mostly positive.

“It can’t hurt getting out there and playing with a high level of competition,” he said. “Then again, without the coaching, you can pick up some bad habits, so it’s kind of a double-edged sword.”

Also playing with Dantzler on the Stars is Tre Beck, who was a football-basketball standout for Dalton Middle School. The time Beck and Dantzler — who also plays offensive line for the Cats’ football team — are spending together on the court could translate to the varsity ranks next season.

Duffie is keeping his options open in regards to Beck, who will be a freshman next year.

“I’ll put it this way,” the coach said. “I don’t close any doors. If you’re good enough to play, I don’t care what grade you’re in. We let Watts play last year.”

Though Dantzler had a limited role last season, he was able to make a good impression.

“I credit him for his attitude,” Duffie said. “He did for us whatever we needed. He’s not cocky or arrogant. He’s grateful for the opportunities that were given to him.”