College Athlete of the Week: James Conti

Player: James Conti

School: Pacific Lutheran University

Year: Senior

Sport: Basketball

Hometown: Edmonds (Edmonds-Woodway High School)

What he did: Scored 15 points and added seven assists in Friday's loss to Whitman, then had 18 points and four assists in a near-upset of 10th-ranked Whitworth, a game the Lutes (10-12) eventually lost 82-80. On Tuesday, he had 14 points and four assists in another loss, this time to the University of the Puget Sound.

What's next: In their only game this week, the Lutes play a road game against Lewis & Clark on Saturday. When PLU played the Pioneers at home four weeks ago, Conti had 20 points and four steals in a 69-54 victory.

Two-minute drill

You had a big week, statistics-wise, while averaging 15.7 points and 5.7 assists per game but came up short three times. What more do you have to do to get some wins?

I think it just comes down to executing late in games. At the end, we're always there. It's just making plays down the stretch of games that can be the turning point. It's missing free throws, missing shots.

It's pretty amazing how close your team is to having a really impressive record. Of your six more recent losses heading into this week, five had come by five points or less, while the sixth came in double overtime. Has this been a season of what-ifs?

I think yes, and no. We're making a late playoff push this year. If we make some plays, we'd have one or two less losses. We have no regrets, but looking back, I wish we could have had some of those close ones be wins instead of losses.

You're now leading the team in scoring and assists. What has been the key to you having so much success as a senior?

Coming into my last year, you definitely work a lot harder in the offseason. It's your last go-round. It's a young team, so you try to lead by example, to show leadership through your play. I've been trying to assert myself offensively -- not only scoring, but also getting teammates involved -- and on the defensive end too.

Of course, you got pretty used to success while playing at Edmonds-Woodway, where you went to two state tournaments and took home a seventh-place trophy as a senior. How surprised are you that E-W hasn't been back to the tournament since that 2007-08 season?

If I remember correctly, my senior year we had nine seniors on the team. And it was coach (Gail) Pintler's last year. We only had two or three returners on varsity. So there was kind of facelift after we were gone. I hear they're doing pretty well this year. I'm glad to hear that. Edmonds-Woodway was mostly known for football before I was there. But they're getting on the winning track again.

What's your favorite memory from your senior season?

My favorite memory from that season would have to be beating Kentridge by 17 at state. They whooped us by 17 my junior year, so it was good to get them back.

That Kentridge team featured current Gonzaga freshman Gary Bell. I bet you still remember that game.

Yeah, Gary Bell and Renardo Parker, who's at Portland State. We were huge underdogs. They were around the third seed. We were just a little school from Edmonds, not really talked about. And we just put a beating on them. Nothing could be sweeter than that, especially after they beat us the year before.

Then you had to face a juggernaut Ferris team that went unbeaten on the way to a state title in 2007-08. How humbling was that game?

Man. It was a good experience. They're one of the best teams to come out of this state in awhile. They had a 40-something win streak. It was good to play them. You would like to get an easy road at state, but you always want to play the best team -- and we did that. I just wish we would have seen them later.

It says in your bio that you plan to get into real estate. With the way the market has gone in recent years, is that still an objective?

Y'know, I think they did that after my freshman year. I'd say no. Not anymore.

So what are you planning to get into now?

I'm a business major, with a marketing concentration. My dream job would definitely be something within sports, either an apparel company or with a professional tem. But with the job market the way it is, I'll kind of take what I can get right now.

Not to bring up a bad memory, but you opened this season playing against Seattle U. at KeyArena. What was it like playing there?

It's definitely a great experience to play at the Key, with all the history of the Sonics. But at the same time, they're a big, athletic team, and they kind of put a whooping on us. From an experience standpoint, l can't really beat playing at KeyArena.

Did you grow up a Sonics fan?

Absolutely.

You know, they're talking about bringing the NBA back to Seattle. What would you think of that?

There'd be nothing better. This city's hurting for a basketball team. I think it would be great to have the NBA back. I think the NBA owes us one. And we'd keep the name, right?

Sonics? I think so. And I think they're giving us Kevin Durant back too.

Right? We can just grab him, since we drafted him.

It sounds like the Sacramento Kings are the most likely team to move here. How would you feel about watching Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas play here?

They're young; they've got a lot of talent. Tyreke Evans too. They're a promising team. But we'll take anyone we can get.

Anyone?

Just start with getting a team here, then we can work with the personnel.

So you'd be all right with the Cavs?

Hey, they just beat someone. But, yeah, I'd rather not have the Cavs.

Speaking of Isaiah Thomas, the University of Washington has another future NBA point guard in Tony Wroten. How relieved are you to have played against Garfield your junior year in 2007 -- the year before he got there?

Honestly, I think I'd have rather played Garfield (as a senior in 2008) than Ferris. Talent-wise, he's unmatched. But Ferris was and has been the best team to come out of this state in awhile, just from the team standpoint. Their record stands for itself.

So who's the best player you ever had to guard?

Tough question. I went to middle school with (current Louisville guard) Peyton Siva. Growing up, we'd guard each other. Athletically, in terms of quickness, he's a step above most people. I remember being pretty frustrated guarding him.

Where did you go to middle school?

Washington Middle School. It's right by Garfield (High School, in Seattle). I always went to school in Seattle, until high school because my mom worked in the city.

If we do get an NBA team, would that be your dream job?

I wouldn't mind that at all. It would be a very cool job. I love Seattle. I love basketball. Being able to work with a professional team would be a dream.

Maybe the job interview would involve them asking you to guard Durant?

I've got to show them what I can do before they hire, right. Maybe not Durant. Maybe somebody a little shorter.

But you're sure he's coming back, if we get a team, right?

Yeah, they owe us that. We'll take (Russell) Westbrook too.

Durant, Westbrook ... and Conti -- not a bad start to a team, huh?

We'll take most people's lunch money with that lineup.