Viks say only way is up

On College Hoops

By jason vondersmith

The Portland Tribune, Mar 11, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Dominic Waters, formerly a guard at Grant High and the University of Hawaii, adds to Portland State’s future hopes.

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Portland State has a lot to play for this week —a crown jewel, an NCAA Tournament berth. With Big Sky Conference tournament victories tonight and Wednesday at the Rose Garden, the Vikings would go to the Big Dance.

But at the same time, coach Ken Bone can’t help but think about next season.

“We have a chance to be just as good, if not better,” he says.

All Bone has to do is watch redshirt players Phil Nelson, Dominic Waters and Jamie Jones in practice. Especially the 6-7 Nelson, a McNary High product who transferred from Washington.

Not prone to hype, Bone says Nelson will be an immediate star in the Big Sky.

“Phil could be an NBA player,” says Bone, the Vikings’ third-year coach. “He can shoot it from 28 feet, is very athletic, can post guys up and is a good passer and ballhandler.”

Nelson is “special,” says Waters, a guard from Grant High and the University of Hawaii. “He’ll dominate this league by the time he’s done. It’s easy to say.”

Nelson shakes off the praise.

“If that’s the way it goes, that’s the way it goes,” he says. “I’m not going to promise anything.”

The 6-1 Waters, meanwhile, looks forward to playing next to guards Jeremiah Dominguez and Andre Murray. The 6-7 Jones, who recently suffered a leg fracture while roller-skating, should slip nicely into the frontcourt, alongside the likes of Kyle Coston and Julius Thomas.

The three Division I transfers had to sit out this year because of NCAA eligibility rules. It made for some fierce competition in practice, with Nelson dominating the fullcourt sessions at times. He rips off eight or 10 consecutive points, no problem, Bone says.

“He’s all-around good,” says Dominguez, who played against Nelson’s McNary team while at South Salem. “He can shoot it, and jump. He’s one of our best dunkers. He’s going to be great. It’s going to be hard for other people to guard him.”

Nelson, who never considered Oregon or Oregon State, left Washington after playing last season and becoming disenchanted with his place in the Husky program. He wanted to return to the state. Bone, the former assistant under UW coach Lorenzo Romar who recruited him, welcomed Nelson with open arms.

Nelson wowed fans with his shooting at times as a Husky.

“Oh, yeah, it doesn’t matter where it is, I’ll shoot wherever I am,” he says. “It’s one of my greater abilities, my range.”

He’s working on ballhandling, getting to the basket and defense. Sitting on the bench hasn’t been easy.

“I can’t stand it,” Nelson says. “I’ve never sat on the bench this long in my life. But it’s going to work out.”

Point guard title’s in play

Waters played two years at Hawaii, but he, too, felt uncomfortable continuing with the program there. His presence will allow Dominguez, the Big Sky player of the year, to work off the ball more.

“Dom’s the type of kid who hurts us in practice,” Bone says. “He drives into the key in practice, and there’s not a lot ’Miah can do to affect his shot.”

Waters says: “I see myself as a point guard. But, with Jeremiah player of the year, I’ve got to play alongside him. It’ll be fun. I’ll have to play some combo (guard). There won’t be a set point guard; it’s whoever gets the ball goes.”

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