Feb. 21, 2003

LOGAN, Utah - "I love playing basketball."

Those four words from K.C. Comadena, help explain the makeup of the Utah State walkon. The last man off the bench. Called upon only when the game is completely out of hand. He has played just four minutes in two games this season. In spite of his situation, you would be hard pressed to find anyone more happy about being a part of a college basketball team than Comadena.

Comadena bleeds basketball and he bleeds Utah State Aggie blue. His grandfather is Rod Tueller, who was the Aggies head coach from 1980-88. His father Larry played football at USU and was the Logan High School basketball coach. He has uncles who played basketball at Utah State.

After a high school career that saw him earn all-district honors when he averaged 16 points, four rebounds and three assists per game at Logan High School, Comadena walked on to the USU basketball team as an undersized 5-11 guard.

After a mission to Guatemala, he returned to the University for this season. He considered trying to go to California to play at a smaller school. He thought about junior college to get playing time. But after two years away from home, the self-described mama's boy was glad to be home and wanted to stay home.

He was meant to wear the Aggie blue.

"I just wanted to play basketball," Comadena said. "I remember when I was young and would come to my grandpa's practices here. The Spectrum is like a second home to me. I never thought the opportunity would arise that I would get to put on a Utah State jersey, but when it did, I was ecstatic. I could have tried to go other places, but this place is special in my heart and it is home. I consider it an honor and a privledge to have Utah State on my chest. Anything I can do to have that, I will do it."

Even if it means serving as a member of the scout team and rarely getting in actual game action. Comadena spends every day in practice trying to make his teammates better.

"Coach Morrill always says it is a team concept and within that you have to find your role and what your responsibility is," Comadena explained. "I think you could be a star player on a team and find a way to complain and I think you could be a scrub on the team and find your own little paradise. For us on the scout team, every day is competition. Our games are every single day in practice. It is a mini-war and we go out there and try to prepare the (starters) as best as we can... I don't find it hard to find competition or to get up, because every day is a chance for me to compete."

His positive attitude rubs off on teammates and is evident every time you see Comadena walk off the practice floor. The personable freshman is always smiling and always joking.

"K.C. is a kid that every program would die to have in the sense that he is great for team morale," said USU assistant coach Tim Duryea. "Our players love him. He enjoys being a part of a college program and coming to work every day. He realizes on the front end that he does not have a very glorious, glamourous role, but that is not why he is in it. He is involved in it for the relationships and what good he can do for the program. Every program deserves to have a kid with K.C.'s attitude, unselfishiness and team spirit."

"It is fun," Comadena said. "The coaching staff here, I can't imagine it being better anywhere else. They care about the players, they care about the integrity of the program. They gave me a chance before my mission and they were gracious enough to go ahead and let me do it again. I owe them everything. In turn I try to give everything I can."

While his opportunities to step on the floor on game day have been minimal this year, he relishes those times. He was asked what it is like to finally hear Stew Morrill call his name during a game.

"It is a surreal experience, especially when you have a crowd like this," he said. "When you get out on the court and there are 8,000 people cheering for you, it is undescribable. I reallize the coaches don't have to give me that opportunity, but that is a testament to their character. Honestly, if it were me, that would be the last thing I would be thinking about."

In his four minutes of play, Comadena hasn't hesitated to get his name in the scorebook as he has hit both of his field goal attempts, including a three-pointer against Whitman in his first collegiate action. This despite playing for a defensive-minded coaching staff.

"I told them if you put me in I am going to shoot the ball," Comadena said. "I warned them. I don't know if they thought I was joking around, but I am going to shoot it."

And he is getting to shoot it at Utah State University.

"This is home and this is comfortable," Comadena said. "For me to be part of this team is truly something special."