Truly, A Point Guard For Life Oregon State Playmaker Deaundra Tanner Gives Unselfishly On, Off The Court

Deaundra Tanner could probably score 25 a night.

Sure Oregon State would win some, but would probably lose a lot more.

But who cares? One ego would be satisfied. And that’s all that matters, right? After all, the mantra of basketball has seemingly become, “I gotta get mine. I gotta shine.”

But Tanner, who will direct the Beavers (8-6, 2-3) against Washington State (7-8, 1-3) today at 3 p.m. at Friel Court, doesn’t believe in that style. Well, not anymore.

“Yeah, there was a time when I was that way,” he said. “I’d try and score as much as possible.”

Way back when, in those early years. That’s when the 12-, 13- or 14-year-old Tanner would slide in a videotape of Jordan or maybe one of Magic and Showtime before each game and try to go out and emulate them.

“But I think then maybe I started to mature,” said Tanner, who in his first year as a full-time starter for the Beavers, has twice as many assists (56) as the next closest teammate. “You just start to realize that to make yourself a stronger player and to play smart you got to get the ball to those around you.

“Really, for me, being successful is having the team be successful,” he continued. “I try and sacrifice myself, and maybe some of my game, for the greater good of the team.”

It may sound hokey, outdated or even a little like coach-speak, but for Tanner it’s a credo he chooses to live by. Not just on the court, but off the court as well.

You see, Tanner is as good at giving out assists off the court as he is on.

Take the time last year when he went to a Corvallis junior high school to talk to the kids. This wasn’t something he was forced to do, but something he wanted to do. And regularly does.

He has a kid of his own, 2-year-old Deaundra Jr., and he knows role models are important. If he can be one and maybe make a little bit of difference, he’s going to do it.

He spent some time with the students, telling about the importance of school and leading them in a lesson on how to write book reports - from the organization of thoughts to the crossing of Ts to the dotting of Is. About a week later the letter came. Then another and an other. All of them thanking Tanner for taking the time to help out.

“It makes you feel good and you get a sense of satisfaction from it,” said Tanner, who chose OSU because of its graduation rate. “I want to try and be a role model.”

Back on the court, it quickly became evident that Tanner’s play-making ability and unselfish nature were things coach Eddie Payne could build around.

In his first start for the Beavers last year he notched nine assists in a 63-44 win over UC Irvine. He has continued the trend as a sophomore.

Last week in the Beavers’ first sweep of the Los Angeles schools since 1993, Tanner averaged five assists per game. The point guard also led the team in rebounding with nine per game and scoring with 23 per game.

“Everybody was involved in those games,” said the 6-foot-2 Tanner, who leads his team in points (14.5), rebounds (5.9) and assists (3.85). “We were really playing smart basketball. We were mentally focused and patient on offense, waiting for the right person.

“We really don’t play with a lot of egos.” he said. “We play to win.”

And the wins against USC and then-No. 7 UCLA may have sent a message to the rest of the Pac-10 and others around the country.

“People may not know much about Corvallis and about Oregon State,” said Payne. “And what they don’t know is these guys.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a group of players like these guys in terms of working to get better.”

Progress was halted on Thursday night when the Beavers suffered their biggest loss of the season, 70-50 to Washington.

“We were still kind of satisfied with the two wins against the L.A. schools,” Tanner said. “But we’re going to be ready (today).”