He’s a shooting star for the Vandals

Senior guard Keoni Watson leads the University of Idaho men’s basketball team in numerous statistical categories: field goals made and attempted, 3-pointers made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, turnovers, steals, points …

We could go on, but it would cut into the space for Watson’s comments in The Spokesman-Review’s weekly Q & A.

S-R: Growing up in San Diego, you were a running back and you played against Reggie Bush. How’d that go?

Watson: I was the man back then in Pop Warner. High school was a different story. We grew up in the same neighborhood.

S-R: You got a technical foul in the Southern Utah game. We’ve heard it was because some Idaho students seated behind the Vandal bench were heckling the team and the official overheard something you said that was actually directed at a student. True?

Watson: They were just talking reckless and they’re supposed to be our fans. They talk to us like that and not the other team. It was the same person who has been doing it for a while. I was frustrated. I pretty much snapped at him.

S-R: How tough has this season been?

Watson: It’s been real tough, having 11 new players that have never played Division I basketball. I actually see how Tanoris (Shepard) was last year with a bunch of new guys. It’s just been hard because we don’t have that much experience.

S-R: You made 30.9 percent on 3-pointers last season. You’re at 45.7 percent this season. What’s the difference?

Watson: Last year coach (Leonard Perry) didn’t want me to shoot 3s that much. My coach this year (George Pfeifer) believes I can shoot 3s. It just goes with having more confidence and somebody behind you that wants you to shoot it.

S-R: Something that very few people know about you?

Watson: I took gymnastics when I was younger. A lot of people don’t know I can really flip, not just a play-around flip. And I boxed, when I was about 10. I was 7-2 – lost twice to somebody who had been boxing a lot longer than me.

S-R: Allen Iverson as your sports hero. Why?

Watson: He’s small, but he’s got a big heart. I’m small, but I’ve always had a big heart on the field or the court. He doesn’t back down from anybody and I don’t back down. I just like his game.