Summer school

Gonzaga University’s Jeremy Pargo and Matt Bouldin are a little past the age at which they’re required to write “What I did on summer break” papers when they returned to school.

But if they did, they’d have some interesting tales to tell.

Pargo attended two elite basketball camps, one hosted by two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and another by LeBron James. Bouldin played for the USA team that finished second at the U-19 world championships and heard a chorus of boos from a partisan Serbian crowd while being awarded their silver medals.

Both said their experiences were beneficial and ones they believe will make them better players at Gonzaga, which is roughly two weeks from its opening practice.

Pargo, a junior point guard, was one of 10 collegiate point guards invited to Nash’s camp in Union, N.J., in late June. Campers went through guard-specific drills, many similar to “things Coach (Mark) Few does here,” Pargo said. Others invited included UCLA’s Darren Collison, Texas’ D.J. Augustin, Duke’s Greg Paulus, Michigan State’s Drew Neitzel and Kansas’ Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins.

Pargo’s mind-set entering Nash’s and James’ camps was to prove that he not only belonged, but was one of the top players.

“Just trying to show people I can play,” he said.

Mission accomplished, according to draftexpress.com, which wrote of Pargo’s performance at James’ camp: “Was easily the most impressive of the guard prospects participating, able to score at virtually any point he chose to. He really improved the consistency and range of his shot, exhibiting the ability to hit 3-pointers out to the NBA arc. The explosiveness Pargo showed off was unparalleled as his ability to change speeds and explosive first step were too much to handle.”

Pargo’s review of draftexpress.com’s review? “I think so, yeah,” he smiled. “True.”

Nash’s instruction included the pick-and-roll, one of Phoenix’s primary weapons with Nash and Amare Stoudemire.

“Seeing what he does on TV and then him actually teaching it to us was one of the things I wanted to learn and we’re planning on using it (pick-and-roll) some this year,” Pargo said.

Pargo described James as “a down-to-earth guy who was cool to be around. He loves to talk and play jokes.”

Pick-up games with James were entertaining as well.

“I actually tried to guard him,” Pargo said. “I guess he felt I wasn’t a challenge. I tried to switch to him a couple times. He didn’t shoot when I was guarding him.”

Pargo and Bouldin concentrated on improving their perimeter shooting over the summer. Pargo made 37.3 percent on 3-point attempts in 2006-07; Bouldin 36.3 percent.

“Several people told me that a jump shot is what a point guard needs as well as all the other things,” said Pargo, mentioning GU’s staff and his older brother, Jannero, an NBA guard. “I think I shot the ball well over the summer and I continue to work on it now.”

Bouldin is trying to add a bit more arc on his outside shots. He went 5 of 15 on 3s in the U-19 tournament and labeled his shooting “inconsistent.”

Bouldin’s shooting opportunities, minutes played and even the position he played seemed to change dramatically by the game. He attempted 35 shots in nine games. Only three teammates, who played substantially fewer minutes, attempted fewer. He played as much as 25 minutes in one game and 21 in a pool play victory over Serbia. In another game he was on the court for just 3 minutes.

USA coach Jerry Wainwright told Rivals.com that Bouldin made the best of a tough situation. “Really busted his tail,” said Wainwright, DePaul’s coach. “Matt had to (play) way out of position for us because our frontcourt was so thin. He had to play at the ‘4’ and even the ‘5’ at times. But, he never questioned anything.”

“It was frustrating, but I had to do what I had to do,” said the 6-foot-5 Bouldin. “I was guarding bigs and I tended to get into foul trouble in games like that, because I’m not used to guarding anybody like that.”

Bouldin gained confidence from the experience.

“I know I can play them,” said Bouldin, referring to his U-19 teammates, which included Oregon’s Tajuan Porter, Kansas State’s Michael Beasley and North Carolina’s Deon Thompson, who took a recruiting visit to GU on the same weekend as Bouldin. “Having ‘USA’ on your jersey is something else.”

But wearing the USA jersey also meant dealing with some expressive fans in Serbia, which hosted the tournament. Serbia knocked off USA 74-69 in front of 9,000 fans in the gold-medal game.

“We saw guys in the stands getting kicked out during our (national) anthem because they were yelling so much and being crazy. It was just unreal. Everybody in the front row wants your autographs and is giving you high-fives. From there out, everyone is flipping you off,” said Bouldin, adding that some crowd members used the American one-finger salute as well as the Serbian version.

The contempt extended to the awards ceremony. “France got the bronze and everybody cheered,” he said. “Then they go, ‘USA silver’ and it was boos everywhere.”

Bouldin said the games were fast-paced and he credited several foreign teams for stellar ball movement and teamwork. The toughest part was falling one win short of gold, he said.

Former Zag Dan Dickau, who played for the U.S. in the 2001 World University Games, recalled the experience as important to preparing him for a senior season in which he earned All-American honors. He said eight players from that team went on to play in the NBA.

“It was big,” Dickau said. “Anytime you get a chance to play with some of the better college players throughout the country, you’re going to get a lot of confidence and that’s only going to help your game and GU’s program, too.”

Another Zag, freshman forward Theo Davis, played for Canada’s U-19 development team at a tournament in Thailand. Davis, who is on indefinite suspension and is off limits to the media, was one of the leading scorers and rebounders on a team that went 5-2.

“Confidence,” Pargo said of the improvements he’s seen in Davis’ game. “He’s a lot more confident and will be more aggressive once he gets the ball.”