Fiery competitor Steve Nash is making heads turn

This sports feature on Santa Clara basketball legend Steve Nash was originally published in The Santa Clara on Jan. 14, 1993 — back when Nash was a freshman on the team.

By Tyler Stenton

Volume 71 No. 10, Jan. 14, 1993

Touted as the top-flight point guard of the future, freshman Steve Nash is making a case for himself today.

Nash, recruited out of St. Michael's University High School Prep in Canada, was slated for limited action as Santa Clara's back-up point guard to incumbent John Woolery.

When Nash entered Santa Clara he didn't burden himself with unnecessary expectations. Nash just knew he wanted to play every day and contribute the best he could.

Sought after by the University of Victoria, Nash declined to stay in Canada, opting to kindle his competitive fires at Santa Clara.

"It was more competitive here," said the freshman. "I didn't want to stay in Canada... just start right away and take any shot I want."

One of seven freshmen, Nash wanted to fight for his playing time. "That's how I get better," Nash said. "I want to be reaching for something."

Nash, discovered last year by former Head Coach Carroll Williams, has taken time getting accustomed to the Bronco style of play but is steadily improving.

"He has had diametrically opposite games performance-wise just like any other freshman, where his confidence level is going up and down all the time," said first-year Head Coach Dick Davey. "He's not quite into the flow yet but I think he could become a very good player."

When Woolery was sidelined with a knee injury for three weeks, Nash got the starting nod — making a sudden impact with Santa Clara's already potent offensive unit.

"The playing time could only help me. It's unfortunate John was injured," said Nash. "Luckily it was before conference and not during conference when we needed him."

In his first game as a starter, Nash had a team-high 15 points against the 24th-ranked Minnesota Gophers. The 6-2 guard dished out a single assist while grabbing a team-high six rebounds.

Nash, who is better known for his ball handling ability and quickness than shooting, handed out a career-high nine assists and poured in a career-high 20 points in the Broncos' decisive 93-80 win over CS Stanislaus.

"I've had individual sessions with Coach (Larry) Hauser," said Nash. "Particularly shooting...you can never shoot too much."

Davey wouldn't have it any other way. "He has been passing up a lot of open shots, and he is a good shooter," he said.

Nervous and unaccustomed to his new surroundings, Nash was timid to shoot the ball at first. But halfway through the season Nash said he doesn't have a problem putting the ball up if he's open.

The Most Valuable Player of British Columbia caused Davey to find him an alternative place in the line-up when Woolery returned.

On occasion Nash and Woolery have become the Bronco tandem back court ballhandlers — each creating the offense in his own particular style.

These days Nash knows his position on the team. "If I'm playing well he'll (Davey) put me in," said Nash, who wears number 11. "It's a long season and we're going to use a lot of guys."