Kyle Weaver leads with his play for WSU

PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State's Kyle Weaver is the Quiet Cougar.

He expresses himself loudest on the court, where he is a versatile weapon on offense and a defender who has shut down some of the best players in the Pacific-10.

He's a major reason No. 22 Washington State (21-6, 9-6 Pac-10) is third in the league. The Cougars will play at California on Thursday and at Stanford on Saturday.

The 6-foot-6 guard is a beanpole who can disappear among many of the bigger bodies on the floor. At press conferences and interviews, Weaver speaks so softly he can barely be heard.

But he has no trouble getting the full attention of rival coaches.

"I think Kyle Weaver is going to be an NBA player," Arizona coach Kevin O'Neill said.

"He's become a complete player," Arizona State coach Herb Sendek said. "He does whatever they need to do to help them win."

Weaver is not one for eye-popping numbers. The senior did not score 20 points in a game until he had 23 in a loss to Stanford on Feb. 2, his 107th college contest.

Rather, Weaver is an aggregate assassin, piling up points, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks while frustrating his opponents.

He is believed to be the first player in Pac-10 history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 150 steals and 75 blocks in a career.

This season, Weaver is averaging 11.4 points, 5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, and became the 29th Cougar to reach 1,000 career points.

Not bad for a guy who received exactly one scholarship offer out of Beloit Memorial High School in Wisconsin, home state of former WSU coach Dick Bennett and his son and successor, Tony.

Tony Bennett acknowledged that Weaver, who weighs only 201 pounds, was a bit of a risk. But his skills and feel for the game made him a member of the Bennett's first recruiting class, which also included starters Derrick Low and Robbie Cowgill.

"He needed to get stronger," Bennett said.

Weaver, 22, was fortunate to play immediately as the Bennetts undertook a massive rebuilding job with the downtrodden WSU program.

"He got to play through mistakes and learn and grow," Bennett said.

Weaver also benefited from Pac-10 competition.

"You get better when you play against the best," Bennett said. "The level of competition brought out stuff."

Weaver draws satisfaction from rebuilding the WSU program, which he said was made possible by the loyalty of fellow seniors Low, Cowgill, Jeremy Cross and Chris Henry.

"Being together through the tough times made a difference," Weaver said.

While he is ridiculously modest, giving credit to coaches, managers and even fans, he is eying the NBA.

"If I have the opportunity to keep playing ball at any level, I will," Weaver said. "I also have been thinking about going back home. I'd like to do something with kids, maybe something like a boy's and girl's club, a big brother type of thing, and start it from scratch."

Weaver played 19 minutes a game as a freshman, averaging nearly 5 points and 3.2 rebounds. He became a full-time starter his sophomore year, bumping his numbers to 8.6 points and 4.3 rebounds, and leading the team with 107 assists.

Last season, Weaver averaged 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds, was named All-Pac 10 first team, and was the first player in league history to post 300 points, 125 boards, 125 assists, 50 steals and 35 blocks in the same season. He and Low were selected to the Pan American Games team.

Less noticed by fans is Weaver's defensive work.

He recently held O.J. Mayo of Southern Cal to 14 points on 6 of 15 shooting, with five turnovers. For his part, Weaver made all eight of his shots and finished with 17 points.

"He's just another basketball player," was Mayo's comment.

Weaver's teammates know different.

"He takes pride in his defense and likes a challenge on that side of the ball," Cowgill said. "When he draws that kind of assignment, that's usually when he has his best games."

"That's what we all expect from him," Low added.

Weaver's play is a big reason WSU leads the Pac-10 and is third in the nation in defense, allowing just 55.5 points per game.

Bennett was asked which player of the past most reminds him of Weaver.

"Oscar Robertson?" Bennett said, laughing.