Buggs stars for Poly before Spartan days

Nobody can recall the last time San Jose State signed a high school point guard. But like a lot of things with SJSU head coach George Nessman, that is going to change. In the future, freshman from both Northern and Southern California will become valued members of full Spartan recruiting classes. One of the first prospects to select San Jose State is Kevin Buggs, a do-everything point guard from Long Beach Polytechnic High.

The pursuit of Buggs by the Spartans began early this past summer. San Jose assistant coach Donald Williams became enamored during the various AAU tournaments in which Buggs' team, The West Coast Ballers, were competing. Prior to that, Buggs wasn't familiar with San Jose State nor had any contact with the previous Spartan coaching staff.

San Jose set up a recruiting visit and Buggs, along with his parents, came north. Spartan senior and team captain Alex Elam served as the player host. Buggs also had the chance to meet other members of San Jose's team and recalled that was it was fun to hang out with Julian Richardson, D.J Brown, Carlton Spencer and Tyree Gardner.

Asked what he liked most about San Jose State and why he signed with the Spartans over the resurgent Cal State Fullerton Titans and Long Beach State, Buggs replied: "It was a nice atmosphere. I loved the coaches; they were very down to earth. Overall, I had a good feeling about San Jose."

As for next year as a freshman, Buggs sees his role as "being the backup point guard to (what will be graduating point) Julian Richardson, adjusting to Division 1 play and getting prepared to assume Richardson's role as a sophomore."

This year, he is entering his senior season and expected to be a vital cog in not only helping Poly capture the league and section championships but getting to Sacramento and winning state. Per Buggs, "almost every top player returns for us." Look for his Jackrabbits to challenge Long Beach Jordan for the Moore League and CIF Southern Section I-AA championships.

A lefty, Buggs was third in assists in Moore League play last year. He has a versatile backcourt game as well as a quiet confident about him. "I can shoot to 20 feet, handle and I'm strong enough to penetrate, handle the contact and make plays," Buggs said.

Buggs, who stands a solid 6-foot-1, 190-pounds, plays for Poly head coach Sharrief Metoyer, who loves what his senior guard brings to the court: "Kevin has a great feel for the game," Metoyer said. "His court vision and ability to find the open man are his greatest strengths. We require our guards to initiate offense through the use of the pass and off the dribble. Kevin is capable of doing both very well."

Buggs models his game after former Georgia Tech backcourter Jarrett Jack, a husky 6-3, 200-pound guard who now plays for the Portland Trailblazers. Jack is described as "a physical point guard with good vision and knack for finding the open man. Sound familiar?

When asked to name who was the best high school teammate he played with, Buggs quickly responded with: "Marcus Lewis." A former Poly big man, Lewis is now a sophomore at Portland and was named to the 2004-2005 All Freshman Team in the West Coast Conference.

Buggs is undecided on his major but expressed interest in exploring sociology

The Buggs family itself has quite the athletic history. Kevin's mother and father were both athletes, his mother playing basketball and his father enjoying both football and baseball. Kevin's parents coach the Girls basketball team at Long Beach Poly (ranked #8 by USA TODAY in pre-season). His older sister Cynthia is a volleyball player at Long Beach State. He has a brother in sixth grade and a sister who is two.

Kevin McCarthy is a writer and contributor of Spartan Hoops. Along with his work in the WAC, McCarthy is an avid prep recruiting writer who has followed the Bay Area basketball scene for years. He will be joining Bear Territory throughout the college basketball season with both college and prep recruiting features.