This Gator more equal than others

By JAMAL THALJI

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2000

[Times photo: Dan McDuffie] Jeff Baisley has been called the best all-around player in Pasco County.

LAND O'LAKES -- Coach Dave Puhalski said it himself: His Gators all look alike.

The dark, close-cropped hair. The athletic frames, ranging from 5 feet 10 to 6 feet 2 (okay, except for blond 6-4 center Sammy Weatherford.)

They all have reliable jump shots, though some are better from three-point range than others. All can put the ball on the floor and score. All are solid ball-handlers. All can run the fastbreak. All are hard-nosed competitors who play swarming, suffocating defense.

"There are no stars on this team," Puhalski said.

Well, not quite. Maybe just one. "Jeff Baisley," Puhalski said. "He's the closest thing we have to a star."

The 6-2 junior was one of Pasco County's top players last season, and this season, he has been even more reliable as Land O'Lakes is a county-best 25-3. Friday, when Land O'Lakes takes on the winner of tonight's River Ridge-Gulfgame in the Class 5A, District 10 tournament, Baisley will be an integral part of the Gators' push for a title. No wonder. He leads the Gators in four categories, averaging 15.3 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals.

While Ridgewood center Cory Seels has been the county's dominant player, Puhalski argues Baisley is the best all-around player.

He can make a quick bounce pass or launch one from one basket to the other. He can shoot off the glass or from behind the three-point line. He can defend in the post and on the perimeter. He can lead the fastbreak or be on the receiving end.

He'll even dive on the floor and fight for a loose ball. "He's just such a tough player, like his (twin) brother (Brian)," Puhalski said. "He can just about do it all for us. I mean, all the players we have are pretty similar, but Jeff does shine a bit more."

Especially when he has the ball in his hands. While Brian Baisley prefers to play in the post and make basketball a full-contact sport, Jeff likes to hover around the basket sinking shots.

"I'm a scorer," he said. "That's my favorite part of the game. I like having the ball. I like having to make the shots."

Fortunately, he doesn't have to do it all. "What makes Jeff so good is his teammates," Puhalski said. "They're all capable of scoring, so when he dishes the ball off to them, they're going to score. That means teams can't double-team Jeff because of how good his teammates are."

They won't double-team him. But they often will send their top player after Baisley, as Ridgewood did with John Howell and East Lake did with Corey Bailey.

"I don't care if they send their best guy after me," Baisley said. "That's fine. If they want to challenge me, I kind of like that."

Baisley said this season has been far more enjoyable than the last, when Land O'Lakes was below .500. As a sophomore then, he thought he and his teammates would be much improved by now.

"But I didn't think we'd be this good," Baisley said. "It's a lot more fun. I think we're just so close together. We've all played with each other, and we all know what we're going to do on the court."

Puhalski warned his players not to look past Friday's game to Saturday's final, but he can already see the end of the season and the post-season honors that will follow.

"I know how good Cory has been this season," Puhalski said. "But I'd argue that Jeff is the best player in this conference any day."

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