ATHLETE OF THE WEEK : Franklin’s Shooting for Taft Is Simply Far Out

A player shooting 64% usually gets his points close to the basket. A layup here, a three-foot bank shot there and heck, even if he misses the next one he’s two for three.

Taft’s Kevin Franklin is shooting 64%. But don’t look for him in the paint. The 6-4 guard is more apt to let fly from 20 feet. “And beyond,” Taft Coach Jim Woodard said.

Woodard has been observed chastising Franklin for passing up a shot from the outer limits. “I want Kevin to shoot the ball,” Woodard said.

Franklin, a senior who was a Times All-Valley player last season, is averaging 29.6 points a game. Last week he led Taft to the championship of the Eagle Rock tournament by scoring a school-record 38 points in the semifinal and again in the final. He also scored 38 in successive games against Fairfax and Cleveland.

“I rise to the big games,” Franklin said. “They are a special challenge.”

Guarding Franklin is a most special challenge for opponents. He has made 135 of 211 shots and has made 56 of 72 free throws. Because he plays forward on defense, Franklin is also Taft’s leading rebounder with 77. He pulled down 24 in the last two games of the Eagle Rock tournament.

“I’m also getting offensive rebounds,” Franklin said. “They lead to easy baskets.”

Almost as easy as the 20-footers.