SDSU’s Ross Doesn’t Let His Youth Slow Him Down

Two basketball starters were sick and a third was injured for Grant High School in Portland, Ore., which didn’t help the well-being of Coach John Stilwell.

A few minutes into the game, Stilwell decided to take a risk. He inserted a freshman who was suited up for his first varsity game.

The freshman, Tony Ross, scored 14 points off the bench, and Grant beat cross-town rival Benson for the first time in five years.

Ross is now a freshman at San Diego State, and again he’s making the most of a chance to play. He leads the Aztecs with a 16.1 scoring average, even though he had to complain about his playing time before becoming a starter.

Seemingly, Ross was meant to do well against older kids. The youngest of 11 children, including seven boys, his competition was always older.

In fact, the first local youth team he played on was for fifth-graders--but he was in third grade. More times than not, he made passing grades playing against older kids.

“Older people tend to bang you up when you’re a kid,” Ross said. “I didn’t let it bother me. I was playing for fun and was doing well. When I played football, they would try to pulverize me. I’d cry and cry, but I wouldn’t quit.”

Nor would he let age deter him from playing. When Ross was in fifth grade, he played on an eighth-grade team that won the city recreational championship.

Therefore, when he arrived at Grant, it was little surprise that he made the varsity so soon.

“He could really shoot,” Stilwell said. “I was impressed.”

Not long after, others also became impressed. Ross averaged 12 points as a freshman and 19.6 as a sophomore, both city championship seasons for Grant.

However, Grant lost three starters before his junior season, causing the burden to fall on Ross. In the season’s first three games, he scored 46, 39 and 48 points.

“He could go out and get you 50 points if you needed it,” Stilwell said. “We needed the points then. As the other kids got more comfortable that season, he passed the ball off more. That didn’t bother him. He liked winning.”

Winning became a tradition at Grant. It finished second in the Oregon State large schools championship during Ross’ junior season and won the state in his senior season. Ross averaged 25.5 points as a junior and 26 as a senior.

During his senior season, Ross signed an early letter of intent with SDSU in November, 1985. He liked the area, SDSU’s reputation as a business school and the opportunity to play immediately. He also considered Marquette but did not like the cold weather in Milwaukee.

Before coming to SDSU, Ross never considered how poorly this season might turn out. The Aztecs are 2-18 overall and have lost a school-record 12 straight.

“I didn’t expect this, but I don’t let things like this bother me,” Ross said. “I know I have to maintain in school and not let this get me down. I’ll feel bad after a loss, but I’ll feel normal an hour later. This is just a phase everyone goes through in life.”

Ross is succinct on the difference between high school and college.

“Here, we lose,” Ross said. “There, we won.”

Losing for the first time in his life has had an impact. After an early-season loss at Memphis State, Ross was critical of Coach Smokey Gaines and SDSU’s program.

“If I don’t feel I’m getting a fair shake here, I will leave,” Ross said at the time. “It’s a decision I’ll have to make after the season. . . . I’ve never experienced anything like this. My high school team had more discipline than this. I’m used to winning and playing hard. This is crazy here.”

A day after the article appeared, Gaines met with Ross. Gaines did the talking, Ross the listening.

When Ross was asked earlier this week about Gaines, the program and whether he still considered transferring, he declined to comment.

“Sometimes, kids say things they don’t want to say,” Gaines said. “I told him he was a freshman. He should sit back and observe as much as possible. I told him to tone down.”

Ross was also outspoken at Grant.

“He has his opinions, and he’s not afraid to speak them,” Stilwell said. “We sat down and talked a few times. Some kids go with what you say, and some want justification.

“The things he is critical of might be true. The problem with his criticisms is that he might not be the right person to be saying that. He’ll say things sometimes without thinking of the consequences.”

When Ross spoke out after the Memphis State game, one consequence evolved in his favor. He complained he should be starting because he was the team’s leading scorer--and he has started each game since.

Gaines compared Ross’ situation to that of Anthony Watson, SDSU’s second-leading all-time scorer. Watson did not start until his eighth game as a freshman, and neither did Ross.

Now, Gaines says Ross compares favorably with Watson.

“If he’s patient, he could be (as good as Watson),” Gaines said. “He makes freshman mistakes. . . . You try to get freshmen who will add to your program. He definitely adds to our program.”

Ross gives SDSU an outside threat. He leads the Western Athletic Conference in three-point shooting, having made 66 of 144 attempts.

However, opponents have recently made the situation increasingly difficult for Ross. Many are playing him man-to-man, even if the remainder of their defense is in a zone.

“People have scouted us and become much more aggressive on Tony,” Gaines said. “He’d be much more effective if we had a Michael Cage or Leonard Allen inside to help him.”

Without a Cage or Allen, Ross has had to mix it up with the big men--just like the good old days back in Portland.