Walk-On Hits His Stride as a Sophomore : McLinn Shoots Way Into Starting Lineup of CSUN Basketball Team

Brooklyn McLinn couldn’t cut it on the Cal State Northridge basketball team as a 17-year-old freshman walk-on. For all the sweat he poured into practices, he appeared in only eight games for less than four minutes per game.

In those frantic moments while trying to prove his worth, the skinny left-handed guard from Taft High put up five shots and missed four.

When Northridge moved to Division I the following season, McLinn stayed behind.

Weary of riding the bench, he quit the team, although he continued to attend classes at Northridge.

With three shooting guards returning and the addition of freshman sharpshooter Ryan Martin this season, no one would have noticed if McLinn had stayed away for good.

Now the Matadors (7-14) don’t know where they would be without him. Since McLinn moved into the starting lineup in place of the inconsistent Martin, Northridge is 6-2.

The 6-foot sophomore, who once could not wedge himself into a Division II lineup, has played a key role in Northridge’s resurgence after an 0-10 start.

“It’s like night and day,” said Kirk Scott, who played with McLinn during his senior season in 1989-90 and has attended every Northridge home game this season. “It’s like he’s a different person. He’s matured in every way. He’s pretty much always been able to shoot, but he didn’t have the strength. Now, he can get his shot off.”

Even while plotting his return to the team, McLinn did not dream he would become a starter.

“I was just hoping to play a productive role,” McLinn said. “I didn’t think I’d start because the guys on scholarship get the best look.

“You have to work harder as a walk-on. If a guy on scholarship is running fast, you have to run faster.”

McLinn averaged 11 minutes and 5.2 points a game during the 10-game winless streak.

When Northridge finally won, 78-72, over Eastern Washington, he played only one minute at the end of the game.

But in the next game, against St. Mary’s, McLinn got his big break. He started for the first time, in place of Shelton Boykin, who lost his starting job for one game because he was late for the team bus.

“I’m thinking, ‘I’ll just start tonight,’ ” McLinn said. “But to my inner self, I’m thinking, ‘Maybe it’s the start of something new.’ Then I hit my first couple (of) shots and that took all the pressure off. It was a great feeling.”

McLinn played a season-high 27 minutes and scored 14 points, making five of six shots.

The next night against Stanford, however, McLinn was back in a reserve role. In 14 minutes, he took two shots and missed both.

Three days later, he started against Fort Lewis College. Although his shot was off--he missed seven of eight attempts--he had a season-high five assists and Northridge won its second game.

In the next five games, McLinn became a fixture in the starting lineup, shooting better than 50% and averaging 12.5 points and 2.8 assists in 29 minutes per game.

Gradually, the novelty of a walk-on making good is wearing off.

“After a while, people are not surprised and they expect more,” McLinn said.

These days, McLinn does not feel inferior because of his walk-on status, but he could not say the same two years ago.

“When I went in then, it was to give someone a rest, not to produce,” McLinn said. “I was basically trying not to make a mistake.”

Through the first part of the current season, McLinn’s role was designated three-point shooter.

As his playing time increased, McLinn unveiled a knack for finding the open man, handling the ball and playing pressure defense.

And while more than 60% of his shots still are from three-point range, he is driving the lane and shooting inside the three-point line more often.

“When the minutes started kicking up, I started to do some other things,” McLinn said. “When my shot was off, I glanced at the bench but no one was coming in for me. They showed confidence in me so I showed them they have no regrets.”

During his yearlong absence from the Northridge program, McLinn played in recreational leagues and was a regular in the weight room.

He put on 20 pounds and increased his bench press from 130 pounds to 205. His increased strength has enabled him to loft fadeaway three-point shots with defenders in his face.

Many of his team-leading 31 three-point baskets (on 83 attempts) have come in clutch situations.

Against Northern Arizona on Jan. 22, McLinn made a three-point shot to pull the Matadors within four points with 3 minutes 39 seconds left. With 1:51 to go, he sank two free throws to tie the score. Seventeen seconds later, he gave Northridge the lead with a steal and a layup.

“The fact that he’s a sophomore who sat out last year, to come through like he did is outstanding,” Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said. “But it’s not at all surprising. He’s mentally tough and he doesn’t let things bother him.”

Despite their ragged, one-on-one style, the recreational leagues boosted McLinn’s confidence.

“Sometimes you need to create a shot or a passing lane for yourself,” he said. “Playing in those leagues made me more aggressive.”

McLinn needed to develop his game because it was one-dimensional.

With Dedan Thomas (currently of Nevada Las Vegas) starring on the Taft team, McLinn was a role player who rarely handled the ball.

“All I had to do was spot up and shoot,” McLinn said, “and on defense we played zone.”

The transition from Taft’s fast-break offense to Northridge’s slower pace was difficult for McLinn. During his season away from the team, he was publicly critical of Cassidy in a Times story.

“There are a lot of rumors that Cassidy is not supposed to be coach next year,” McLinn said in the story. “I felt I would sit out a year and see what happens. If he is still the coach, maybe I’ll transfer; if there is a new coach, I’ll try out.”

His sentiments have changed.

Last August, McLinn sent Cassidy a letter informing him that he had been practicing, that he had matured and that he wanted to return.

He also addressed the comments he made in the newspaper. “I felt what I said then wasn’t how I felt at the present time,” McLinn said.

McLinn realized that he was too impatient as a freshman.

“I learned a lot about man-to-man defense and V-cutting and using picks to get open,” he said. “It was a beneficial year, but I was 17 and that was not the way I wanted to play. Then, last year he (Cassidy) moved to an up-tempo game and I’m thinking, ‘He’s not so bad.’

“Now, I’m more mature. I understand what coach does. It may seem weird, but it works.”

McLinn said he never considered quitting, even when his playing time was sporadic early this season.

“There are five seniors on this team,” McLinn said. “They’re not going to be here next season. There’s a lot of opportunity.”

By next season, McLinn hopes to receive a scholarship. It will help financially, and it also is a matter of status.

“It would give me a feeling of belonging,” McLinn said. “I feel a part of the team, but I’m the only one here (on the travel team) that’s a walk-on.”