He’s Showered in Praise Now : McNaull Moved to Long Beach and Became 49ers’ Best Player

Scalding water rushed into Joe McNaull’s weary face as he stood in a shower stall, but he didn’t feel a thing. He couldn’t feel anything.

Several hours before, McNaull, then a junior center at San Diego State, and his teammates experienced another of those numbing blowout losses the Aztecs had come to expect. New Mexico defeated the Aztecs, 77-52, at San Diego on Jan. 17, 1993, in front of what could only generously be called a “crowd.”

Although he had lived amid this for almost three years, McNaull couldn’t take it anymore. He began to wonder how he had reached that point and how could he get out.

McNaull found the right path, which led to Long Beach State, where he is finally part of a winner and has emerged as the team’s best player. What’s more, McNaull this season has often been the dominant player many thought he would become after high school.

McNaull is, talent evaluators say, a definite pro prospect. And if the 49ers’ season is to continue after the Big West Conference tournament, McNaull must lead the way. The third-seeded 49ers (17-9, 13-5 in conference) play sixth-seeded UC Santa Barbara (13-13, 8-10) at 2:35 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals.

“I don’t know how long I stayed in the shower that night,” McNaull said. “That was the first night I really thought about transferring. I just couldn’t take it anymore.

“I knew I couldn’t go through another year like that. I’m so happy I decided to come to Long Beach. It’s been even better than I thought it could be.”

After a slow start, McNaull took over and the 49ers won 10 consecutive conference games. During the streak, McNaull averaged 18.1 points and 8.5 rebounds. He leads Long Beach in scoring and rebounding with averages of 12.1 points and seven rebounds, and is first in field-goal percentage in Big West games (64.8%).

The 49ers’ final two regular-season games illustrate McNaull’s importance. With the conference title on the line, Long Beach lost both games as McNaull played in foul trouble and was mostly ineffective.

“I can’t say I’m not disappointed we didn’t win, but for at least one season I had a lot of fun,” he said. “I was always watching the scores, watching to see what Utah State and New Mexico State were doing.

“And it’s not over yet. I think we’ve got a great chance in the (conference) tournament.”

McNaull was named conference player of the week (Jan. 6) after he averaged 20 points and seven rebounds in victories over Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada and Utah State. McNaull had season highs of 16 rebounds in a 79-70 victory over Cal State Fullerton (Jan. 28) and 28 points in a 75-63 victory over Santa Barbara (Feb. 15).

“Joe has improved tremendously over the last half of the season,” said Marty Blake, NBA director of scouting. “He’s finally playing up to his potential.”

A classic back-to-the-basket center, McNaull has a nice shooting touch. He always battles hard for low-post position and is an aggressive rebounder.

But what especially pleases point guard Tye Mays is the target McNaull provides. Mays always sees McNaull, who, at 6 feet 10 and about 250 pounds, stands out even on the basketball court.

“We have a big force down low in Joe,” Mays said. “When everything is stuck on the perimeter, he’s like a big sign for me.

“If I penetrate, of course, I’m going to see Joe because he’s so big and he’s so wide. He’s a great finisher, so I just try to keep my eye on him and he’s been coming through.”

The 49ers’ opponents have noticed too.

“McNaull is a very good player,” New Mexico State Coach Neil McCarthy said. “I think he and (Utah State center Eric) Franson are the two best in the conference as far as what they do to help their teams, but McNaull probably has the physical stature to be the better player at the next level.”

Utah State Coach Larry Eustachy took it further.

“There’s no question about it, he’s a definite professional,” he said. “(Long Beach) can beat anybody when McNaull is effective.

“As long as he’s allowed to get his 20 points and 10 rebounds, they’re tough. I know he was great against us.”

McNaull dominated Franson--expected to be the conference’s player of the year--in a head-to-head meeting Feb. 4 at the Pyramid, outscoring him 24 to 13. McNaull made 11 of 15 field-goal attempts while limiting Franson to five-of-12 shooting.

“Everyone in San Diego thought I was crazy to transfer to Long Beach,” McNaull said. “They all told me I wouldn’t play because Mike (Atkinson) and Terrance (O’Kelley) were coming back and I only had one year to prove myself.

“They didn’t want me to leave, but I needed to leave. Nobody thought I could do it, but I believed in myself.”

McNaull, 22, decided on Long Beach because of Coach Seth Greenberg. He knew of Greenberg’s reputation as a good teacher and he figured Greenberg could help unlock the potential that McNaull, and others, believed he had.

Highly recruited out of Spring Valley Monte Vista High, McNaull received attention from national powers such as UNLV and Syracuse. He chose San Diego State because it was close to home and he figured his presence could help change the Aztecs’ fortune.

He quickly realized otherwise.

“All that losing starts to mess with your head,” said McNaull, who is close to completing his degree in psychology.

“There were some games we’d win, and I’d play bad, and I’d say to myself, ‘Maybe I’m the reason we’re losing.’ ”

Of course, it was more than McNaull. The Aztecs simply lacked talent.

“He’s playing well and I’m not really surprised,” said Pepperdine Coach Tony Fuller, who coached McNaull at San Diego State. “He’s also surrounded by a little bit more help now.”

Despite what surrounded him at San Diego State, McNaull still achieved.

The Aztecs were 8-21 in 1992-93, McNaull’s final season in San Diego, but he was selected first-team All-Western Athletic Conference after averaging 11.7 points and 8.2 rebounds. Although McNaull appreciated the honor, he knew his game needed work.

Greenberg saw the potential. He gave McNaull a scholarship although McNaull could play only one season for the 49ers. Trust us, this is rare.

“I owe everything to Coach Greenberg,” McNaull said. “He didn’t have to give me a scholarship for only one year.”

Greenberg said McNaull is the main reason the 49ers have won.

“With the injuries we’ve had this season, we needed a player to step up and carry us,” Greenberg said. “Joe McNaull has put us on his shoulders.

“It’s great to see a kid who has worked so hard reap the benefits. I feel really good about Joe and I’m real happy for him.”

Greenberg also is helping McNaull for the future. He has written letters and sent tapes of McNaull in action to many NBA executives.

In the next few weeks, McNaull will receive invitations to play in many all-star tournaments where pro-basketball decision makers evaluate players eligible for the NBA draft. Greenberg believes McNaull will be drafted.

“He can definitely play somewhere in the world,” Blake said. “I’m going to give him every opportunity to be seen because he’s earned it.”

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Tournament Schedule

Here is a look at the schedule for the Big West Conference men’s basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

TODAY

UNLV vs. San Jose State, 12:30 p.m.

UC Irvine vs. Cal State Fullerton, 2:30

FRIDAY

New Mexico State vs. UNLV or San Jose State, noon

Long Beach State vs. UC Santa Barbara, 2:35

Utah State vs. UC Irvine or Cal State Fullerton, 6

Nevada vs. Pacific, 9

SATURDAY

Semifinals, 5:30 and 8

SUNDAY

Championship game, 12:05