The Older Cotton Finally Ready to Show His Stuff : Basketball: Back from an ankle injury in November, Schea’s brother James is eager to start his sophomore season at Long Beach State.

LONG BEACH —  James Cotton expects some self-doubt tonight, what with all his nervous energy. And true, playing a nationally ranked team coming off an upset loss isn’t the ideal way to ease into a lineup after a lengthy injury.

But he hasn’t played in the last six weeks--and that was no fun.

Cotton, last season’s Big West Conference freshman of the year, is finally back in Long Beach State’s backcourt. He plays in his first regular-season game at 7:30 tonight in the 49ers’ conference opener against No. 20 New Mexico State at The Pyramid.

“It feels good to finally be out playing again,” Cotton said. “I’m going to have a lot of butterflies, I know that. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

On Nov. 18, Cotton severely sprained his left ankle while attempting an acrobatic layup over a player late in the 49ers’ final exhibition game, a 96-82 victory over the Mexican national team at The Gold Mine. The injury was initially believed to be a broken leg.

X-rays, however, revealed no fractures. Unfortunately for Cotton, who still was out indefinitely, the sprain was so bad he thought he might have to seek a medical redshirt season.

Cotton, whose younger brother is Mater Dei’s Schea Cotton, underwent an intense six-day-a-week rehabilitation program that included electro-stimulation, constant applications of ice and heat, massages, swimming and cycling. He continued to shoot basketballs but was unable to practice.

On Tuesday, Cotton received medical clearance to start practicing full speed. Cotton runs with a slight hitch because his ankle is heavily taped, and he must wear an ankle brace in games.

The ankle’s flexibility is not yet 100% and Cotton must continue to receive therapy. Still, he’s ready--and eager--to go.

“It’s a little bit swollen, it’s not really back to normal, but it will get back,” Cotton said. “I came a long way in a short period of time.”

Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg is just as pleased with Cotton’s quick progress although not surprised. Greenberg often speaks proudly of Cotton’s work ethic and dedication, which he expected would help Cotton make a relatively speedy return.

“I think James has come as far as he can right now,” Greenberg said. “The biggest thing now is that he has to master the mental side of knowing that there is going to be some discomfort.

“But knowing James and James’ ability in the heat of competition, and how hard he works, I’m sure it won’t take long until he gets past that obstacle.”

Greenberg said he hasn’t decided if Cotton will start or how much he will play against New Mexico State. The Aggies lost, 75-65, Tuesday night at UC Santa Barbara and figure to be in a foul mood, so expect Cotton to play a lot in a critical game.

“This is probably not the ideal game for James just for the fact that he’s going to have to make so many quick decisions,” Greenberg said. “You need to have so many more repetitions than he’s had, but that’s the hand that we’ve been dealt and he’s got to press on from there.

“He gives us great personality on the court. He’s just too good to keep on the bench.”

Had it not been for an awkward landing in November, this would have been Greenberg’s mind-set entering the season.

Cotton, 19, averaged 11.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in earning the conference’s top freshman award. And he wasn’t even supposed to play.

James Sr. and Gaynell Cotton wanted their oldest son to redshirt as a freshman. They thought that would be best for him academically.

Greenberg accepted their decision, but something happened he couldn’t ignore.

“He grew up so quick,” Greenberg said of Cotton. “Every day in practice, he was playing like you want every redshirt to play.

“A lot of times, redshirts think ‘I’m not going to play, so it doesn’t matter.’ James was playing to get better.”

Cotton noticed his strides too.

He repeatedly told his parents that it might be a good idea to let him play, and Greenberg supported him in a meeting with the Cottons at the coach’s home before Long Beach’s second game last season.

“James was making his pitch before the season started,” said James Sr., a demolition contractor. “He had his mind made up.

“It wasn’t that we didn’t think he’d be able to play at that level, the idea was for him to get settled into school first. Since it worked out the way it did, everything worked out for the best.”

Well, not for everyone. Big West coaches would have preferred that the Cottons had stuck to their original plan.

Cotton (6 feet 6 and 205 pounds) was at his best in a 111-106 overtime victory against UC Irvine on Jan. 27, scoring 27 points with five rebounds and four assists.

“Whatever we tried to do, it didn’t work,” Anteater Coach Rod Baker said. “His strength allows him to play against bigger people and his speed allows him to play against smaller people.

“For a guy who was supposed to have redshirted, he was an integral part of what they were doing. From the beginning of the year until the end, he improved every night.”

Nevada Coach Pat Foster goes even further.

“He’s got that star feature or quality about him,” Foster said. “Whatever you want to call it, it can take him to whatever level he wants to go to.”

Dick Vitale, a former coach now a college basketball commentator for ESPN and ABC, said Cotton is at the right place to develop.

“He’s a tough, hard-nosed player,” Vitale said. “From what I’ve seen of him on TV, he looks like a fierce competitor, and he’s playing for a coach who plays to his style.

“When you talk about Seth, you’re talking about a guy who does a great job on the sideline teaching.”

The Cottons agree with Vitale’s assessment of Greenberg.

James was recruited by bigger basketball powers after his senior year at Bellflower St. John Bosco. However, James and his parents believed Greenberg would best prepare him to play college basketball and, hopefully someday, in the NBA.

“My boys were like, ‘Long Beach? Don’t go there. Go to (Nevada Las) Vegas or (USC). The big time.’

“Long Beach is right for me.”

For all the awards and praise Cotton receives, he’s not even the most well-known basketball player in his own home. That distinction belongs to Schea, a Mater Dei sophomore swingman who, at 16, is already the object of every major college recruiter with a pulse.

Even Sports Illustrated came calling to do a profile of Schea for its July 25, 1994 issue, not something the magazine does often for high school athletes. But Sports Illustrated simply jumped on a bandwagon that has been rolling fast since Schea was an eighth-grader.

“They are happy for the accolades the other receives,” Gaynell said. “James was the happiest one in the whole house (when Sports Illustrated came).”

Having a more famous younger brother can be especially difficult for some, but James seems genuinely happy for Schea. “We both have our own identities,” James said. “It’s not like he’s living off of me or I’m living off of him.

“We’re two totally different players. Things I have to go out and work on for hours, he picks up instantly. He’s so naturally gifted.”

After returning home from practice at Long Beach and Mater Dei, James and Schea work out together everyday. They shoot and practice basketball drills.

“Everything Coach Greenberg teaches in practice,” Gaynell said, “James comes home and teaches to Schea.”

The only thing the boys don’t do together on the basketball court is play one-on-one games. James Sr. made them stop playing one another about seven years ago because their games were becoming too intense. He worried it would damage their relationship.

“We were playing for blood and cuts,” Schea said.

James enjoys the responsibility of being an older brother. He counsels Schea daily about life in basketball and things--and people especially--to watch out for.

“I tell him to treat everyone like they want something from you because they do,” James said. “Everyone out there is trying to get you, and if they can’t have you they don’t like you.

“If people want to give him stuff, I say, ‘Schea, is he going to do this for you if you’re a regular person?’

“I’m glad he’s getting (the attention), and I try to talk to him so he stays straight and doesn’t let it go to his head. He’s doing a good job.”

Schea appreciates James’ advice and listens.

“The things that I’m about to go through, he’s already been through,” Schea said. “He helps me out a lot.”

James’ mature approach and tireless dedication has always made him stand out, say those who know him. Brian Breslin coached James for two years at St. John Bosco after he transferred from Artesia High.

“James was the player who really helped us get it started,” Breslin said. “He came here when the attraction was only the school. He gave us basketball credibility and he helped to put us on the map.”

As a junior, Cotton was a 215-pound power forward and was at the end of all the Braves’ running drills, Breslin recalls. He asked Breslin what it would take for him to play small forward or guard.

“I told him he needed to lose 25 pounds,” Breslin said. “By his senior year, he was 190 pounds and the leader in all of our running drills.

“James is the type of kid who when you tell him he needs to do something to get better, he works on it until he gets is done. James is a great young man even if you take away the basketball.”

Cotton is actively involved in community service. He is a member of a drug-prevention program and lectures on the dangers of drug abuse at elementary, junior high and high schools.

“You’ve got to give back,” Cotton said. “I don’t want to be one of these (athletes) who forget where they came from.”

His contributions now, however, are small compared to what he would like to do if his dream of an NBA career becomes reality.

UC Santa Barbara Coach Jerry Pimm believes it will.

“I see James as an intelligent leader with skills to be a future point guard in the big time,” Pimm said. “(Orlando Magic guard) Brian Shaw was my player, and I can see a lot of Brian Shaw in James Cotton.”