San Jose State's Pistol Pete

The analogy isn't really accurate other than the floppy hair but here's an informative article on San Jose State redshirt freshman Justin Graham. WAC fans have yet to have the opportunity to see him but that will come in January.

No 'Pistol' Yet, But Kid Can Play
San Jose State basketball player Justin Graham
Ron Agostini
Modesto Bee
December 18, 2007

CUPERTINO -- Not to get carried away, but Justin Graham already has been compared to Pete Maravich.

Graham, the redshirt freshman point guard for San Jose State, understands the lunacy here. He's barely begun his collegiate career, yet his name is mentioned in the same breath with one of the most crowd-pleasing players in hoops history, an icon who averaged an NCAA-record 44.2 points per game for three seasons (1968-70) at LSU.

Which was why Graham was surprised when a fan approached him during the Spartans' season-opening tournament in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

"Before our second game, he came up to me and said he was really impressed and that I reminded him of Pete Maravich," Graham said. "He then asked me if I knew who Pete Maravich was, and I said, 'Of course I know Pistol Pete!' "

Never mind that Graham was born in 1988, the year Maravich died. Fact is, Graham's floppy hair and flair for the audacious already has been noticed at a university anxious to revive its down-and-out basketball program.

The Spartans have kicked off that quest with, of all people, a 19-year-old graduate of Ripon High.

"We took over a program in need of a makeover, one might say an extreme makeover. We targeted Justin," San Jose State coach George Nessman said. "He is going to be a big-time player. He's not there yet, but he is dynamic."

Graham made an immediate impression in his collegiate debut Nov. 15 against Middle Tennessee State, the home team. With the Spartans behind by a point with seconds to go, he launched a perfect pass to back-cutting DaShawn Wright for the winning layup.

The next night -- after Graham heard the Maravich praise -- San Jose State and Appalachian State were tied with the game down to the final possession. Nessman told his team to clear the court and let the mop top do his business. Graham complied by slashing down the key and scoring the winner.

Two games. Two winning plays. Nice start.

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