Mixed feelings at MC

The Modesto Christian basketball program found itself back in the spotlight Friday, pushed there by two former talents headed in seemingly opposite directions.

Drawing cheers locally is Chuck Hayes, the undersized NBA center who signed a four-year, $21 million deal with the Sacramento Kings.

The move was anticipated by those within Hayes’ camp, but as NBA fans and franchises learned Thursday, no transaction is complete until the ink has dried.

“We pretty much knew the day before he signed because he was at my practice,” said Modesto Christian coach Gary Porter, who coached Hayes from 1997-2001 and hosted the 6-foot-6 veteran during Tuesday’s practice. “We were all praying. It’s exciting, really exciting.”

The mood on the Salida campus was tempered by news out of Los Angeles, where mercurial UCLA forward Reeves Nelson was dismissed from the basketball team, the latest in a string of missteps.

“I just hope Reeves will be able to rebound from this and learn and move on,” Porter said. “He’s really a good kid, but he has some rage he just can’t control sometimes.”

Added Modesto Christian athletic director Greg Pearce: “You’re saddened by it. Reeves is undoubtedly loaded with talent. I haven’t talked to Reeves or the coaching staff, so I don’t know what the issues are. I just hope and pray that Reeves works it out.

“There’s a side of Reeves that is a great guy, and then there’s a side sometimes it just leaves you shaking your head. I’m hoping he finds his way.”

Nelson was featured on the West region cover of Sports Illustrated’s college preview edition last month, but the positive press quickly dissolved.

He was suspended twice by UCLA coach Ben Howland shortly thereafter for violating team rules, sending the Bruins’ top returning player to the bench. Porter spoke with Nelson and Howland after the first suspension Nov.

As was the case with Hayes’ signing, Porter could sense that Nelson’s dismissal was imminent.

He had simply run out of rope, Porter said.

“They don’t do things like in high school and grammar school; they get paid if they win or lose,” Porter said of college coaches. “If someone isn’t producing, they don’t fool around with them for too long. They’ll try to work with you but obviously there was something that happened that caused the cup to fill up quick.”

While the dismissal signals an end to his career at UCLA, the NBA remains a viable option for the 6-foot-8 junior, who averaged 13.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game last season. Nelson can transfer to another school, sit out a year per NCAA rules and finish out his college career, or see if there is interest from an NBA or other pro team.

Within hours of Howland’s press conference Friday, Porter had already received phone calls from interested NBA teams. He declined to provide any specifics.

“There are certain teams that push the character part and certain teams that push the athletic part,” Porter said. “He’ll make a pro player, I don’t doubt that he won’t. I’ve been told they really like him. (But) are they willing to gamble on the attitude part right now? We’ll see.”

Porter would like to see Nelson follow the career path of Hayes, who graduated from the University of Kentucky before making the leap to the NBA.

“I’d rather see him in college,” Porter said. “There are things he needs to figure out and I’m confident that he will. He’s really not a bad kid, but he’s had some struggles.“He’s not quite there yet, which comes with young people in stardom.”

Hayes signed with the Houston Rockets as an undrafted free agent in 2005 and spent the last six seasons building a career on sweat and smarts.

His reputation as a bona fide NBA player was cemented with Friday’s deal.

“I think you’ll see a lot of Kings tickets sold in this area,” Pearce said. “For fans wavering between being a Warriors fan or a Kings fan, Chuck will sway them over to the Kings.“I can’t speak for the Kings but I have to think, not just his work ethic or talent, but being a valley kid had to come into the equation.”

James Burns is Regional Sports Content Editor of The Modesto Bee and Merced Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@modbee.com.

This story was originally published December 9, 2011 at 11:16 PM with the headline "Mixed feelings at MC."