James Montgomery III achieved all of that. He is a senior mechanical engineering major, a 6-4 guard from Santa Monica High School in Southern California. 


In two seasons with the Wildcats, he has scored a combined 17 points. He has watched about as many games as he has played. In his first season under coach Chris Collins, however, Montgomery created such an impression Collins was moved to award him a full scholarship for the 2013-14 academic year.


Collins made the announcement at a team meeting last Thursday, telling the assembled players, “The guy through 12 practices that has done the best job of doing what he’s supposed to do every day is James.”


The value of that scholarship is measured by Northwestern at more than $60,000. It also can be seen in the hug Montgomery exchanged with Collins following the announcement, and perhaps even more so during a subsequent call to inform his family of the award. We never really get to experience the full reaction of Montgomery’s mother. We can hear the delighted screams. We don’t get to see her tears, although his sister does provide a rather compelling play-by-play.


GETTING IN THE ZONE?


While there are fears that the new defensive rules will result in scores of fouls being called until players adjust, Texas coach Rick Barnes gave an interesting observation during Big 12 Media Day: Zone defenses could make a big comeback as a result.

“For a lot of people there are going to be a lot of teams that will go back to the pack line defense,” Barnes said. “Because if they call the rule the way it's going to be called, it's going to eliminate contact on the perimeter. It's really almost going to be really hard to pick up a charge.”

Big 12 officials coordinator Curtis Shaw said he’s encountered varying levels of warmth from coaches regarding the new rules, but there is an understanding about it. Kansas State coach Bruce Weber just wants to see the rules called the same no matter where you play.

“I think the key will be all of the officials being consistent,” Weber said. “Not only from one official to the next, but from one game to the next, from one league to the next, in and out of the different leagues.”

So if you end up seeing more teams adopt zone like Syracuse, we may end up seeing more points from 3-point land, or more players trying to penetrate the paint for scoring opportunities

That’s what everyone wants to see—basketball, not basketbrawl.

“Maybe a little growing pains early, but it's going to help the game,” Shaw said.


BEYONCE KNOWS HE HAS GAME


You know you’re special when Beyonce recognizes your work.

And that’s what happened to Zach Hodskins, a one-armed basketball player who tweeted that he accepted Florida’s offer as a preferred walk-on last weekend.

"If I work hard, Coach (Billy) Donovan told me I'll have a chance to play," Hodskins told ESPN.com.

Hodskins does not have a left forearm, but the 6-4, 200-pound Hodskins is a skilled 3-point shooter, and a strong performance this summer garnered him attention from several Division I programs.

Beyonce’s quote on Hodskins was one of simplicity.

“ZACH, YOU ARE A TRUE INSPIRATION.”

“It was definitely a struggle when I was younger, but I believe that God gave me the will and motivation to fight through any obstacle that’s been thrown my way,” Hodskins said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”  “… This really proves it.”

Maybe if Hodskins’ game keeps growing, he could wind up playing for the Brooklyn Nets. Surely Jay-Z still has Mikhail Prokhorov on speed dial despite selling his share in the team.

Contributors: Mike DeCourcy and Roger Kuznia