OPEN COURT: The walk-on tells his story

David Bagga joined the Arizona basketball team in 2005 as a relatively anonymous walk-on with a slim chance of actually securing a roster spot. He left the Wildcats last spring as one of the most beloved players in Arizona history. In a few days, he’ll be a published author.

It’s been that kind of career for Bagga.

Bagga recently completed his autobiography, “The Walk-On,” which covers his one-of-a-kind trip through big-time college basketball. The cover shows Bagga standing next to Lute Olson shouting encouragement from the bench — a scene that seemed to resonate with Wildcat supporters, even before Bagga became a fan favorite.

After a solid (if not spectacular career) at hoops hot-bed Mater Dei Academy in Southern California, Bagga never even entertained the idea of going to a smaller college, where he might get more playing time. He wanted to be a Wildcat — case closed.

He spent his senior season pestering assistants Josh Pastner and Jim Rosborough, calling each of them on a daily basis in hiopes of convincing the legendary Olson to give him a look. Bagga knew he would never be a focal point of Arizona’s offense; he simply wanted to be on the team.

In a journal entry he wrote for GoAZCats.com in 2005, Bagga said, “I didn’t care about not being a main player. I just wanted to be a part of the team and compete everyday in practice.”

Olson gave him a shot, and Bagga spent the next four years killing himself in practice. The fear of getting cut hung over his head on a daily basis.

But the Wildcats were never going to let Bagga go. He developed into Arizona’s secret weapon — a real gym rat who lived out every generic athlete clich/ (give 110 percent, leave it all on the floor) that coaches try to drill into their stars.

If one of Arizona’s bound-for-the-NBA stars took it easy in practice, Olson could always point to Bagga and ask his starters to match his effort.

Eventually, Bagga’s relentless enthusiasm rubbed off on the fans. If the Cats’ student section had an energy lull, Bagga would raise his game, cheering from the bench as if his life depended on it.

Anytime Bagga got into a game, it was pandemonium. He didn’t see the floor unless the outcome had been decided, but the sight of Bagga on the McKale Center court immediately put every Wildcat fan in a better mood. He was Arizona’s version of Red Auerbach’s victory cigar.

In fact, one of the most memorable days in recent UA hoops history took place on March 7, when Arizona defeated Stanford 101-87. The typical names (Nic Wise, Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill) had excellent games, and it was a crucial win in Arizona’s effort to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

However, the 14,723 in attendance that day will remember it as the “David Bagga Game.”

Interim head coach Russ Pennell understood the unique bond the crowd had with Bagga and put him in with less than a minute remaining. It was the final time Bagga would step on the McKale Center floor, and he made the most of it.

Imagine nearly 15,000 people changing “DA-vid BAG-ga (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap)” in unison. I’ve been to dozens of UA games the last few seasons, and believe me when I tell you that it had never been louder than when Bagga checked in at the scorer’s table.

With 15 seconds remaining, Wise stole a lazy Stanford inbounds pass and found Bagga spotting up on the left wing. The lefty set his feet and let it go from well beyond the NBA three-point line.

Swish. Bedlam.

I finally had an answer for what it would’ve been like to attend the climactic game from the movie “Rudy.” You can find the clip by searching David Bagga on YouTube — goosebumps galore.

The fans knew it — nobody loved being a Wildcat more than Bagga. Even though his career coincided with the most tumultuous stretch in Arizona’s basketball history, his enthusiasm never waned.

Those hoping his book will be a “Ball Four”-style insider’s look at the chaos surrounding Arizona’s program will likely be disappointed. Instead, look for this book to be a story of a kid nobody recruited who made the most of his opportunity to live out his dream.

“The Walk-On” is currently available at authorhouse.com and will shortly be sold at UA bookstores and local retailers, as well as on Amazon.com

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747