Wilkinson, a sophomore center at Salt Lake Community College, didn't play a minute of basketball while he was at Bingham High. But shortly after returning from an LDS Church mission to Canada, he decided he wanted to tackle the sport. Wilkinson contacted the SLCC coaching staff and secured a tryout.

Most people would have been thrilled to just make the team, even if meant only as a walk-on, getting mop-up minutes here and there. But Wilkinson's 6-foot 8-frame and natural abilities promised a bigger and better role.

He quickly became the team's starting center, and now finds himself drawing ever-increasing attention as a legitimate NCAA Division I prospect.

It all has the makings of a great underdog story. Wilkinson, however, doesn't picture himself that way.

"I've never looked at myself as an underdog," Wilkinson said. "I never thought, coming into this, that I didn't have the talent to be successful. That was never a question in my mind."

His stats certainly don't bear the markings of an underdog.

Wilkinson led the Bruins in both scoring and rebounding as a freshman, finishing with 14.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. This year is more of the same. Once again, he leads the team in both categories, averaging 17.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Wilkinson is also one of only a few of players to be named both an All-American and an Academic All-American in the NJCAA.

Bruins coach Norm Parrish compared getting a player of Wilkinson's caliber to collecting manna in the wilderness. When Wilkinson called, it wasn't the first time Parrish had some kid trying to convince him to open a roster spot.

But none them had his size either.

"We literally get hundreds, a year, of those phone calls," Parrish said. "Not all of them are 6-foot-8, though. So when he said, 'I'm 6-foot-8', it got my attention."

Parrish watched Wilkinson play two days later. He liked what he saw and wasted no time adding him to the team. Since then, he has been impressed with what the sophomore brings to the basketball court.

Of course, having no high school playing experience created a steeper learning curve for Wilkinson. The need for a stronger inside game came with his new role in the Bruin offense. It marked a change of pace for Wilkinson, who had always considered himself more of a jump shooter.

"I was never used to playing on the low post," Wilkinson said. "Being able to score with my back to the basket has been a huge adjustment for my game."

He has become more balanced offensively, which has been vital to SLCC's success as the season progresses. Parrish said Wilkinson can score in a variety of ways - a jump hook, layup or a screen-and-roll.

The Bruins do all they can to maximize his ability.

"Everything we run goes through him," Parrish said.

Wilkinson is drawing attention from a growing list of Division I schools. UNLV, Utah State and Fresno State have all expressed interest in acquiring his services.

It is a satisfying time for Wilkinson. He sees playing basketball at the Division I level as his primary avenue to financing an education, and believes playing at SLCC has put him on that path.

"It's just opened so many doors academically and athletically," Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson file

* Bingham High graduate Gary Wilkinson has been the team leader in scoring and rebounding at SLCC for the last two seasons.

* The 6-foot-8 Wilkinson is excelling in the junior college ranks despite having never played high school basketball.