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Logan • Including host Utah State, Tyrell Corbin might own the most recognizable last name of any player in this weekend's World Vision Classic at the Spectrum.

Corbin starred at West High School and played at Salt Lake Community College before ending up at Cal State-Bakersfield — one of four teams playing in the round-robin tournament starting Thursday night.

Oh, yes.

Corbin is also the son of former Utah Jazz player and coach Tyrone Corbin, whose connection to basketball in this state covered two decades. He now serves as the interim head coach of the Sacramento Kings.

"I have a great relationship with him," Tyrell Corbin said. "He's my best friend, and, as far as basketball goes, I can always go to him with any question. Obviously he's very experienced — like an open book of knowledge. So I've been able to take that and run with it."

There is a do-whatever-it-takes similarity in the Corbins' style of play, although Tyrell is a point guard. Tyrone was a small forward at DePaul in the early 1980s.

"I've talked to a lot of people about my dad, and the thing everybody says is he always worked hard," Tyrell Corbin said. "... I've tried to be like that."

A three-time all-state selection at West, Corbin played one season at UC Davis. He started 23 of 30 games and averaged 6.3 points, but decided to transfer.

Instead of going to another Division I school, which would have required him to sit out a year, Corbin came back to Salt Lake Community College.

"I had a couple of D-1 teams take a look," he said, "but that redshirt year was more of a risk in my eyes. ... I thought I needed to keep playing. When I got the chance to come back home — with my family there — it was a no-brainer."

On a junior college team that included Gary Payton Jr., who ended up at Oregon State, Corbin thrived. He averaged 10.3 points and 4.5 assists. SLCC finished 29-5 and reached the second round of the national tournament.

"Just a great group of guys," Corbin said. "A group of guys that really clicked together. A very cool experience. ... I made friends for life."

Division I schools started re-recruiting Corbin, who narrowed his choice to CSU Bakersfield and Seton Hall.

"I was blessed to have some options," Corbin said. "... But I felt Bakersfield wanted me the most. I liked the guys, and I liked coach [Rod] Barnes. He's tremendous. He's old-school, like my dad. I felt I could play here."

The fact Corbin had a chance to return to a school with warm winter weather didn't hurt, either.

"California is California," he said. "Bakersfield is more in the desert [than Davis]. But it's close to L.A., and I love the atmosphere."

CSU Bakersfield opens the World Vision Classic against Utah State. The Roadrunners are 1-8, but that's misleading. They opened the season with a 100-99 loss in four overtimes to High Point. They've lost their past four games by a combined 11 points.

"The ball isn't bouncing our way," Corbin said. " ... It's been tough, but we're optimistic because we know our record isn't a true indication of our team or what kind of season we can have."

Next year?

Corbin could find himself following in his father's footsteps — probably not in professional basketball, but into coaching.

"I've been around basketball my whole life," he said, "and I've played for a lot of good coaches. Being around my dad, I've pick things up, too. So I might try to make the transition. I grew up around basketball. It's kind of been my life."

luhm@sltrib.com Twitter: @sluhm —

World Vision Classic schedule

Thursday

5:30 p.m. • Idaho State (3-5) vs. South Dakota State (6-3)

8 p.m. • Utah State (4-4) vs. CSU Bakersfield (1-8)

Friday

5:30 p.m. • CSU Bakersfield vs. South Dakota State

8 p.m. • Utah State vs. Idaho State

Saturday

5:30 p.m. • CSU Bakersfield vs. Idaho State

8 p.m. • Utah State vs. South Dakota State —

Utah State vs. CSU Bakersfield

P At the Spectrum

Tipoff • 8 p.m.

TV • KMYU

Radio • 610-AM, 1280-AM, 102.1-FM

Records • Utah State 4-4; CSU Bakersfield 1-8

Series • Utah State, 7-0

Last meeting • Utah State, 75-69 (2011-12)

About the Aggies • They are 4-0 when trailing at halftime, but 0-4 when leading at halftime. ... In their wins, they have rallied from deficits of 18, 15, 12 and 10 points. ... They are led by sophomore F Jalen Moore (15.0) and freshman C/F David Collette (13.9). ... In his first start, freshman G Julion Pearre scored 11 points during Saturday's 50-47 win at Utah Valley.

About the Roadrunners • They have lost four straight — to South Dakota, UC Riverside, Fresno State and Portland State — by a total of 11 points. ... Junior C Aly Ahmed averages 14 points and 5.4 rebounds. Junior F Kevin Mays averages 8.8 points and 9.7 rebounds. ... As a team, they shoot 27.7 percent on 3-pointers.