Next stop: Pullman

By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com

I know a lot of fans in Class B will be glad to see Stringtown’s James Watson head out to Pac-10 country at Washington State.

Some because he was a thorn in the side of opposing teams. While others probably felt Watson got away with just about everything as a Tiger.

On a much much smaller scale, could almost see how Shaquille O’Neal felt when he was dominating the NBA. The constant banging and bruising from the little guys because the little guys knew they could get away with it.

Watson had to endure a lot.

But it’s not even close to his struggles off the court. Thankfully, those struggles all seem like past issues as the future looks brighter than ever for Watson.

How can you not cheer for someone who went through 14 foster homes? Or when he found a family that would love and care for him, only to see an adopted sister died in a car accident?

Speaking with his adopted mother, Annette Watson, at length before Saturday’s game, she said something that really echoed with me about James finding peace.

Rightfully so, James was very slow to let people in. When you’ve been down the roads he’s been, that’s understandable. Annette said everything about James was anger. That was always his first emotion.

This year things have been different. Former players C.J. Washington and Orlando Brown commented to me about how calm James was on the floor where last year he would have gotten upset.

I guess the good and the bad of it all is that right at the time when James is truly finding himself and becoming the person he wants to be, he’s leaving to be a Cougar.

Annette’s not worried because even though she’s always felt James was part of the family, she now knows that James feels they are his family.

B Boys Notebook

Watson to honor his sister: Stringtown’s James Watson has sported No. 42 his entire high school career.