In Reddout they trust: CBC leans on talented swingman

Andrew Reddout learned the importance of hard work at an early age, helping out with his family’s orchards in Granger.

Everything he did for the family business — driving the tractor, running errands, sorting peaches at his house — shaped the work ethic behind his basketball prowess.

As a senior at Granger High School, Reddout was named the 2012 Class 1A state player of the year by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association.

He went on to play at Columbia Basin College, where he was a key contributor on the team that went to the 2014 conference tournament in Kennewick.

But last season, Reddout sat out to focus on his grades.

“It hurt so much not being able to play basketball,” Reddout said. “That was my first year not being able to play. It was one of the worst things, and so I figured out I have to get my grades right. I might as well get my degree playing the game I love.

“It helped me out. It made me focus and be a little more disciplined. I sat back and watched the game from the bench. It’s a totally different perspective now.”

CBC coach Rolando Garcia trusted that Reddout would do everything he could to play again.

“I told him, and I’ve told these boys, even the freshmen, ‘Don’t ever give up on me because I’m never gonna give up on you,’ ” Garcia said. “Some people probably cringe at me giving people second chances, but last time I checked, I’m here coaching for them, not them playing for me.”

With his grades improved, Reddout is putting up fantastic numbers for the Hawks (8-9 overall, 2-2 NWAC East), who host Spokane at 4 p.m. today.

The 6-foot-3 swingman is sixth in the NWAC in scoring (22.4 points per game) and rebounding (9.2), and second in assists (5.2).

More than the points and rebounds, though, Reddout counts his blessings. He knows he has an incredible opportunity to be playing college basketball, and he reminds his teammates of that, too.

“Some of the kids that are struggling with grades, I do tell them, ‘I don’t like going to school, either,’ but you have to do it if you want to play basketball,” Reddout said. “It’s a requirement. You’re a student-athlete. Student comes first, and athlete comes second, and there’s no reason to not get good grades. You’re coming to CBC and getting your school paid for; you might as well do good and get at least a general AA. It’s worth it.”

There’s no doubt that Reddout takes his role as team captain seriously.

“In practice, he’s trying to go 100 percent the whole time and make his team better,” CBC assistant Jordan En’Wezoh said. “If he sees someone slacking off, he will get in his face and say, ‘You’ve gotta step it up.’ ”

Reddout has stepped up his own game since the start of the season. He had three double-doubles in the first four games, but he also committed 34 turnovers — an average of 8.5 a game.

“I hadn’t played in an NWAC game in a year or so,” Reddout said. “I think I was a little nervous, but I think a little bit of it was trying to force it, and we did play some good teams in that early (part) — CSI (College of Southern Idaho) and Salt Lake City. That’s no excuse. But I trimmed them down now.”

He has turned the ball over 30 times in the past 13 games, an average of 2.3 per contest. He has had five games with just one turnover, but his goal is to have a zero-turnover game.

There’s that work ethic again.

“Sometimes certain student-athletes have to go through some maturing, maybe a year,” Garcia said. “It’s night and day with him. He’s a leader both on and off the court. I always knew he had it. It’s just him seeing it, and I think he finally sees it.”

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 5:45 PM with the headline "In Reddout they trust: CBC leans on talented swingman."