Colorado's All Time Top Prep Star? Tom Chambers - By A Spurt

DENVER - Midway through high school, Tom Chambers gave little indication he was destined to become the greatest basketball player ever to come out of Colorado.

``After his sophomore season, he was a 6-2 guard,'' remembers Tom McCracken, Chambers' coach at Fairview High School in Boulder.

Then something amazing happened.

``He grew seven inches in six months - without losing a drop of his coordination,'' McCracken said from his office at Morningside College in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Chambers had another spurt last Sunday, a career-high 56 points for Phoenix against Golden State. For McCracken, it was a flashback to March 1977. In his final high-school game, Chambers hit 20 of 30 shots on his way to big-school state-tournament records of 50 points and 22 rebounds.

``At that time I never saw a kid that big run the floor like he did,'' McCracken said.

Chambers took his talent to the University of Utah. Later, he was the San Diego Clippers' No. 1 draft pick. Thirteen years later, he still keeps contact with his high-school coach.

``Any time I've asked him for anything - to meet my players or recruit for me - he's always been there,'' McCracken said. ``In fact, Tom helped recruit my best kid this year.''

Guard Chris Kuhlman ranks 10th in NCAA Division II scoring at 24.5 per game.