BYU basketball: Jimmer Fredette uses experience of playing with prisoners aid his high-scoring game

OKLAHOMA CITY — Before leaving his home in Glens Falls, N.Y., to begin a prolific college basketball career at BYU, Jimmer Fredette spent time in prison.

He chose to.

As an 18-year-old who had never committed a crime, Fredette regularly visited nearby penitentiaries with his older brother and played competitive basketball with the inmates. It was his way of giving back.

The decision to take the hardwood with criminals surprised many at the time, but now that the Cougars' junior guard is the talk of the NCAA Tournament after scoring 37 points in a first- round victory against Florida, he gets to speak proudly of it.

Before every game he plays, he feeds off those memories.

"To get to the recreational facility where the basketball court is, you've got to walk right through the yard," Fredette said. "It's where everybody is just chilling there, hanging out and they're looking at you."

"It was a little intimidating at first, seeing all these inmates watching you (from) the stands, but it was a great experience. It made you mentally tough."

Heading into Saturday's 7:10 p.m. second-round game against No. 2-seed Kansas State at the Ford Center, players and coaches who have seen him play are marveling at much more than his ability to keep his focus in tough situations.

After studying him on video, K-State forward Jamar Samuels thinks he is the best guard the Wildcats have seen all season. He said Fredette may possess even more talent than Wildcats leading scorer Jacob Pullen.

Pullen was agitated by that suggestion, but Samuels insists that in some ways it's true.

"My highlights on tape make me look good, but his highlights make him look like he should be in the NBA right now," Samuels said. "The way he scores the ball, he makes everything look so easy. I have yet to see him sweat, yet to see him miss a free throw, yet to miss an outside shot. He's a really good player."

Fredette has recorded some of the most brilliant individual efforts in college basketball this season. During a blowout victory at Arizona, he scored 49 points. Against TCU in the Mountain West Conference Tournament, he went off for 45. He has broken the 30- point barrier six other times. He's averaging 21.7.

BYU guard Jackson Emery said he regularly sees frustrated opponents ease up and start watching him when he's at the top of his game. As for him, well, he's used to big nights from Fredette by now.