by Eliav Appelbaum
Nov. 28, 2008
The Simi Valley Acorn
republished with permission of the author.

Marty Wilson and Lorne Jackson joke around with each other as if they've been friends for years.

Wilson, an associate head coach for the Pepperdine men's basketball team, is talking about his Simi Valley High record—one that's still up on the gym wall— for owning the fastest time running a double suicide sprint.

"That record's been up there for 25 years," Wilson says with a Cheshire cat grin. "I remember it like it was yesterday."

Jackson, who graduated from Simi in the spring and is a freshman point guard for the Waves, never ran double suicides in high school, just regular suicides.

"What did you finish them in? Fiftyfour seconds?" an incredulous Jackson asks.

"Don't try to cheap me out of a few seconds," Wilson responds in a genial laugh. "It was 52 seconds."

That connection between coach and player has been forged in only a short amount of time. But it's only fitting that Jackson and Wilson landed at Pepperdine together.

The similarities between the two are almost eerie.

Wilson, who also played point guard throughout his career, won the Marmonte League's MVP award as a senior in 1983-84. Jackson was co-MVP of the Marmonte in 2007-08.

The coach played his college ball at Pepperdine, graduating in 1989. Jackson is starting his first season at Pepperdine.

Wilson spent 1990-96 as an assistant coach with the Waves. When Tony Fuller abruptly resigned after a practice in January '96, Wilson took over as an interim head coach for the final 13 games. That stretch included a memorable upset victory against Santa Clara in the West Coast Conference Tournament—Steve Nash's last college contest.

After 11 years and stops at the University of San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and Utah, Wilson has returned to his roots.

"This is home," Wilson said in his modest office on Monday afternoon. "I'm excited to hopefully get this thing—in a hurry—back in the right direction."

Wilson was honored at Simi Valley's alumni game on Wednesday, and had a chance to catch up with some old friends and teammates.

Part of the allure of returning to Pepperdine was that Wilson will take over the head coaching position when Tom Asbury retires.

Asbury, who coached Wilson during the Pacoima native's senior season with the Waves, spent six years guiding Pepperdine to five postseason appearances, and another nine as an assistant coach.

Asbury brought in Wilson and former Pepperdine players Damin Lopez and Will Kimble as assistants to help the program return to glory.

The Waves went 11-21 last year and have lost at least 20 games in each of the last three seasons.

"It's been comfortable, but I wouldn't say it's been smooth," Wilson said.

"We had some very successful teams when I was here, but it's diminished quite a bit since then. That's the challenge of coming back: trying to build it up again."

This is clearly a rebuilding year or, as Wilson puts it, "a building year." The Waves have eight freshmen or walk-ons, three sophomores, three seniors and no juniors. Jackson is adjusting to the next level with help from Wilson and the other coaches.

"The physical aspect is different," said Jackson, whose twin brother, Langston, plays football at UC Berkeley.

"I'm not as big, and everybody's just as quick as you are, and that makes the game a whole lot harder."

Wilson has encouraged Jackson, an unselfish pass-first guard who relishes playing Superglue defense, to look more for his jump shot.

The coach didn't hesitate when asked why he recruited Jackson.

"He's a Simi guy," said Wilson, who played with current boys' basketball coach Christian Aurand. "I know what he went through, and I know the discipline (Aurand) demanded from him and his teammates. I always want to get a guy from a winning program and a disciplined program."

Although Pepperdine is off to a 1-4 start, Jackson is enjoying his first year on the Malibu campus.

Jackson has lofty goals before he's finished: He wants to win at least two WCC titles and make the NCAA Tournament twice.

Wilson nodded his head in approval.

So, who's the better player?

"He shoots it better than I did," Wilson said, "but he didn't defend like me."

"I'm a lot better than he used to be," Jackson said.

The two hoops junkies bust up in laughter, like long-lost friends reunited.