Scott Knox

Steve Virgen

The three-point shot has been an asset for the Costa Mesa High boys

basketball team for the past five years. Ryan Naff, Steve Whittaker,

Chad Vakili, David Conte and Danny Krikorian are former players who

took advantage of the Mustangs’ penchant for three-pointers.

Add Scott Knox to that list, and his name comes with a special

uniqueness. Opposed to the players before him, Knox is the only one

to lead his team in scoring as a sophomore.

Yet ask Knox if he’s comparable to those former players and he

remains humble, striving to improve.

“I don’t know if I’m quite at that level yet,” said Knox, who grew

up in Costa Mesa and used to watch those players in action.

“Hopefully I could be at their level soon.”

Knox, a 6-foot guard, is seemingly on his way, as he is intent on

being more than just a three-point shooter. For now, outside shooting

is his strength and he’s fortunate to be in Coach Bob Serven’s

system. Costa Mesa’s fifth-year coach likes the three-pointer and has

given Knox the green light to launch from downtown.

“He has done a real nice job, being only a sophomore and taking

the responsibility of being a scorer on our team,” Serven said. “The

good thing about Scott is that he’s having a good year and there are

areas that need improvement. That’s a plus for him. He’s getting a

lot of experience. As he continues to play more he’ll get better.”

Knox, who has a strong love for the game -- “It’s pretty much all

I do,” he said -- is excited to know he has freedom to shoot from the

outside. The opportunity also motivates him.

“[Serven] trusts me and he puts a lot of faith in me to make

baskets and make plays,” Knox said. “I try not to overdo it to the

point that he would take that privilege away from me. If I’m being

guarded I have to give it to one of my players.”

When Knox has an open shot, Serven wants him to shoot it. Serven

has noticed the work Knox has put in to become a better shooter, and

so now he confides in the sophomore. The coach also trusted Knox

enough to make him a team co-captain.

“He has the freedom to shoot,” Serven said. “You can’t be a good

shooter, knowing if you miss a shot you’re coming out. The way we

play you earn that privilege.”

Knox continued to solidify himself as Mesa’s most dangerous

outside shooter with a 28-point performance that included a

personal-best seven three-pointers Dec. 30 when he led the Mustangs

to a 56-51 victory over Gahr in the 13th-place final of the Orange

Holiday Classic. The 28 points tied his career high. He was 7 for 14

from three-point range (50%).

“Everything was clicking,” said Knox, the Daily Pilot Athlete of

the Week. “I felt that I was in the zone.”

The day before schooling Gahr, Knox knocked down two

three-pointers and scored 18 points in a 55-41 win over Cabrillo of

Long Beach. He had a game-high 20 points in a 58-39 win at Saddleback

Monday, when he hit four three balls and he had one more Wednesday,

bringing his season total to 48 three-pointers, which leads all

players in the Newport-Mesa area in games through Jan. 7.

“I think it’s a big credit to my team,” Knox said. “We run a lot

of plays and they help get me open. And they hope loosen up the

defense when they’re hitting shots.”

As Knox continues to gain experience he said he will be building

toward the goal of playing basketball in college, as well. He has

great potential, Serven said.

“The great thing about basketball is you get out of it what you

put into it,” Serven said. “I don’t have a crystal ball, but Scott

loves the game of basketball and those are the kind of players you

like having on your team.”