For anyone who watched this year's McDonald's All-American Game Dunk Contest, the  lasting image isn't of the winner (for the record it was future Blue Devil Gerald Henderson), but rather of the man who stole the show with several mindblowing dunks, future Arizona Wildcat Chase Budinger.  

Budinger, a San Diego native, is arguably even better at volleyball than basketball.  He won the Mizuno High School Volleyball Player of the Year Award this season and was a mainstay on the U.S. Junior National Team.   That's not to say he isn't a fantastic basketball player as well, as he was named the California Player of the Year and is widely considered the best basketball prospect out of San Diego since another goofy red-headed dude named Bill Walton. 

Although they both come from San Diego, Budinger's game should not be confused with Walton's at all.  A solid 6-8, Budinger blends the raw explosiveness that comes from his volleyball background with a great sense of the game and overall athleticism.  I think his natural position is at small forward, although he could excel equally as well at shooting guard or even power forward if needed in a pinch.  One observer has compared him to another former Wildcat, Sean Elliott, and I think the comparison is apt.  Whether his game ends up being as complete as Elliott's was is left to be seen, but Budinger does have a level of  athleticism that Elliott never had.

He'll have a chance to play tons of minutes early for Arizona Coach Lute Olson as Budinger can easily step in the small forward spot vacated by NBA draftee Hassan Adams.  With a veteran point guard in Mustafa Shakur there will be plenty of opportunities for Budinger to display his scoring touch.

And while there was some thought that Budinger was going to continue to try to continue his volleyball career at the high national levels, he dispelled a lot that concern in a recent interview at NBADraft.net  where he more or less said that his volleyball career was over and his focus was entirely on basketball.

Budinger's success should at the very least give basketball hopefuls a reason to consider taking up some volleyball as well, as the jumping and attacking instincts learned from the sport can add some depth to one's basketball abiliites. 

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