Jerry Tarkanian was itching to call it quits at Fresno State, his alma mater, a year ago. But the arrival of Maddox, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound point man from Compton (Calif.) High, inspired Tarkanian to stick around.

Since Tito Maddox (right) has become eligible, Fresno State is 19-4.(AP)

For a while, it was worth the wait, which is what Maddox fans had to do a lot of before seeing him on a basketball court again.

Academic deficiencies kept Maddox on the sideline for the end of his high school career and all of last season at Fresno State. He could get the year back if he stays on course to graduate with his class, but Maddox has other priorities.

He was also suspended by the NCAA for the first eight games of the 2000-01 season for taking a September trip with Southern California basketball player Jeff Trepagnie to Las Vegas, where he allegedly had contact with an agent. He won't talk about the issue.

Maddox's playmaking, however, has said plenty. In Division I basketball, only Markus Carr (8.8) of Cal State Northridge and Omar Cook (8.7) of St. John's have averaged more assists than his 8.1.

His shot (40.9 percent from the field) is dodgy, and his 3-point (31.2 percent) and free-throw (71.8 percent) abilities are adequate. At nearly 14 points and 32 minutes a game, he is his team's fourth-leading scorer and iron man. Pro scouts adore his potential.

Fresno State (25-6) unraveled in a Western Athletic Conference semifinal loss to Hawaii on Friday night, prompting Tarkanian to say that he really wasn't sure of his team's future.

That's an accurate assessment of Tarkanian's and Maddox's futures, too.

When the Bulldogs aren't careless or aloof, they can be a dynamic team, and they are 19-4 since Maddox became eligible.

Their home fans watched them win 17 of 18 games at Selland Arena, and Melvin Ely, Chris Jefferies, Demetrius Porter, Shannon Swillis and Maddox come close to replicating the suffocating defense and run-and-gun offense that powered Tarkanian's best teams at Nevada-Las Vegas 10 years ago.

When they're on, that is. When the Bulldogs are off, local prep power Clovis West could provide a stern test.

Family problems in his hometown have compromised Maddox's starting status at times, when he has bolted home down Highway 99 and missed practice without telling any team official. He doesn't care to discuss those details, either.

What is known is that Maddox, 19, is likely leaning toward leaving Fresno after this season for the NBA Draft. A few weeks ago, he told The Fresno Bee that there was probably less than a 50-percent chance he would stay in school.

When Duke sophomore point guard Jason Williams said he planned on staying in school for the next two seasons, Maddox figured he and Jamaal Tinsley of Iowa State would be wanted men as the top two point guards in the next draft.

Maddox told the Bee that he respects all the publicity Williams attracts and that he likes Williams, because he's humble.

"But this decision is mine," Maddox said. "Jason, he is in it for the school. I really don't know what he is thinking about. If Williams (were) in the situation my family is in, you know he would be going (pro) after this year."

Maddox, who has told Tarkanian no details of his home life, is certain Fresno State would be a preseason top-10 team if he and others return next season. But his main objective is to provide a safe home environment for his mother, stepfather and three siblings, far from Compton.

Not long ago, he ended a brief interview by jumping off a bleacher seat and saying everything will be fine in a couple of months.

"Nothing is settled," he told the Bee, "until I'm out of here."

Swillis even told Maddox before a practice last month that Andre Freeman would be the point guard next season, because Swillis knew Maddox would be gone. "Sayonara," the Bee quoted Swillis as telling Maddox.

Tarkanian has guided his alma mater to six consecutive 20-victory seasons, and he yearns to take it to a Final Four. Either way, the sunset might be imminent for him and Maddox.