Spartan forward Jon Garavaglia looks to make his senior season the most memorable of his career.

Jon Garavaglia has at times soared and at other times stumbled since discovering basketball in the second grade. But what's in the past has no bearing on the future . . . a future that looks so bright in the eye's of the Michigan State forward.

The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Garavaglia is convinced his senior season is going to top all those who have gone before, good or bad, and propel him as far as his dreams will allow.

"I always watched Michigan and when they won the championship in '89, I was a big fan," Garavaglia said. "That's when I got the idea to play there. I thought that was the big show."

By his senior year in high school, the road to Ann Arbor and the "big show" looked as smooth as the hardwood.

Southgate Aquinas High School in the Detroit area, led by Garavaglia and his 16 points and 14 rebounds per game, was in the midst of a 28-0 season that would culminate in its first-ever Class C state championship. Garavaglia was crowned the state's "Mr. Basketball" and ranked as the fourth-best forward in the nation by Blue Chip Illustrated following the season.

Basketball programs from east to west were recruiting the rising star. Virginia, UNLV, Arizona State and Michigan State wanted Garavaglia.

Michigan wanted him too, but dreams change. Garavaglia chose to be a Spartan.

"His parents had a lot to do with it," said Southgate Aquinas assistant coach Mike Laginess. "Michigan had a lot of kids coming back, and he had a special bond with the coaches from Michigan State that did the recruiting. His parents just felt that State was a better decision."

The choice united Garavaglia with Jud Heathcote, the legendary Michigan State coach who had been at the Spartan helm since 1975 and had guided the team to the national championship in 1979.

Under Heathcote's watchful eye, Garavaglia averaged 2.7 points in 11.3 minutes per game during his freshman year. With future NBA players Shawn Respert and Eric Snow on the team, though, Michigan State had an extremely guard-oriented offense that wasn't conducive to Garavaglia's previous style of play.

The following season, Garavaglia's minutes ballooned to 24.8 per game. With Respert and Snow still on the roster, he was once again far from being the focal point of the offense.

"The first two years, you really don't know what its all about," Garavaglia admitted. "Seniors and upper classmen have to show you, but I made a lot of my own choices."

Those choices probably affected Garavaglia most when his chance to shine came last year.

"Jon came from great stock in that he had good parents," Laginess said. "He's had a lot of things given to him and has at times been lazy."

Unable to harness his immense natural ability, Garavaglia actually had a smaller role on last year's 16-16 squad, led by Heathcote's successor Tom Izzo, than he had the previous season. He started just 13-of-31 games and averaged only 20.7 minutes per contest.

In the off-season, Garavaglia came to the realization that time was running short, and he had just one year as a Spartan to prove he could play in the NBA.

"I think he's made giant strides this year from where he was his first three years," Izzo said. "I still don't think he's reached close to where he could be. At times, he's one of the better talented players in the league, and then there are times he struggles with his consistency and staying focused."

Through 12 games, four in the Big Ten, Garavaglia has been leading the team with 12 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, but at times he still lacks the consistency Izzo is so adamant about.

At 8 tonight at the Bryce Jordan Center, Garavaglia will take the floor in his continuing quest to keep his dreams alive.

"I'm hoping he's saved the best for last," Izzo said.

Garavaglia's just hoping he doesn't have to awake at season's end.