GOAZCATS.com - Bagga details life as walk-on in book

October 24, 2009

Rahsaan Gethers
GOAZCATS.com Staff Writer

During the 2005-2009 basketball seasons for the Arizona Wildcats, there was always one staple in the program. Whether it was on the end of the bench or coming into the game to hit the last three-pointer of the game, there is no doubt that David Bagga was a Wildcat in its truest form.

Bagga followed in the footsteps of many walk-on players in Tucson who became crowd favorites and in some cases, college basketball coaches. No one really knows about the perspective of a college walk-on at Arizona but one common factor is that they really loved the basketball program.

Now, Bagga would like to take fans on a trip down Championship Drive during his four seasons in a Wildcat walk-on. Authoring the book The Walk-On, Bagga says that the book is a vision long in the making and has planned on writing it once he graduated.

"I wanted to tell people the experience of a walk-on through my eyes," said Bagga. "Everyone knows about the next recruit to come on campus or the star players but not really the walk-ons. This project has been a vision of mine for several years now and now it's finally coming together."

The book was self-published through AuthorHouse, a company based in Indiana and the book is expected to be available on Amazon.com as well within the next two weeks. It's a little over 190 pages and is packed full of stories and program insight which every Wildcat fanatic would enjoy to read.

Bagga says that the message he wants to get out through this book is possible motivation for others to do what they want in life as well.

"The biggest thing is if I can do it, then anyone can too," explained Bagga. "When people hear 'walk-on' they think the kid that sits on the end of the bench who does nothing. But I took pride in what I do and being at Arizona.

"I had the opportunity to be around players like Chase Budinger, Jerryd Bayless and all my friends so it was great."

Bagga will always be remembered for his enthusiasm on the sidelines and always having a great attitude towards anything, even through the many coaching changes in which a walk-on could get lost in the mix. But through it all, the students sitting in the Zona Zoo section chanted "Dav-id Bagg-a!" almost every home game in his career.

From Lute Olson to Kevin O'Neill, Bagga tells how many of the experiences at Arizona helped shape him into the man he is today.

"In the book I tell a couple of stories such as the first one-on-one conversation I ever had with coach Lute Olson the first week of my freshman year," said Bagga. "It was the best conversation of my life. I will always remember it and it was with of a Hall of Fame coach which says a lot."

Probably the most famous walk-on to have dawned an Arizona uniform is Josh Pastner. The former walk on, assistant, turned head coach has always had a basketball mind but is known more for his great character.

Pastner was one of many role models for Bagga to follow and even says that his experience at Arizona almost matches that of the young prodigy.

"I'm right there with Pastner but he has a championship," Bagga said with a laugh. "I learned a lot from him about loving life and being a great person. Also talking with Jason Stewart, Brett Brielmaier, and Matt Brase was extremely beneficial in being a walk-on at Arizona. But no one more than Pastner; he's a great guy."

The Walk-On will be on sale for $15 for soft covers and $25 for hard covers and is on sale now through authorhouse.com. The price is meant to be reasonable for fans especially students who are on campus and Bagga hopes that many people will be able to share in his experience as a Wildcat.

The Arizona basketball program is one of the top programs in the nation and being a part of that is something that the former walk-on will never forget and he wants to thank the people who help make Arizona such a great program - the fans.

"People should really check it out," said Bagga. "It's a great story, has a great look inside the program for fans. Basically it's a big 'thank you' to the fans for making my experience so great at Arizona."