Stinnett, who helped Palo Verde win the state basketball title in 2004 and was Nevada's Class 4A player of the year in 2006, returns home tonight as the starting shooting guard for Creighton. Stinnett and the Bluejays (8-2) will play Fresno State (6-5) at 7:30 in the Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena.

Omaha is where Stinnett wound up, but it wasn't initially on his radar. He wanted to attend Iowa State and signed a letter of intent to play there. But Stinnett changed his mind after Cyclones coach Wayne Morgan was fired in March 2006, opting to play in prep school at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.

How small is Wolfeboro? There's not a fast-food place to found.

Stinnett was far from home, but his year at Brewster helped him get ready for Division I ball.

"I was ready to go to Iowa State, but ... going to prep school helped give me time to sort things out and allowed me to grow as a player and as a person," Stinnett said.

Enter Dana Altman, the longtime Creighton coach who was seeking a player who could provide offense.

"We needed someone with a different gear and who could score," Altman said. "He's a very gifted player and he's just scratching the surface in terms of his talent."

As a freshman, the 6-foot-3-inch Stinnett was second on the Bluejays with a 12.6-point average, earning him honors as the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. His potential was so highly regarded that this year he was voted to the preseason all-conference first team.

But Stinnett's sophomore season isn't going as well as anticipated. His 12.3-point average is second-best for Creighton, but his shooting has been inconsistent. He is making 27 percent of his 3-point shots compared to 32 percent last season.

"I think part of it is that defenses are more aware of him and are paying closer attention to him," Altman said.

Stinnett has no explanation for his cold shooting.

"The shots aren't dropping," he said. "I think I'm taking the same shots. But I've been working on the rest of my game so I can be the best all-around player I can be."

There have been other growing pains. Altman held Stinnett out of a 54-52 loss to Nebraska on Nov. 29, calling it a "coach's decision" and declining further explanation. Stinnett has played all five games since then, starting the last four, and his apparent disciplinary issue appears to have been resolved.

"Everything's cool," he said. "I love Creighton and I know I made a good choice."

Stinnett figures to have a sizable rooting section between family, friends and former Palo Verde teammates. He said he has been looking forward to tonight for months.

"It's my first time home in a couple of years, so it's important I keep my emotions in check and try not to get too excited," he said.

Stinnett won't be the only familiar face at the Orleans tonight. Three former Mountain West coaches are in the tournament: Rick Majerus, Steve Cleveland and Ritchie McKay.

Majerus, the former Utah coach, is in his second season with Saint Louis, which plays DePaul at 5 p.m. Former Brigham Young coach Cleveland is in his fourth year at Fresno State. McKay, who coached Colorado State and New Mexico, is in his second year at Liberty, which plays Northern Colorado at 2:30 p.m.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.