THE FRONT ROW WITH BRUCE BOURQUIN: Feb. 21, 2014

Someday within a few years, Bryce Leavitt just might be the prosecuting attorney working on a criminal case somewhere in a nice courtroom.

But first, the 6-foot-5 point guard who transferred from Washington State has some business to attend to on the basketball court, while playing the past season for North Idaho College.

Leavitt and the Cardinals (19-10, 6-8 Scenic West Athletic Conference) wrap up the regular season Saturday at 5 p.m. on Rolly Williams Court against the College of Southern Idaho. The Region 18 tournament begins next Thursday at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.

NIC will probably have to win the whole shebang, as well as a play-in game, in order to advance to the NJCAA Division I tournament, which will be held March 17-22 in Hutchinson, Kan.

"That's our plan right now is to win region," Leavitt said. "It's too late to get an at-large bid."

LEAVITT, A political science major who owns a 3.7 grade-point average, plans to get his law degree after he's done playing basketball. He lives on campus with teammates Braxton Tucker, Brad Wallace, Ty Higbie and Cole Kesler.

"My career goal is to become a criminal attorney," Leavitt said. "I'd like to play basketball overseas (after college). Whenever my playing days are over, that's what I'd like to do. I am into history and government. I tend to be a guy who argues a lot with the referees. My coaches don't like the fact I argue a lot."

North Idaho College coach Jared Phay said Leavitt is one of the best players he's ever coached - at any position.

Phay has harnessed Leavitt's desire to argue his case with the officials.

"Usually when he's arguing, he's right," Phay said. "I can see him doing that (being an attorney). He's a bright kid. We've seen a lot of growth there; he's a real competitive kid."

With NIC, Leavitt averages 12.9 points per game, second on the team. He shoots nearly 50 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3-point range.

"I think he's a lot better shooter," Phay said. "We also recruited him out of high school. I don't know if he had a defined position coming out of (Kennewick) high school. We had a need for a point guard and we were able to get him."

Leavitt is also a dedicated worker who spends at least three to four hours a day working on his game, including nearly 1,000 shot attempts before and after practice.

"Our security guards don't like him very much," Phay said jokingly. "He's a self-made kid. He's not the most athletically gifted kid, but he wants it really bad."

AS A preferred walk-on at WSU as a freshman in 2012-13, Leavitt averaged 5.7 minutes per game, scoring 13 points in 20 games.

When Washington State asked him to play as a preferred walk-on again for his sophomore season - not offering a full-time scholarship - Leavitt basically said thanks, but no thanks and left after the spring semester of last year. He transferred to NIC before this season, hoping to earn a scholarship at another Division I school for next season.

"There are no hard feelings toward Washington State," Leavitt said. "They decided to offer the scholarship to Danny Lawhorn, who was a JUCO player from Texas. Coach (Ken) Bone supported me the entire way and NIC saved my (college playing) career. Playing in the Pac-12 Conference is a pretty eye-opening experience. There's some of the best talent in the nation and it took my game to the next level. It was a great experience, I adapted to that and was able to hold my own at the end and it made me a better basketball player."

On Oct. 11, Lawhorn left Washington State nearly two weeks after the school announced that he had been suspended indefinitely from team activities, for a violation of team rules.

Leavitt said Portland State, Idaho State, Pepperdine, Albany and Columbia of the Ivy League have all offered scholarships. Eastern Washington and Montana, among several other schools, have also shown interest.

"I think what attracts some schools is the fact I can play three positions," Leavitt said of being able to play point guard, shooting guard and at times, small forward, point forward or in some teams' systems, a second wing player.

Leavitt said Jeff Hironaka, an assistant coach at WSU last year who is now at Portland State, helped steer him to NIC.

"He told me a lot of good things about coach Phay and coach (Corey) Symons and the North Idaho program," Leavitt said. "It was a pretty easy choice for me. I came here for a visit, I really liked what the coaches have planned for me and I felt like it was going to be a perfect fit. I committed pretty quick."

LEAVITT HAS been a nice fit for NIC and has at times dominated the Scenic West. He leads the SWAC in assists (5.6 per game) and free throw percentage (.864), is fourth in rebounding (6.0) and averages 11.2 points per game, good for 13th in the conference and third on the Cardinals. And boy, do those coaches love a good assist-to-turnover ratio. Leavitt is second in that category, at 2.2 to 1, behind Salt Lake Community College guard Kurtis Toolson at 3.2 to 1.

Leavitt said he's improved as a defender, as evidenced by his 1.0 steals per game, good for 15th in the conference.

"I wasn't a great defender," Leavitt said. "Coach Phay pushed me to the next level to make me a better defender. He made me a more complete player, he made me more accountable and made sure I played the game well on both ends of the floor. He made me mentally tougher. I guess no matter where I'm playing, I'm looking to pass a lot. I'd call myself a playmaker, I attack the basket."

Leavitt averages a team-high 31.1 minutes played.

"It's amazing to see him play," Phay said. "He's every bit as happy getting the assist as he is to score. His fearlessness of contact is great. He needs to realize how hard he has to work defensively."

PLAYING 172 miles northeast of Kennewick, Wash., Leavitt has been able to play in front of his father, Tim, who works as a construction manager for William Charles West, and Sandy, a physical therapy assistant at Washington Physical Therapy.

Leavitt was a first team all-state player at Kennewick, was MVP of the Columbia Basin Big Nine, led the league in assists per game (6.9) and was second in scoring (19.9).

"They come to most of my home games," Leavitt said. "My mom always tended to my injuries as a kid."

Now Leavitt can tend to business - leading NIC in the Region 18 tournament, trying to get to nationals.

And, after his playing days are done, perhaps he will be making sure his arguing on the court will be best served arguing in a courtroom.

Bruce Bourquin is a sports writer at The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2013, or via email at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @bourq25