Print edition: 
Wichita State sophomore Garrett Stutz doesn't want to reveal the details of how he developed his left hand.
He will tell you it helps him hustle table tennis games.
"I made a stupid decision in high school my junior year and I separated my right shoulder," he said. "For about a month I couldn't use my right hand at all. I did everything left-handed."
So beware if you're shooting pool, throwing darts or playing ping pong against Stutz.
"We have a ping-pong table at my house," he said. "If someone comes over . . . we'll play them left-handed without saying anything. If you're keeping up with them left-handed, you just keep going."
Stutz's dexterity with his left hand also pays off on the basketball court, where it is one of the many skills that makes him different from your average 7-footer. In WSU's final regular-season game, he made four baskets, two with each hand. He is using all his weapons with great impact recently _ averaging 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds over the past nine games.
"He's more confident," teammate Gabe Blair said. "He knows the things he's capable of, and he's going out there and doing them."
WSU (25-9) hosts Nevada (20-12) in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday at Koch Arena.
Anybody who watched Stutz at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament would agree. He scored 19 points against Missouri State. He dunked. He made 8 of 11 free throws. He made two three-pointers. And he provided one of the tournament's best highlights when he faked Northern Iowa center Jordan Eglseder off his feet, dribbled past him from the three-point line and dunked.
Stutz doesn't surprise WSU coach Gregg Marshall when he executes plays like those. They are evidence that makes Marshall confident Stutz can play in the NBA _ if he reaches his maximum potential. As many 7-footers are, Stutz is on the list for the NBA scouts to check. Stutz, in Marshall's mind, owns a head start on most big men.
"Some of the harder things _ like develop skills and grow to 7 feet _ those are things you can't teach," Marshall said. "He has great hand-eye coordination. He can hit a golf ball over 300 yards. How many 7-footers do you see swing a golf club, first of all, and secondly, hit it that well?"
His ability to use either hand and score over either shoulder is one of those skills. He blocked four shots against Missouri State, evidence of improving defense. He leads WSU with 60 offensive rebounds, evidence of his improving quickness and strength. By grabbing missed shots and using either hand to score, he is a threat to draw fouls.
"If you have two hands, it always keeps the defender guessing," Stutz said. "They can't play you one side or play a tendency."
The physical skills aren't where Stutz's value ends. He is one of the most vocal Shockers in practice, quick to encourage or put a teammate in the right position. He understands how Marshall wants things to run.
Now all those assets are coming together in March for a fine end to his sophomore season.
"I hit a little slump during the middle of the year and (my) confidence did go down a little bit," he said. "I stuck with it and shots started falling. I've been trusting myself a little more and trying to stay positive. Instead of going up there and thinking 'Don't miss,' I think 'I can make these.' "
Stutz, who is averaging 7.8 points and 4.3 rebounds this season, isn't a finished product. The last month proves he is on his way to being a special product at some point.
"Can I help him get a little more nasty?" Marshall said. "We're trying to do that. We're trying to get him a little tougher, a little stronger. He's got the harder things, that are impossible for me to help him with, already covered, being 7-foot and skilled."
