Cypress alum and NBA great Mark Eaton calls the state of Utah home. After spending so many years playing for the Utah Jazz as one of the league’s most dominant centers, it is no surprise that Eaton has a certain fondness for the state that supported him during his playing heyday. But his real home is in Orange County. Cypress College is part of his homegrown roots.
He came back home last weekend to take part in several activities honoring him and fellow Cypress College alum Swen Nater. The two big men and their towering presence on the basketball court were at the center of attention Feb. 21 and Feb. 22, when the duo both had their jerseys retired at Cypress College and were celebrated at the Cypress College Foundation’s 39thAnnual Americana Awards, which was held at the Disneyland Hotel’s Grand Ballroom, respectively.
Both Eaton and Nater were both feted as the 2014 39thAnnual Americana Awards “Man of the Year.” The ceremony at Cypress College on Feb. 21 was a little bit louder and raucous than it was at the elegant pageantry of the Americana Awards as both Eaton and Nater joined their mentor and coach Don Johnson in being honored during halftime of the Cypress women’s basketball game.
The mood was celebratory and fun to watch as Eaton, Nater and Johnson received thunderous congratulatory applause and a standing ovation from the student body and Cypress College officials. There is plenty to celebrate about both Eaton and Nater. Nater didn’t play a lick of team basketball at the high school he attended. Eaton had thoughts about being an automobile mechanic.
Both men found grace and a door opening to the world of what they can do on the basketball world thanks to the discovery of Tom Lubin and the guidance of Johnson.
Eaton has made a big splash recently, going back to his high school alma mater at Westminster High to see his jersey retired. Cypress College, however, is the defacto place where Eaton took up his basketball roots. Now a motivational speaker, Eaton and Nater came under the tutelage of the legendary Johnson. It was Johnson who took both big men under his wing and crafted their skills to become great basketball players.
More importantly, Johnson helped shaped the two men’s character-not only as a coach-but also as a mentor and educator. Nater starred for the Chargers, leading Cypress to a state title before enjoying stardom at UCLA and professionally, where he played 12 years, including stints in the NBA and ABA (American Basketball Association).
Nater led the NBA and the now defunct ABA in rebounding. According to statistics, he is the only player to hold that distinction. He still holds the franchise (Milwaukee Bucks) mark for rebounds in a single game and can still boast of still having the all-time mark at the California community college level for hauling down most boards in a contest (39).
That’s some pretty impressive stuff. But what Eaton has managed to do might rival his Cypress College contemporary. All Eaton did was become the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year on two occasions and earn a spot on the league’s All-Defense Team seven times.