CSUN INSIDE LOOK: ASSIST LEADER CARR IS TRUE IMPACT PLAYER.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

Those looking at statistical leaders can't help but notice Markus Carr leads the nation in assists.

While they might not know who Carr is, they will this week when the Cal State Northridge point guard steps onto the NCAA Tournament stage.

The nation will see more than just a 6-foot-1 junior from Palmdale who averages 8.8 assists per game. They'll see the real driving force behind the Matadors' first postseason berth.

They'll see the man who said, ``Isn't it amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit?''

They'll see the man Carr's mother, Berna Grant, knows is friendly, unselfish and unassuming, as quick with a joke as a pass to a teammate.

It's no laughing matter that Brian Heinle gets the chants of ``MVP! MVP!'' when he steps to the free-throw line and gets named the Big Sky Conference tournament's most valuable player. But even Heinle readily acknowledges the importance of all-tournament selection Carr.

``I wouldn't play with any other point guard in the country,'' said Heinle, who estimates ``99.9 percent'' of his points come from Carr assists. ``He knows how to get me the ball. He's always looking for me.''

In the CSUN media guide Carr lists his favorite athlete as Michael Jordan, and Grant said her son had plenty of Jordan posters in his room.

But he also had plenty of Magic Johnson posters, which seems fitting because in some ways, Carr is a throwback to Johnson, who peacefully coexisted with a big man/scoring machine and was just as satisfied getting that player the ball as scoring points himself.

A burst of speed down the court, a quick pass here, a no-look there, and Carr suddenly has another assist. A little showtime at Northridge.

``I love players like that,'' Eastern Washington point guard Jamal Jones said of Carr, who averages more assists than points. On Saturday, he had 13 points and nine assists in 34 minutes.

``I don't love him having played against him, but it's great to see a true point guard like that.''

Carr does it all. He creates turnovers, runs the fast break, sets up the half-court game, calls the huddles, sinks free throws and occasionally makes the game-winning shot, as he did March 1 at Eastern Washington.

That moment, which gave the Matadors the regular-season conference championship and tournament hosting honors, is the Northridge equivalent of Magic Johnson's hook shot.

Jones says there is no doubt: Carr is CSUN's true MVP.

``He's like the quarterback. As he goes, as he flows, that's how the team goes,'' Jones said. ``He sets so many players up, and he does so many things that's not scoring, that's not seen in the box score.

``Nothing against Heinle. He's a great player, but Carr does multiple things. He got it going tonight. He had a great game tonight.''

As a result, Carr will have to find a new greatest frustration. The media guide lists it as not making it to the NCAA Tournament.

Now, he gets his chance.

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Photo: CSUN's Markus Carr drives to the hoop against Eastern Washington's Kareem Hunter (24) and Jamal Jones (23) in the second half.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer