LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON CSUN'S CHITWOOD GETS HELP FROM HINSON, FORMER NBA STAR.

Byline: IVAN OROZCO Staff Writer

Calvin Chitwood's mother realized her son might one day dribble a ball on a hardwood floor the day she found him sneaking a basketball out of a retail store.

Chitwood was about 4 when he showed his mom a miniature basketball he grabbed without her knowledge.

Cynthia Chitwood quickly asked her son -- who today dribbles a basketball for Cal State Northridge -- to return the smuggled goods and apologize. The toddler chose the basketball from other sports equipment available.

``Growing up, he tried soccer, karate, football and other sports, but basketball has always come to him by nature,'' Cynthia Chitwood said.

Chitwood might have gravitated toward basketball because it was in his blood. Chitwood, a 6-foot-8, 219-pound junior forward, was already dunking miniature balls through hoops without knowing his father was a professional basketball player.

``It's just one of those situations in which I didn't know he was my son until he was 10 years old,'' said Roy Hinson, Chitwood's father. ``When I first found out, it was a joy.''

Hinson, a forward-center, played in 507 NBA games from 1983 to 1991, scoring 7,206 points during his career. He was a first-round draft pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers (20th overall) out of Rutgers and went on to play for the Philadelphia 76ers and NewJersey Nets.

Hinson's best season came in 1985-86, when he averaged 19.6 points per game with Cleveland.

``When I first met him, I told him `Don't plan to go to the NBA,''' Hinson said. ``There's so few that make it and most don't possess what it takes.

``I think he (Chitwood) has all the physical talents to get to the NBA, but might be lacking the hunger that you need. Just have fun. Make sure he's hitting his shot, rebounding balls and just enjoy playing.''

Chitwood's mother talked to her son about his dad, but that didn't influence him in choosing the sport.

``Obviously, he gave me good genes, so I can thank him for that,'' Chitwood said of his father. ``Just finding out he was in the NBA was pretty cool.

``But ever since I was little I've always enjoyed that round basketball over there. It's always been the love of my life. I think it's just a coincidence that I'm playing basketball just like him.''

Although Chitwood was raised mainly by his mother, who lives in Phoenix, he credits Hinson for being a positive influence, opening what he called ``another chapter in my life.''

Chitwood, 20, felt the pressure of trying to live up to standards set by his father. He also felt the pressure of managing classes and a busy basketball schedule during his sophomore season at CSUN, when he missed the first nine games after being declared academically ineligible.

``That was hard for me just to sit out,'' Chitwood said. ``For me it was very embarrassing. I felt very disappointed in myself because I felt I let down my family, my teammates and the people of this university.''

In his first game back that season, he came off the bench against Pepperdine and scored 17 points. Chitwood credits his mom, coaches and his father for helping him overcome his difficulties that season.

``He's been there, he's given me advice and I appreciate that from him,'' Chitwood said of his father, who works for the NBA Players Association. ``But most of the time I really look (to) my coaches.

``I really don't look for family. Because a lot of time family and ... a lot of people only see what's on the stat sheet or what the score says. They don't really see what's going on in practice everyday or what's going on, on the court, off the court.''

On the court, Chitwood has become a leader for the Matadors, who return from a four-game road trip to host Big West Conference rival UCIrvine (7-9, 1-1) tonight at the Matadome. He is the team's second-leading scorer with 184points, 19 behind guard Jonathan Heard, and leads the team with 21 steals.

Chitwood was averaging 15points per game after the Matadors' first eight games, including a career-high 30-point performance in a win against Eastern Washington.

Currently, he is averaging 13.2 points per game. Chitwood has struggled to produce points lately for the Matadors (7-7, 1-2). Since a 26-point outing against The Master's College on Dec. 14, he has averaged 8.5points in four games, and CSUN has lost three of those contests.

``(Chitwood) should be playing better basketball,'' CSUN head coach Bobby Braswell said. ``He's one of our best players, if not our best player. We just got to get him to produce it in his numbers. He's not rebounding the ball well right now.

``Everybody goes through these spurts. But I think a lot of it has to do with our opponents focusing on him because he is a go-to guy for us. We're just hoping he's going to snap out of this thing and start playing better.''

Braswell said part of Chitwood's struggles might be due to the pressure of performing at a certain level because of his father's background.

``I think in a way, if you are not careful it can become a level of stress for him, too,'' Braswell said. ``There's always that idea of living up to what people's expectations might be. It's not easy. You might feel you've got to play at a certain level so people will know that you can represent.

``I think Calvin carries that a little bit. I think he carries the baggage that his dad did have a good career in the NBA. We tell him he needs to relax and be the best player he can be at Northridge in games and in practice.''

Chitwood has earned the respect of his teammates and has adopted the responsibility of being a role model. After a recent practice, Chitwood put his arms around sophomore guard Tre Peters, a Riverside City College transfer, and gave his teammate some words of encouragement.

``(Chitwood) is one of the nicest young men you'll ever meet,'' Braswell said. ``If I had a daughter old enough to marry him, he'd be the guy I'd want my daughter to marry.''

Chitwood has combined with 6-foot-10, 253-pound senior forward/center Thomas Shewmake to make up one of the conference's top threats in the paint.

``He's a scoring threat,'' Shewmake said of Chitwood. ``It just makes it easier for either one of us. One is doing good, the other one can benefit because now teams have to watch both of us. Once me and him can get rolling here, it will be a lot better. He'd be my pick for MVP of this league.''

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Calvin Chitwood, right, is averaging 13.2 points per game for CSUN.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) Calvin Chitwood's father, Roy Hinson, right, played in the NBA from 1983 to 1991.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Box:

CSUN vs. UC IRVINE