Judkins recruited Palmer out of Pine View in 2003 when Judkins was at Snow College.

Palmer passed, choosing to stay at home and play for Dixie State under Jeff Kidder.

When Judkins became the coach at DSC, he tried a second time to get Palmer to play for him.

Again, Palmer balked.

Palmer finally accepted Judkins' offer to play basketball after being asked a third time.

"(The first time) I was going on my mission, so I wanted to stay home before I left," Palmer said. "(Judkins) got in contact with me after I came back from my mission, but I made the decision to Salt Lake Community College. ... After those two years, I had quite a lot of different offers, but I felt Dixie State was the best option for me."

Added Judkins: "I told him (after the third time), 'This is the third strike, and if I can't get you now, then I'm done with you.'"

Palmer hasn't let Judkins down since he came back to the Dixie State campus. The Pine View graduate started 45 games in the past two seasons, and is fifth on the school's all-time scoring list (482).

Palmer is averaging 10.7 points per game this season, good for third on the team behind Tom Whitehead and Donovan Plunkett.

However, Palmer's senior season hasn't always been smooth sailing.

After being named a preseason selection for the Pac West all-conference team, Palmer has fought through a rib injury, got stitches above his right eye and has had a few inconsistent games.

Yet the Red Storm are winning, making the injuries and lack of individual success meaningless.

"My expectations were high this year and a lot of things have happened that have hindered me," Palmer said. "We've had a great team season. We've played really well for us. I wouldn't trade anything for winning."

Judkins was expecting big things for Palmer as well. He said the senior had performed well in fall workouts and was in shape.

"I feel bad for him," Judkins said. "It just seems like one thing to the next. But that's the thing about Andy is that he plays hard and doesn't complain."

Nobody knows how hard Palmer plays other than Whitehead.

Whitehead and Palmer have been competing with or against each other for 10 years, and the two have built a strong friendship.

"I see Andy every day work hard and it makes me want to do the same," said Whitehead, a Dixie High graduate whose team fell to Palmer's Panthers three times during their senior season. "He's always been a great competitor and sportsman. It's always been an off-the-court friendship and on-the-court rivalry. We always try and compete at the highest level with each other."

Palmer is expected to graduate later this spring, but he said he will have a few more semesters to go at the college.

He has aspirations of becoming a physical therapist.

"Being apart of the Dixie State family is something I'll never forget," Palmer said. "It's a great school and community. There's a great bunch of people here and being apart of this athletic program has been a neat experience for me."

Judkins has also enjoyed being around Palmer - though he wishes he had more time to coach him.

"It sure would have been fun to coach him for four," Judkins said. "He's fun to coach and fun to be around."

(Jud Burkett / The Spectrum)