The 6-foot-1, 195-pound playmaker-deluxe signed with the Bruins during the November 1996 signing period, after receiving serious interest from just one other major college Iowa State.

Close-to-home Kansas University pursued Watson as a Plan B, fallback type prospect.

“The thing is, KU got in late,” says Watson, a four-year starter who will quarterback the Bruins during tonight’s first-round Coaches Versus Cancer game between KU and UCLA.

Tipoff is 5:30 p.m., Lawrence time, at Madison Square Garden. Kentucky and St. John’s, the other two teams in the four-team tourney, will tip about 8 p.m.

“They wanted Baron Davis or Khalid El-Amin. Coach (Roy) Williams wanted me to wait until the spring signing period. He said if those two guys don’t come, they’ll consider me. I went with the option that was the best for me. I realized coach Lavin (Steve, UCLA) gave me a chance from Day One.”

Watson and Los Angeles point guard prospect Davis both wound up at UCLA, while El-Amin, a blue-chipper from Minneapolis, tabbed UConn.

“I’m not upset (at KU). Everything happens for a reason,” said Watson. “I wouldn’t trade this for anything. I always say I have two homes Kansas City and L.A.”

Watson says there’s no extra incentive for this year’s season-opener.

It will mark the first time he’s played against the Jayhawks, a team he followed as a youth.

“I play KU like any other team,” said Watson, who averaged 11.4 points and 5.9 assists a year ago. “I’ve been in college too long to think about one game being more important than another. I can’t make this ‘Earl Watson versus the University of Kansas.’ UCLA and KU are bigger than Earl Watson.

“KU has great tradition. UCLA in my opinion has the greatest tradition. I realize I will be representing the state of Kansas and University of California Los Angeles during this game.”

Watson is looking forward to shaking hands and chatting with Jayhawk seniors Kenny Gregory and Eric Chenowith.

“At Nike camp (in 1997) we had a team of Kenny, myself, Baron, Eric and Marcus Fizer. That was a pretty good team,” Watson said.

Watson holds his own with anybody in that group.

He ranks eighth all time on UCLA’s career assist list (441) and fifth on the all-time steals chart (174). He needs 52 steals to overtake Tyus Edny as No. 1 steal leader in school history.

His best game last year came in the NCAA Tournament when he had a a school-record 16 assists in a rout of Maryland. That came after a 12-assist effort versus Ball State. Watson finished the season with five assists in a Sweet 16 loss to Iowa State.

His postseason performance has drawn the attention of some analysts who label him the most unselfish point guard in the country.

“I appreciate that very much. I take pride in being unselfish, being the leader,” said Watson, who has a jammed little finger on his shooting hand entering the opener.

“I don’t take it in,” Watson said of preseason accolades. “To this day I do not read the papers. I put all the pressure on myself. I am not yet where I want to be. I have not reached my peak yet. I have not yet won a national championship.”

Not many expect the Bruins, 21-12 a year ago, to contend for a title this year. UCLA returns starters Watson, Jason Kapono and Dan Gadzuric, but lost JaRon Rush and Jerome Moiso to the NBA Draft. Rush wasn’t picked; Moiso was a first-rounder.

“We still have depth,” Watson said. “We would be deeper with JaRon and Jerome, but we have 10 guys who can play. Jason Kapono (6-7 sophomore) is one of the best shooters in the country. Dan Gadzuric (6-11, 235 junior) is a great player in the middle.

“We want to win every game desperately. I’m a winner. I cannot stand losing. I think that attitude is contagious.”

What about the season opener?

“KU is a very solid team, a very good team. The best team that night will win. These are two good teams. Whoever executes for a full 40 minutes will win the game,” Watson said.