Bill Knight, El Paso Times

EL PASO, TX - The form is flawless, delivering the basketball in a smooth arc that nestles through the nets. It seems almost effortless ... effortless from hours and months and years of perfecting it.

Miguel Ayala almost can make it seem as if it is raining 3s, delivering basketball's version of the home run ball smoothly and easily. The young man grew up like many people in Mexico -- playing soccer. But there was an asterisk involved.

"My father and my two older brothers played basketball in Mexico," Ayala said. "In fact, my father played on two Olympic teams. So I grew up playing soccer, but I also grew up around basketball -- playing in the back yard, watching my dad and being around the national team. It was a good experience."

In just a season and a half at UTEP, Ayala already is eighth on the school's all-time 3-point list. He easily could finish in the top two or three by the time he finishes his second and final Miner season.

"I think one of the reasons I developed my shot was that, when I was young, I just liked to shoot," he said. "I was playing soccer and I wasn't serious about basketball yet. So when I played, I would just go out and shoot and shoot. I became serious about basketball when I was 13, and I gave up soccer. Now, I just work on my shot if I feel my form is different, if my wrist or something isn't just right."

Ayala left Mexico to attend junior college in California, learning English and basketball.

"It was hard for me to get used to the culture," he said. "I was learning the language, but I was shy and afraid to speak. I didn't want to say anything wrong, have people laugh at me. I would practice what I was going to say ahead of time."

The 6-foot-6 sharpshooter actually spent three years in junior college. First, he spent a season at Riverside Community College. Then he transferred to Fullerton Community College. He broke his hand two games into his second season and got a medical redshirt, then played a final season. Then he came to El Paso.

"I consider coming to UTEP one of the best decisions of my life," Ayala said. "I don't think I could find a better place for me -- the environment, the coaches, the players."

Ayala has put away his shyness and interacts well with his teammates. His sly sense of humor helps him fit right in.

When asked what Ayala brings to this team, the always joking John Tofi said quickly, "Nothing."

Laughing, Tofi then added, "No, seriously, Miguel is an important part of this team. Miguel is not your ordinary player. He may not be the most athletic, but he is always one of the smartest players on the court. He is always there to help a teammate, always there to make a play. And when we need momentum, he is always there to knock down a big three."

Ayala also plays with a fierceness. He works hard to defend and he almost certainly will be the first Miner to dive on the floor for a loose ball. He also is deadly from the free-throw line, making 67 of 76 free throws in his Miner career (89 percent).

Now Ayala is hoping his Miners can repeat last year's wonderful run to the NCAA tournament.

"That's our goal," he said. "But we not only want to make it, we want to do better than last year and win our first game. That is everyone's goal."

One thing is certain. If the Miners need three points, they will run screen after screen to get Miguel Ayala an attempt to launch one of those flawless attempts. And if they can get him free, they will feel very, very good about their chances.