Institute instructor Cliff Rhoades knows there are students who don't always take class assignments seriously.
Matt Stucki was not one of them.
After the Idaho State University forward and his wife enrolled in a marriage class at the Pocatello Institute of Religion, Stucki told Rhoades that basketball commitments would prevent him from regular attendance. He asked his new instructor to provide him with assignments he could complete while on the road in order to receive credit.
"He was very honorable in following through with what he committed to do," Rhoades said.
Whether it's an institute class, a full-time mission or a perimeter jump shot, Stucki tends to do just that — follow-through.
Stucki is an Idaho native who has been a presence in the area's athletic arenas for years. After winning two state football championships and a basketball title at Pocatello's Century High School, he was offered a scholarship to play basketball for his hometown university.
Stucki then made what he calls an "easy choice."
"I had always wanted to go on a mission," Stucki said. "That was my No. 1 priority."
After his high school senior season in 2002, Stucki left to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nashville, Tenn., confident that basketball would be there for him upon his return.
Stucki called his mission a "springboard" for the rest of his life, which currently includes being a husband to former Bengal basketball player Chelsey Chambers and father to a 3-month-old baby.
"I wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world," said Stucki, who plans to pursue a master's degree in business and also attend law school. "It really has prepared me for all those other things in my life and how to juggle those."
Tim Campbell, who taught Stucki at the LDS seminary near Century High, said there was "never a question" about Stucki's priorities when it came to faith and athletics.
Campbell is another former teacher who remembers Stucki as someone who kept his commitments. During those years, Campbell became aware of several students who were struggling with their self-esteem. Stucki was one of the people Campbell pulled aside and asked to "go out of their way to make someone's life better" — and to be genuine about it.
"Matt was the only one who followed through on what he said he would do," Campbell said.
Another former seminary teacher, Jeff Carter, described Stucki as "one of the kids we always knew we could count on." Carter also said the 6-foot-6 multisport athlete maintained humility.
"Other than his physical size, you'd never know he was one of the star athletes of the high school by the way he behaved," Carter said.
Stucki's playing career at Idaho State came to a close March 10 in Ogden, Utah, when the Bengals lost to Portland State in the Big Sky Conference tournament. He never won a championship on the college level, and his final game, where he shot 1-for-6 and spent time on the bench with foul trouble, was far from his best.
His time at Idaho State, though, has been marked by steady improvement.
When reflecting on his four seasons in Bengal orange, Stucki focuses on the collective experience — what he called the "confident growth" of his team.
"We've been able to build something," said Stucki, whose team went 9-7 in conference play this season. "I think that's what I'll take away."
Individually, he's fairly accomplished. Stucki, who led his team in scoring and assists during his junior year, was recently named second-team all-conference for the second straight season. This year, he shot 41 percent from 3-point range and led the Bengals in assists.
There have also been some memorable games along the way, including a 59-56 overtime loss to Marquette in 2006 and a 72-68 home victory against the University of Utah last December. Against the Utes, Stucki scored 20 points with nine rebounds and nine assists, impressing Utah coach Jim Boylen.
"Stucki's good," Boylen said after the game. "He's a very good player, a very tough kid, an older kid, a missionary guy. He played like a man tonight."
Stucki said the experience of playing in front of family and hometown fans has been "amazing." And though his college eligibility has expired, he's likely not through with the sport. With Chelsey being a former Salt Lake Community College player and two-year starter at Idaho State, basketball should remain in the family.
"She's just as competitive as me," Stucki said. "She's probably a better shooter."
E-mail: ashill@desnews.com