Tribune sports editor Ashley Conklin had an interesting proposition for new Cal Poly basketball coach Joe Callero: Bring Derek Jasper back to the Central Coast.

Jasper, a former two-time Tribune County Boys Basketball Player of the Year, is set to play for UNLV this season — his first since transfering from Kentucky and sitting out a year.

As Conklin said, if Cal Poly wants a game that is guaranteed to fill Mott Gym, a home game against UNLV and Jasper would surely pack the place. There was rarely an extra seat around local high school gyms when Jasper was leading Paso Robles High.

It’s obviously easier said than done, but it’s not rare for higher profile college teams to visit smaller programs to afford one of its star players a homecoming game.

Thing is, it would have to wait until the 2010-2011 season, when Jasper would theoretically be a fifth-year senior, since teams have pretty much locked in their schedules for this year.

Another problem creeps up. What if Jasper has a great year and goes pro after one season at UNLV?

He is still coming off a career threatening mircrofracture knee surgery, but far stranger things have happened than an already high profile player having one good college season and jumping to the NBA. Jasper may have to play a great season to do it, and it might depend on much he’s improved his shot during the year he spent on the sidelines.

Still, don’t write him off. Jasper went to UNLV because he felt it put him in the best spot to become a pro.

He said as much when I talked to him following his transfer a year ago. Lon Kruger’s NBA ties and coaching experience with the Atlanta Hawks played a role in his decision.

But, yeah, if he’s around as a senior, it would be great to see him back in San Luis Obispo.