He got in touch with Charlie Chitwood, whose production company holds the broadcasting and webcasting rights for several small East Texas colleges and high schools. It wasn't until midway through the conversation that Chris mentioned he is wheelchair-bound. A little later, it came up that he is what most folks would refer to as a quadriplegic, although his left arm has very limited involuntary movement.

It didn't matter to Chitwood, who was looking for someone to call basketball games, not play in them. Chitwood was more concerned with the wannabe announcer's ability to communicate.

By the time the conversation was over, the college student had at least a tryout to work as a color analyst for Longview's LeTourneau University basketball team. That was convenient, because Chris is a junior at the school, majoring in business administration. He has been paralyzed from the neck down since he was 8 and he was thrown from a four-wheeler that landed on him.

LeTourneau is a nonscholarship Division III school that plays in the 15-team American Southwest Conference. Its games are broadcast only on the Internet. Many D-III schools have just one announcer, who offers play-by-play and color commentary. Adding an unpaid fledgling analyst to the Yellow Jackets' broadcasts was a luxury.

"I remembered back to when I talked my way into a color job with the Shreveport Captains [baseball team]," Chitwood said. "I figured if the kid had the moxie and confidence to call me out of the blue, I'd give him a shot."

The tryout has turned into a regular gig. Chris called Yellow Jackets home games this season and made two road games. The others were simply too difficult to get to. A nurse or his parents accompany him to every game.

LeTourneau's road game on Friday, however, was a must work. The Yellow Jackets traveled to the University of Texas-Dallas, where they lost, 73-62, to Mary Hardin-Baylor in an opening-round game of the American Southwest Conferences postseason tournament. Chris and his parents, Donny and Julie, made the 140-mile trip in the family's customized van.

Chitwood marvels at Chris' work ethic. The veteran said the rookie puts in as much preparation work as anyone he has seen. "And he's not bad on the air," Chitwood said. "There are plenty of guys who do this for a living who are plenty worse."

Chitwood said there are typically about 250 computers logged in to a LeTourneau game. He expected the number to be higher for Friday's game.

At courtside, Chris relies on a head mouse to work his portable computer, where he stores the usual game notes as well as personally-researched items and statistics. He has worked alongside several play-by-play announcers this season. Against Mary Hardin-Baylor, he worked alongside Chitwood.

"He just doesn't let his situation get him down," Chitwood said. "It's really inspiring to everyone he works with."

Chris concedes he has gone through growing pains as he has learned the business. Like all good broadcasters, he goes back and reviews his work, listening intently to it on the Internet. "I'm learning a lot about air presence," he said.

Chris hopes there will be a second season in his broadcasting career. "I've enjoyed every minute of this season," he said, pointing out that it would be silly to believe he has any handicap working courtside.

"You know,'' he said, "my brain works just fine.''