BY WALTER VILLA
Miami Herald Writer

To describe their college careers, you could use words such as mercurial and momentous for Denis Clemente and steady and surprising for Jonathan Rodriguez.

Clemente, a 6-0 senior point guard who leads Kansas State in assists and is second in points, was named the Big 12 Player of the Week twice in a three-week span last month. Rodriguez, a 6-5 senior forward, is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at Campbell, a Division I university in Buies Creek, N.C.

The two Puerto Ricans, who starred on the 2004-05 Miami Calusa Prep team, have taken different paths to arrive at the same place on the calendar -- their final March Madness.

The insanity began Wednesday night, when Clemente's Wildcats, 24-4 and ranked fifth in the nation, played at No. 2 Kansas (27-2), which has won 58 consecutive home games -- the nation's longest active streak.

Before the game, Clemente, who is averaging 15.8 points and 4.1 assists, said: ''It's going to be hard, but what game isn't hard in the Big 12?''

Thursday afternoon at 2:30, away from the spotlight, Rodriguez's Camels (19-10) begin play in the Atlantic Sun Conference postseason tournament in Macon, Ga. Should the Camels win three consecutive games, they will qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1992.

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

That would be a dream scenario for Rodriguez, but is he envious he never got an offer to play at a big-time program such as Kansas State?

''Yes and no,'' said Rodriguez, who is averaging 17.3 points and 8.2 rebounds. ''Yes I would love to play the best competition. But no because everyone has treated me so well here.''

Rodriguez said he and Clemente remain close, calling each other every week. But Clemente has always been the star in the relationship. He was Florida's Class 1A Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, averaging 32 points each season.

But the year after Clemente graduated and signed with the University of Miami, Rodriguez emerged as a leader, taking Calusa to the only state title in school history.

''Jonathan is a quiet assassin,'' said Calusa Coach Tim Fowler, whose current Colts team posted a YouTube video thanking Rodriguez for setting a great example for the program. ''He's the type to get 25 points, 14 rebounds, and you don't realize it until you check the boxscore. He's not cocky, and his teammates love him.''

College coaches, however, did not share that passion. Many saw Rodriguez as a ''tweener'' -- too small to play inside and not enough of a shooter and ballhandler to star on the perimeter.

However, Clemente was blazing fast and had a game that translated well. He was a scoring point guard, and few doubted he could do his thing against big-time college competition.

Clemente was an immediate standout for the Hurricanes, starting 28 games in his first two years, twice erupting for 24 points.

But then Clemente faced adversity for the first time in his career. He was dismissed from the Canes after he broke unspecified team rules. Gone was everything Clemente knew and loved: tropical weather, a Spanish-speaking community and a basketball team to call his own.

Clemente went through the recruiting process again and chose Kansas State, largely because the Wildcats have a coach who knows first hand about second chances. Frank Martin, fired by Miami High in 1998, was willing to give Clemente another shot.

Clemente had to sit out the 2007-08 season as per NCAA transfer rules, and it gave him time to reflect.

''I was immature in Miami,'' Clemente said. ''There were too many attractions there, and I wanted to do what everyone else was doing. I needed to focus and not play around like I did in Miami.''

Clemente struggled with English when he was in Miami. At news conferences, he would mumble indecipherable answers. Now, three years later, Clemente is much more comfortable speaking the language and even is philosophical.

''Everything happens for a reason,'' said Clemente, who used his year off to practice with and against two Kansas State players now in the NBA -- Michael Beasley and Billy Walker. ''Coach Martin helped me a lot. We speak the same language. We understand each other.

''Here, no one speaks Spanish. I had to learn English. It was not impossible.''

Clemente proved that by closing in on a degree in social science. He needs three credits this semester to become the first member of his family to graduate from college.

''It's a dream come true,'' Clemente said. ''I thank God.''

Kansas State fans are equally thankful for Clemente, who was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year last season and second-team All-Conference. This season, he has helped lead the Wildcats to their highest ranking since they were No. 3 in 1962.

Compared with Kansas State, little attention is given to Campbell, but the Camels don't seem to mind. They break huddles by shouting ''family'' and they pride themselves on having quality people on their team.

''We all want to win in this profession,'' Campbell coach Robbie Laing said. ''But ultimately, you hope a young man matures under your leadership.''

Laing said that has happened with Rodriguez, who he noted ''got off to a shaky start'' academically.

''He was barely eligible his first semester,'' Laing said. ''But he was really good his second semester and has been good ever since.''

Rodriguez, who has a 3.0 GPA, is on pace to graduate in May with a degree in exercise and sports science.

On the court, Rodriguez has been just as successful, helping transform a program that was 15-67 three years before his arrival. Rodriguez, the fifth player in A-Sun history to make all-conference in each of his four seasons, was unfazed.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

''In Puerto Rico, I played in gyms that had no roofs,'' said Rodriguez, who picked Campbell over Duquesne and Hofstra. ''The basket is the same no matter what. I just wanted a chance to play.''

He got it, and now the Camels have a new gym, the 3,100-seat Pope Center, which opened last season. They also earned a share of the A-Sun regular-season title, the first time the Camels earned that feat in their 24-year history in Division I.

''When I first got here, the mentality was to win a couple of games and that's it,'' said Rodriguez, who is No. 2 in the A-Sun's career rebounding list and No. 3 in scoring. ''Now, we expect to win.''