Florida State's Bernard James is heading back to San Antonio, this time in a different uniform.
James went through basic training, and attended military police and leadership schools at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. In total his time there accounted for about six months of his six-year enlistment.
But this time he's on another mission.
The 6-10, 245-pound shot-blocking southpaw is returning with the Seminoles (23-10) to meet Virginia Commonwealth (26-11) on Friday night in the NCAA tournament.
''I really feel honored to be in this position to be representing the Air Force and the military in general,'' James said. ''It's a huge part of my life. I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't gone into the military.''
Florida State is happy to have him.
In the Seminoles' two tournament wins last weekend in Chicago, James scored 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds and had half dozen blocked shots in 46 minutes.
In the absence of scoring and rebounding leader Chris Singleton to a foot injury, James has led the team in those categories in addition to his dominating defensive presence.
James' 77 blocked shots are second best for any Seminole in a single season. It's topped only by 6-7 jumping-jack Rodney Dobard's 111 blocks for Florida State's last Sweet 16 club in 1993. And James has done it despite averaging less than 21 minutes a game, roughly a half a game.
''He's always had the potential to take over a game,'' junior guard Luke Loucks said. ''And he's still learning a lot about being a post player.''
Although James chose to trade in his Air Force blues for the garnet and gold of Florida State, the Air Force has been, and still is, a big part of his life.
After being persuaded by his unit supervisor, Erick Dumas, to give basketball a shot in an intramural game in 2003, James' life changed. He played well and people noticed.
''That was really the first time in my life people were praising me for something I had done,'' James said. ''I really just wanted to keep that feeling coming. That's kind of what got me hooked on basketball.''
His experiences in the service helps James keep things in perspective.
''You end up in some tough situations and some dangerous situations, but the people and camaraderie, the bonds you form just having a common goal,'' James said. ''It's really a lot like basketball, being on a good team. The Air Force is a much bigger team.''
A high school dropout at 16, James got a GED so he could enlist in the Air Force where he spent three overseas tours in the Middle East - Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.
''Every time I was deployed and came back everybody that I worked with would say, 'did u grow?'''
James loved the military and thinks about returning as an officer if and when pro basketball is out of his increasingly capable reach.
''He's still learning,'' said Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton, tacking on his well-worn ''work in progress,'' comment.
James, who turned 26 last month, didn't win a starting job until late December after Xavier Gibson was injured in a holiday tournament in Hawaii. Since then James has be steady, if not brilliant at times.
In the Seminoles last five games, James has made 26 of 37 field goal tries and blocked 15 shots.
The trip to San Antonio brings comparisons to Hall of Famer David Robinson. The former Spurs star, also a lefty with military service, grew several inches after high school.
James' Florida State teammates often call him ''the Admiral'' because of the comparison.
''That's a real honor,'' said James, who never got to see Robinson play. ''I've heard so much about David Robinson and what a great player he was.''
Now people are hearing about Bernard James and how a good player he is.
