Wolfpack fans are turning to a familiar face to keep "March Madness" alive in the Truckee Meadows.

David Padgett owned Reno High and pretty much the entire prep basketball scene during his 4 years in the Biggest Little City. Now, locals fans say they're more than happy to share him with the rest of the country as he takes on the national spotlight at Louisville.

"It's great to have a Reno High grad playing for one of the best programs and coaches in the whole country," says Bobby O'Brien from Reno.

"It's very impressive having a local guy playing in the tournament," says Harold Cranner, a Wolfpack fan. "I'm really pulling for him. I would like to see him go a little further in the tournament."

The road to the Final Four continues for Wolfpack fans, even without the University of Nevada. Thursday night's victory over second-seeded Tennessee puts Padget and Louisville just one win away from the Final Four.

Fans and family friends like Sean Kelly went out to local bars to root the former All-American on.

"(I'm) just excited for them," says Kelly. "Excited to see Dave doing so well. I thought he'd be out for the year. I'm just here to support the Padgetts and David. Go Louisville!"

Kelly coaches women's basketball at the University of Portland and used to play for David's father, Reno High Athletic Director Pete Padgett. He says even if the fifth-year senior doesn't reach the Final Four this year, he has a promising career ahead of him.

"People out there say David's number one strength is his ability to see the floor," says Kelly. "The NBA today needs more passers because there's so many scorers. So, I think someone's going to take him just because his ability to be a team player and pass the basketball."

Padgett and company will face their biggest challenge of the season when they take on top-seeded North Carolina in Charlotte on Saturday night.