LAS VEGAS — A grinning, sharp-dressed (is their any other kind?) Zac Efron arrived at ShoWest this week to receive an award celebrating his fast-rising status. And although he has bright days ahead of him by all counts, Efron was quick to insist that he plans to keep one foot in his "High School Musical" past as he uses the other to step into his future.

"It's a huge honor. I can't believe I'm the Breakthrough Performer here at ShoWest," Efron gushed. "It's from a group of fantastic people; they are the ones responsible for putting movies in theaters for fans to watch. Without them, I wouldn't be here. And to have this honor is incredible for me."

The nation's theater owners expect Zac to pay them back April 17, when his first leading-man movie, "17 Again," plays across movie screens everywhere. The film stars Efron as Mike O'Donnell, a frustrated 37-year-old who suddenly finds himself in the body of a cool 17-year-old. And although he didn't get to have any scenes with the TV superstar who plays the older version of him, Efron studied Matthew Perry very closely.

"I was already familiar with 'Friends,' so I didn't have to sit and watch all the seasons or anything like that," Efron explained. "He's got incredible timing. ... We rehearsed a lot together, and Matthew was always available to hang out and work with me on my part [so I could play a younger him]. And we kind of did become friends during filming."

But while he was bonding with the 38-year-old Perry and attempting to blaze a path that would ensure a similarly lengthy career for himself, Efron was also happy to play to his strengths. Because "17 Again" not only features Zac in a dancing scene, but it also has him returning to Troy Bolton's sport of choice.

"It was originally in the script!" Zac said of his "17 Again" basketball scenes, insisting he isn't trying to make b-ball his trademark. "I'm going to be honest — it was a plus," he added with a grin. "Like, all right, I can play basketball, and it's a sport I feel you can show off in — which is important for this character and the movie. A pet peeve of mine is when people can't actually do the sport that they are supposed to play on camera, so it's nice to play basketball."

And although his long-term plans to conquer Hollywood include avoiding musicals, telling a dramatic story about the legendary Orson Welles and moving into grown-up territory with "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud," Efron has one more "High School Musical" hallmark he plans to bring into his future: girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens.

Asked if he hopes to shoot another film someday opposite his "HSM" leading lady, Efron answered quickly: "Sure, I hope so. It's always great getting to work with your best friend."