Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 1, 1993 TAG: 9307010435
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"There was a great quiet in the room," said Lynch, who watched the TNT cable telecast with his family at a hotel in Chapel Hill, N.C., "[but] I didn't think he would be calling my name."
The celebration that followed was so noisy that Lynch never got to hear what the commentators had to say about his selection, which was the first time a player from Roanoke had been drafted in the first round.
Lynch, a 6-foot-7 1/2 forward, helped lead Patrick Henry High School to the Group AAA state championship in 1988 and was the most valuable player as a senior for NCAA champion North Carolina.
He was invited to attend draft ceremonies at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., but was the highest pick to decline the invitation.
"I tried not to get my hopes up," Lynch said. "I didn't want to go out to Detroit and have to sit around if I wasn't drafted and have the TV cameras there and people wondering, `Why not?' "
Some predraft forecasts had Lynch being selected at the end of the first round, and the Seattle SuperSonics, who drafted 23rd among the 27 teams, sent scout Mark Warkentien to Roanoke.
"Seattle spent an awful lot of time here," said Woody Deans, who coached Lynch at Patrick Henry before Lynch transferred to Flint Hill Prep for his senior year.
"I don't know if they weren't being realistic or if the Lakers just surprised them. I don't know that much about college ball, but I was thinking, `Gosh, there couldn't be that many players better than George.' "
Lynch, a first-team All-ACC selection as a senior, led North Carolina in rebounding for his last three years and finished his career as the Tar Heels' all-time steals leader.
"In George Lynch, the Lakers get what I've always heard coaches say they want - somebody who will play hard for 82 games, every practice and the playoffs," North Carolina coach Dean Smith said.
Lakers head coach Randy Pfund agreed.
"I think you always love to add players to your program that you feel are talented, have great character and have been involved in winning," Pfund said, "and I think that all three of those things are characteristics of George Lynch. We love the fact that he's an aggressive rebounder, something we think we need."
Lynch will perpetuate a Carolina connection that includes Lakers forward James Worthy and assistant general manager Mitch Kupchak.
"I'm glad James is still there to help George," Smith said. "I think it's interesting that, of the teams that worked George out, that Los Angeles was the first with a draft pick."
Lynch said, in his conversations with Kupchak and Laker general manager Jerry West, that the Lakers left the impression he would be tried as a small forward. Veteran forward A.C. Green, an unrestricted free agent, could be leaving the team.
"He plays an awful lot like A.C. Green," TNT commentator Hubie Brown said. "If [Green] walks, they're protected.
"They picked up a solid citizen, a guy who plays hard and they know he can board [rebound]. The major thing about George Lynch is he plays big in big games."
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB