Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 26, 1990 TAG: 9004270488
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-10 EDITION: SOUTH
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's one of those magical numbers that goes beyond the normal measurements for measuring an outstanding career.
At North Cross High,Joe Basile has been a scoring dynamo. In just 3 1/2 seasons,the senior striker has already notched 82 goals to become the school's career leader. And,with at least a dozen games left, the 100-goal plateau is in sight.
"It'd be nice to get 100 goals," Basile said. "I think I can reach it. My job is to score. I guess maybe I have a nose for the goal."
His nose must be as big as Pinocchio's. As a freshman,Basile scored 18 goals. He netted 22 as a sophomore and a school record 32 last season. In the first eight games this season, he's tallied 10 goals.
"As far as a pure scorer,[Basile] is the best I've had," said North Cross coach Richard Cook,who's in his 18th season. "He's gotten better each year. Day in and day out, he gets the job done."
During his career,Basile has averaged better than a goal a game. He seems to always be around the goal waiting to convert a pass or cross from a teammate into a goal. But he's not only a finisher, his ball-handling skills allow him to make his own openings to launch a shot.
"When I came here as a freshman,the main thing I wanted to do was be a starter," Basile said. "I expected to contribute from the start. I seem to be able to follow up other shots,but I think I can create my own shot."
Going to North Cross has only elevated Basile's effectiveness as a scorer. Over the years,Cook has built a program that is always one of the top three teams in the area. Some of the best soccer players to come out of the Roanoke Valley have been Raiders.
"[Basile]has played with some excellent players the last four years," Cook said. "It's never just one guy. We try to position him so that he's in a spot where he'll have to beat one guy when he receives a pass. But he's got a good shot from the outside and can score from 20 yards."
Cook said the biggest improvement he's seen in Basile is the balance he's developed between looking for the best scoring opportunity as opposed to looking to score.
"My biggest fault with him [as a freshman]was that he wouldn't give up the ball," Cook said. "But he's become more of a team player each year. To be a good scorer,a player has to be somewhat selfish, but there are times to shoot and times to pass. He's figured that out now."
Basile had no assists as a freshman,but had five in each of the last two seasons. He already has three this year.
"Other teams began keying on me, so in a sense,I was forced to look to pass more," Basile said. "But the biggest thing is knowing where people are supposed to be. That's going to help me a lot because at the collegiate level, it's all one and touch [ball movement]. You can't be trying to dribble all the time because those guys will knock you around. You have to play quick and as a team."
The Roanoke area has never generated much recruiting interest from Division I collegiate soccer programs,the consensus being that the state's best players are in Northern Virginia. And while that may have been exclusively true in the past,things are beginning to change.
Basile is one of five members of the 1971-72 Roanoke Stars club team to make the under-17 1/2 state team - Virginia's Junior Olympic development team,which is made up of the state's best players in that age group.
"It's surprising that our one team has so much talent," Basile said. "We always competed with the best teams. Soccer is growing [in Roanoke]. They're starting to look at us more seriously."
"This group will probably send six to eight kids who can play at the college level," said Cook,who was the first youth coach for Basile and many other top players in the Roanoke Valley.
"This [the 1971-72 age group]is the first big recruiting class. Mostly Division III players,but that's a start."
Basile could certainly play at the Division III level, but he's already decided to attend the University of Richmond.
"I really liked the school in general," Basile said. "It really seemed to fit my personality. The main thing is Richmond's academics."
And though he won't be attending on a soccer scholarship,Basile will try to make the Spiders' team as a walk on.
"It's going to be tough,but I think I can play there," he said. "If I get a fair shot,I'll be able to prove myself. I'm planning on playing there. What'll happen we'll have to see."
by CNB