Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 3, 1990 TAG: 9006030173
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And, as they say, better late than never - for Perry and for the Keydets' basketball program.
Three years after coach Joe Cantafio recruited him out of Fork Union Military Academy, Perry will suit up for VMI. After starting for two years at Delaware, the 6-foot-4 swingman became one of the few athletes to transfer to VMI and sit out the required year.
"There were a lot of distractions at Delaware," said Perry, who played his high school ball at Brookland Cayce in West Columbia, S.C. "I promised myself I wasn't going to transfer, but times change, life changes, situations change.
"We lost three or four players and an assistant coach my sophomore year, and I also wasn't studying like I should have. Taking all things into consideration, I didn't see things as being too promising for me there, both academically and athletically. I had to to do what was best for Erek. Selecting the structure at VMI would help me change that.
"VMI takes away a lot of the distractions that take away from your academic and athletic performance. VMI is a highly competitive atmosphere. It makes you want to study more."
Oddly enough, Perry spurned VMI and chose Delaware in 1987 for almost exactly the same reasons.
"Coming out of Fork Union, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do," Perry said. "At that age, it's whoever sells the best story.
"VMI did a great job recruiting. It was hard for me not to come to VMI, except I was a little hesitant about the Rat Line. I wanted the coed life, and going to a liberal institution was the best thing for me at that time.
"When I transferred in, I still had to suck it up [be a Rat], as they say around here. But I think those couple of years of maturity helped me gain the confidence I needed for the Rat Line. I guess those guys who can come in here right out of high school mature a little faster."
From a basketball standpoint, Perry brings experience to a squad that lost four starters and senior leaders to graduation, including former William Fleming High players Ramon and Damon Williams, the Keydets' third and fourth all-time scorers.
Perry averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds during his two seasons at Delaware. As a freshman, he made the East Coast Conference all-rookie team. At Fork Union, Perry averaged 15.9 points and 8.6 rebounds for a team that went 32-0. He also played three years on the South Carolina Junior Olympic team and averaged 14.2 points and 10.2 rebounds during his high school career.
After a year of watching, he is ready to play.
"It was tough being on the bench; the adrenaline started flowing," Perry said. "I would have given anything to get on the court, but [transferring] was my decision. Last year, I could take practice time to work on those weak areas in my game. [Sitting out] was more of a benefit than a detriment."
Perry joins a recruiting class that includes All-Timesland guard Jamie Lee from George Wythe High; Jonathan Goodman from Denmark, S.C.; Larry Jeffries from Danville; Sean Spriggs from Norfolk; and Heath Schroyer from Hyattsville, Md.
The Keydets welcome back key contributors in starting point guard Percy Covington, a former Patrick Henry High standout; forward-center Greg Fittz, who was a starter before injuring his back; and forward Lewis Preston, who played at Franklin County High. But they will need greater contributions from a group of athletes who played sparingly last season.
by CNB