Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 25, 1992 TAG: 9202250074
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Long
FOXX KEEPS FERRUM IN THE HUNT
It doesn't bother Everett Foxx if a field-goal column by his name reads 13-of-34. He's not fazed by a 5-of-22 night on 3-point attempts.The only number Foxx is concerned with is victories, and this season Ferrum College has more than in any of his previous three seasons there.
This weekend, Foxx again will be the key player as the Panthers (18-7 overall, 7-3 conference) try to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs by winning their first Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.
Ferrum, which gained a share of its first Dixie regular-season title, lost a coin flip with Christopher Newport and is seeded second in the tournament.
Friday at Greensboro College, the Panthers will play the winner of today's preliminary game between Greensboro and North Carolina Wesleyan. In the other bracket Friday, No. 1 Christopher Newport will play the winner of Methodist at Averett.
While his 39 percent shooting percentage may not be pretty, the 25-plus points a game Foxx contributes are a primary reason Ferrum has posted its best record since its first season in NCAA Division III.
"As much as shooters don't like to admit it, I'm a streak shooter," said Foxx, a senior guard from Caroline. "I might as well say it now. I'll have some moments when things aren't right, but when I'm hot, at the top of my game and it's clicking, I can turn it on."
Foxx has turned it on enough times to eclipse Greg Smith (1,719 points) as the all-time leading scorer in Ferrum history. His scoring average leads the Dixie and ranks in the top 10 nationally in Division III. He also holds the school record for career 3-pointers.
He was named College Hoops Illustrated's AT&T Long Distance Player of the Month for Division III after converting 40 3-pointers in nine games (4.4 per game.)
"It's all about confidence," said Foxx, who is closing in on the 2,000 points. "Those players who are afraid to shoot usually aren't going to score. I have confidence in myself, and my teammates have confidence in me."
As his 500-plus attempts indicate, Foxx isn't shy about shooting, but to characterize him as selfish or one-dimensional would be inaccurate. He is third on the team in assists and rebounds, and leads in blocked shots and steals.
"I just want us to continue to win," said Foxx, a first-team All-South Region selection last season. "Whatever I can contribute to that effort is what I'm going to do."
In Ferrum's system, Foxx's primary role is too shoot - often.
In a recent four-game stretch, he scored 145 points.
"Everett is a tremendous scorer," said Ferrum coach Bill Pullen, who is in his seventh season at the school. "He's one of those players who generates his own offense."
With Foxx, the team's only senior, leading the way, Ferrum's free-wheeling attack has taken 200 more shots than its opponents. The run-and-gun Panthers don't see many shots they don't like.
But while they shoot less than 45 percent as a team, the Panthers average close to 95 points and outscore opponents by 10 a game.
"What we wanted was to have a good basketball team, with Everett being a great player as a bonus," Pullen said. "Sometimes the team concept was broken down, and Everett has had to take over."
A psychology major, Foxx was recruited out of Caroline High School. He rejected his longtime dream of playing at Division II power Virginia Union when he was offered only a partial scholarship.
"I grew up watching the [Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association] and wanted to go to Virginia Union," Foxx said, "but things didn't work out. [Virginia Union] offered me a partial scholarship, and I wanted a full one. I thought I deserved it."
So Foxx decided on Division III Ferrum, which doesn't give athletic scholarships.
"Coach Pullen was the only one who seemed like he really wanted me and thought I could contribute to his program," Foxx said. "Coming here turned into the best decision I could have made."
Foxx wasn't as sure about that his first two seasons at Ferrum. The program struggled as injuries and academic problems cost the Panthers several key performers. Defeats came more often than victories.
At times, Foxx considered transferring.
"It crossed my mind, because of all the adversity," said Foxx, who averaged 18.3 points as a sophomore despite playing with a broken left hand. "But I love the environment at Ferrum. It's been a long and rough climb, but each year it got a little bit better. Staying through the adversity has made me a better person."
Ferrum's fortunes began to change midway through last season. Foxx had much to do with it.
During a four-game stretch, Foxx averaged 35.2 points while shooting 60.4 percent. That sparked Ferrum, and the Panthers won 11 of their final 14 games.
"That's what got this team going, and we've been going ever since," said Pullen, whose team briefly made its first Top 25 appearance earlier this season. "What really speaks a lot of Everett is he's been here through the bad and good.
"He could have jumped ship, but chose to stick it out. Everett deserves a lot of the credit. He was instrumental in leading this team from last place in the Dixie Conference in 1989-90 to national and regional prominence in just two short years."