Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 26, 1994                   TAG: 9402260007
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A FEW GOOD MEN WHO AREN'T IN CONTENTION

They're not done forever, most of them. Some will play for their high school teams next year; others may have a shot at some college ball at one level or the other.

But for now, the ones who have been sidelined are on ice because their teams have been eliminated from postseason competition. That's too bad for them, of course, but for you too, should you have not had the chance to see them.

Here are 10 dudes who deserve some attention and as a bonus, some of them may still be in uniform:

Eric Webb of Pulaski County may be the New River Valley's best player. Slow to start the season because he was benched with a busted jaw, he's been as good as expected, doing a little bit of everything from shooting 3-pointers, to rebounding, to running the floor. A natural.

If Webb isn't the top of the local list, then teammate Tyrone Hash is. Hash can do many if not most of the things Webb can, which would land him in the starting lineup of anybody in Timesland.

Jay Safford of Blacksburg is an unorthodox player in that he has a weird-looking shot and he often seems to be traveling in his own little universe within the Indians' offense. No matter; results are what counts and Safford can do it. The only thing that's hampered him this year is a sore knee.

Ben Araman is a 6-foot-4 post player from Blacksburg who has a sure shot within 12 feet of the hoop, a nose for the ball, and the kind of bulk not pushed easily from Point A to Point B if he doesn't want it to go there.

Tony Wheeler of Blacksburg is solid anywhere you choose to deploy him but is probably best suited around the basket somewhere, his 6-2 height notwithstanding. He's a rebounding fool and knows how to get a shot off under trying circumstances.

Jason Light of Floyd County is 6-5 and similar to Araman in that he is big and strong and is always the shover instead of the shovee. He'll gobble up those rebounds and is ultradependable when it comes to sinking open shots.

Terry Millirons of Auburn is a smooth-playing forward with a nice range of skills. A starter since he was a freshman, he'd ornament just about any lineup west of Roanoke.

Patrick Bailey of Narrows is the sniper of the group. When you want one sunk from the next area code, this is the kid you dial. One week this year, he bottomed out 20 3-pointers in five games. That'll shelve a zone defense better than anything I can think of.

John Hairston of Christiansburg, who may be 6-feet on a tall day, has been asked to do a lot and has taken the assignment without complaint. He'll launch it from beyond the arc, he'll run the floor, he'll engage in hand-to-hand combat inside. Way to go, sport.

Denny Self of Christiansburg is a left-hander who, though lightly-experienced (injuries benched him last year) can get a lot done. Mainly, he plays hard and that makes up for a lot of deficiencies.