Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410140081
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
He played 11 minutes of basketball for Virginia before fracturing his right ankle. His attitude was shattered, too, but his confidence wasn't. And although the box score from his only game said otherwise, it would be wrong to say the Cavaliers' point guard didn't score big.
Alexander's hip pocket certainly wasn't hurt.
He had every intention of leaving UVa's backcourt for the NBA after his junior season, and Alexander still will do that. However, it's a year later. Alexander will be leaving with a degree in psychology. He will be leaving with his recruited class. And if he goes to his favorite NBA team, where his favorite player is the general manager, Alexander will be leaving the country, too.
``The Toronto Raptors,'' Alexander said. ``Isiah Thomas.''
This isn't to say Alexander is cavalier about his final season at UVa, although he should be leaving as Virginia's seventh first-round NBA pick. And if he's not a first-round pick, he will return, giving the Cavaliers three Alexanders next season. Don't expect that to happen, though. He isn't Alexander the great only in his mind.
Ralph Sampson, the No.1 pick in 1983 by Houston, and new Seattle general manager Wally Walker, the No.5 overall pick in 1976 by Portland, are the UVa alumni who were chosen in the top 10 of the draft. Alexander should be as exalted, more so than Olden Polynice (11th), Bryant Stith (13th), Jeff Lamp (15th) and Barry Parkhill (15th) were.
Alexander figures to go higher in the first round of the NBA draft than he would have with a 1993-94 exit. He figures a lot, which is part of why he's the player and personality he has become. Alexander knows there are nine players from his recruited class now in NBA training camps. He also knows he's fortunate not to be the 10th.
``Last year, if I had come out like I'd planned, I figure I would have gone somewhere between 15th and 24th in the first round,'' Alexander said Thursday during UVa's preseason media day. ``There's no doubt getting hurt helped [his draft position], if I go out and do what I think I can do.''
There aren't many NBA point-guard prospects who can play with Alexander. The list includes Arizona's Damon Stoudamire, Georgia Tech's Travis Best, Wake Forest's Randolph Childress - a two-guard who likely will have to play the point in the pros - and Arkansas' Corey Beck.
Alexander perhaps has the most athleticism among that group, and scouts like his ability to score and create off the dribble better than that of Best. Alexander's weakness? Well, he is colorblind.
``I'm not going to say where I am or where I think I am among the point guards,'' Alexander said. ``I'm going out to do what I can do. I will say I feel like I'm one of the best in the country right now.''
Dave Twardzik, the Charlotte Hornets' player personnel director, doesn't disagree.
``I liked Cory as a freshman,'' Twardzik said. ``He gets anywhere he wants to on the floor and he can score. He has a good feel for the game.
``The only question is whether the injury has affected his game. Not so much his basketball skills, because you'd expect them to have a little rust on them after last year. What's more of a question is what the injury may have done to his physical skills, his quickness or lateral movement. Those are questions that should be answered pretty quickly, though.''
Alexander answered them Thursday. He insists he's stronger and just as fast as he was before the injury. He's heard his name mentioned ``everywhere between the top five and top 15'' as a draft prospect.
Twardzik said the Waynesboro native needs to improve his on-court decision-making from two seasons ago.
Alexander understands that, and on a team that's picked anywhere from sixth in the nation to fifth in the ACC by various preseason publications, he shouldn't have to force-feed anyone. The Cavaliers have uncommon depth, although their rotation will be undersized - as usual - and the 6-foot-1 guard will have to play big at times.
And although Harold Deane stepped in and up at the point as a freshman last season, there's no argument about who will literally be the playmaker.
``When Cory and I are on the floor together, I'm the two-[guard],'' Deane said. ``He needs the ball in his hands. We need the ball in his hands.''
Write to Jack Bogaczyk at the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, 24010-2491.
by CNB