Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9503030033
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In college, the oldest Hardy brother, Mickey, starred first at Ferrum College when that school was a junior college. Then he went on to an outstanding career at Virginia Tech.
So it's no surprise that his son, Keath Hampton, is one of the top gunners when it comes to shooting in the Roanoke Valley District. Hampton is the other guard at William Fleming opposite All-Group AAA playmaker Derrick Hines.
When Fleming opponents set their defense, though, they don't forget about Hampton, who is in a close battle with Hines and junior forward James Stokes to lead the Colonels in scoring.
This year, Hampton is shooting just over 40 percent from 3-point range and is averaging 17 points a game.
Hardy helps coach the freshman team at Fleming and proudly watches his son, hoping he's able to earn a college scholarship for his basketball ability.
``I'm too young to have a kid who is a senior,'' Hardy said with a laugh. It was in 1978, his senior year at Byrd, that Keath was born.
``We're two different types. He's a better long-range shooter than I was. He's a set shooter. I was more of a jump shooter,'' the father said.
Why the difference? Hardy says that when he was around, there was no 3-point goal. When that shot was added a few years ago, it changed the development of guards.
``To me, it sort of ruins [the development] of a guard who can shoot on the run. People want guards who can shoot threes and it's changed basketball tremendously.''
The Colonel guard knows when his father is on the bench and says Hardy often gets on him. ``I understand why. He wants me to improve. Much of the time, I'll make eye contact with him during the game,'' said Hampton.
Hampton doesn't remember watching his dad or uncles play in college. Angelo Hardy played at Roanoke College, where he helped make the Maroons an NCAA Division III power.
Mickey Hardy says he started teaching his son early. ``He's played since I got a Nerf ball in his hands when he was little toddler. You know I and his uncles [Angelo, Antonio and Cecil Hardy] taught him to shoot.''
``Shooting-wise, my dad was the leader. The others helped other parts of my game such as ball handling and passing,'' said Hampton.
``I saw a tape of my dad when he played at Tech. We've played each other a couple of times. He wins most of the time, but I've won a few.''
Hampton lived with his grandmother, Agnes Hampton, before moving in with his dad. His mother, Gloria Motley, lives in Maryland. However, she has a lot to do with Hampton's development as a basketball player, too.
``She helped me with my shooting. She'd take me to the park and rebound for me,'' said Hampton. ``My grandmother provides motivation.''
The obvious question is the spelling of his name. There's a story to go with that. It fooled this newspaper when he started playing basketball for Fleming - sometimes it came out Heath Hampton and other times it was Keith.
``I don't know how they came up with that, but my grandmother said my mother chose the spelling so people would notice me and just to be different,'' said Hampton.
When he puts his name down for class in school, some make a correction to ``Keith'' or others ask Hampton if he spelled it right.
Next up, Hampton and his dad hope he winds up with a college scholarship. He's heard from Miami (Fla.) by letter and Catawba has shown interest. Otherwise it could be a Division III school.
What Hampton hopes is that Fleming goes a long way in the tournament and he gets to demonstrate his shot to college coaches on the state level. Last year, Joe Fitzgerald got a lot of attention from college coaches when the Colonels finished as the Group AAA state runner-up.
``So far, I'm happy with the way things have gone during my career. It never bothers us [Stokes, Hines or Hampton] who leads the team in scoring,'' Hampton said.
by CNB