Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503130010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
The perks include all-expense-paid trips to places like New Orleans and Myrtle Beach, free shoes and a little bit of fame.
The job is available to women able to play competitive Division I basketball. Sounds easy, right?
But when you consider the adjustment to college life, paired with the demands on athletes, it has the potential for chaos.
Two former Timesland stars, Lynette Nolley and Rebecca McNeil, have found out about it firsthand.
Nearing the end of their freshman year, the two have followed divergent paths on the court.
Both decided to take their respective talents to New River Valley schools. Nolley chose to take her ample credentials to Virginia Tech to major in hotel/restaurant management; McNeil opted to attend Radford University and has not yet chosen a major.
Nolley, the 1994 Timesland Player of the Year, enrolled in a Hokie program that returned five starters from a 24-6 squad that earned the team's first-ever trip to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. It's a situation that assures any freshman plenty of pine time, particularly if the person you're playing behind is All-Metro Conference performer Christi Osborne.
``I expected it,'' said Nolley, who led Floyd to the Group A state championship in 1993. ``But I didn't know what it would feel like. Of course, I don't feel good [about sitting on the bench], but I am watching and learning. I tell myself it will pay off, as long as I am ready to play.''
While her playing time has been sparse and the frustration has been considerable, Nolley has shown signs that she will indeed produce when she becomes a regular on the court. In her best outing of the year, she made all three of her shots from the field and scored eight points against Metro Conference foe South Florida.
``We are fortunate to be able to bring her along slowly,'' said Carol Alfano, Virginia Tech women's basketball coach. ``She is the heir apparent to Christi's position. She has a very bright future. You will be doing a story on her as a senior for being all-conference, I promise you that.''
McNeil, who was named to the 1994 All-Timesland team, came into a Highlander program that made its first NCAA Tournament appearance last season but returned only two starters. The former Christiansburg star has parlayed the opportunity into immediate success . She has started in 15 of Radford's 25 games and led the team in scoring seven times, including a career-high 21 against Charleston Southern.
``I was shocked. I never expected to do this well,'' said McNeil, who has twice been named Big South Conference Rookie of the Week. ``I started out playing three or four minutes a game and figured it would be that way all year.''
McNeil has gained increased playing time because of her ability to put the ball in the basket. She is averaging 9.3 points a game, shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
Thursday, she was named to the Big South Conference All-Rookie Team.
``She has done phenomenally well and exceeded our expectations,'' said Radford coach Lubomyr Lichonczak. ``Looking at her, you marvel at her shooting ability. She works her butt off, on the court and in the classroom.''
The pair may gain acclaim for their performances on the court, but the adjustment process extends far from the bright lights of game time. It includes practice, study halls and arduous road trips.
``After [early season] practice, I have never been so tired,'' McNeil said. ``My legs burned walking up steps. I have never run like that before.''
Ditto for Nolley. ``The preseason running was the worst,'' she said.
The move away from home and the increased demand on their time, which includes 20 hours of basketball a week in addition to a more difficult class load than in high school, have provided both players with trying times. Both have had to deal with homesickness, despite the fact that neither lives more than 30 minutes from her parents. Hardly a day goes buy without a call home.
``The biggest adjustment for her has been dorm life,'' said Wanda Nolley, Lynette's stepmother. ``She made it through the first semester. We have seen a lot of positive changes in her since Christmas.''
Nolley's coach will second that. ``She has come out of her shell,'' Alfano said. ``She is very popular with the other kids. They love her.''
McNeil's transition was slowed by mononucleosis, but she has since enjoyed her first year on campus.
``I am shy, so I didn't know how I would get along with everybody as a freshman,'' McNeil said. ``Everybody has been great. We are a team and nobody holds any grudges.''
``I think she has done real well since she recovered [from mono],'' said Rebecca's mother, Betty McNeil. ``She has really enjoyed school and basketball.''
As their freshman year comes to a close, the two have undergone changes and experiences that neither would have imagined a year ago.
``I didn't know things like that were legal, I am from Floyd County,'' said Nolley of her trip to Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
As the season winds to an end, both have a chance to fulfill their dreams of playing in the NCAA Tournament, if their teams can capture their respective conference tournaments.
(Regardless of this weekend's results, which included a first-round loss in the Metro Tournament, Tech appears to have a good chance at an NCAA bid by virtue of capturing the Metro Conference's regular season crown and a 21-7 record. The five-time defending champion Highlanders will need to capture the Big South Tournament to advance.)
Meanwhile, as the year continues, the Nolley and McNeil will continue to confront challenges.
Asked to describe college life as an athlete, Nolley summed it up best:
``Unimaginable."
by CNB