Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503140043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With all that happened in the Radford University men's basketball program, perhaps it was overlooked that the Highlanders played all 28 games with three scholarship players on the sideline in civilian clothes.
Those who did play deserve credit for helping fashion a 16-12 record without the contributions of former backcourt starter Damian Ingram, defensive whiz Johnny Watkins and 6-foot-7 UNC Wilmington transfer Mike Petin.
The Highlanders may have accomplished more than many people realize.
``This team had some holes,'' said Radford coach Ron Bradley.
Successive Radford squads should be less threadbare, not that these Highlanders had to be ashamed of their showing.
The primary reason for optimism is the development of a group of freshmen that likely will be remembered as the best recruiting class yet at Radford. People will be hearing about 6-7 Kevin Robinson, 6-10 Eric Parker and 6-4 guards Chibi Johnson and Corey Reed for some time to come.
``Robinson and Parker have a chance to be a very good frontcourt here,'' Bradley said. ``Johnson has a good body but he needs to gain some strength. Reed has some limitations, but he's an excellent shooter.''
Robinson started the second half of the season, which helped Radford finish strong going into the Big South tournament. Parker shook off a broken finger and a bout with illness to offer key contributions down the stretch.
``Once Parker was healthy, that allowed us to move Robinson into the starting lineup, and that helped us,'' Bradley said.
Robinson averaged 6.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Parker didn't have those numbers because he didn't play as much, but that certainly will change.
The athletic Johnson has range on the jump shot and can defend. Reed had 30 3-point goals and shot nearly 50 percent from beyond the arc while playing a little over 10 minutes per game.
The other big story for Radford was center Antoine Dalton, a career nonentity until making a dramatic turnaround as a senior to become one of the leading post men in the conference. Dalton was selected for the all-tournament team after being overlooked for the all-conference squad.
Dalton and sophomore guard Anthony Walker (15.3 ppg., 150 assists) were the unquestioned team leaders.
``I thought Anthony did a terrific job this year,'' Bradley said.
Walker played 35 minutes per game (closer to 40 in conference games) at point guard. That turned out to be a burden for Radford in one respect because Walker, the team's most talented offensive player, often had trouble creating a shot for himself. The return of Ingram and Watkins, both of whom can play at the point, will take a lot of pressure off Walker next season.
Watkins and Ingram were redshirted.
Chris Harvey joins Dalton as the only two players whose eligibility expires this year. Harvey was a tenacious defender and the team's best rebounder, but an erratic offensive player at best.
If Dalton wasn't the turnaround player of the year, it was Jason Lansdown, the starting shooting guard. Lansdown could score when necessary, but his real development was as a defensive player.
Bradley has two scholarships available.
``I learned a lot this year,'' he said. ``I'm disappointed with the way the season ended [in a tournament semifinal loss to UNC Greensboro], but no coach is satisfied unless he goes 29-0.''
by CNB