ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 11, 1996 TAG: 9601110161
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
When former William Fleming all-everything point guard and four-year starter Derrick Hines graduated last spring, opponents may have figured this would be a down season for the Colonels.
After all, Hines was regarded by some as the best player Burrall Paye has coached in his 19 seasons at Fleming, so it would only be natural to expect the Colonels to be a less formidable foe.
Wrong.
Fleming has adjusted its offense to revolve around its pivot man, 6-5 senior forward James Stokes. Halfway through the regular season, Stokes' numbers are up (18.6 points per game, 13.3 rebounds per game), and Fleming sports a respectable 7-4 record.
``He's kind of carried us this year,'' Paye said. ``He's fundamentally sound, and he's developed his inside moves to perfection.''
``I'm at my best [scoring] when I get the ball on the block, under the basket,'' Stokes said. ``When it comes to rebounds, I just box out, hit the knees and get down low.''
But to be considered a college prospect, Stokes will need improve his SAT scores.
``I'm trying to get my scores up,'' Stokes said. ``If not, I'll probably go to Fork Union [Military Academy].''
Basketball is clearly a high priority in Stokes' life.
Stokes has been playing basketball for most of his life, ``but I didn't really grow until the ninth grade,'' he said. ``I shot up 4 or 5 inches over that summer.''
Stokes credits Fleming assistant coaches Mickey Hardy and Joe Gaither for developing his abilities to stand out at the varsity level.
This is the third season Stokes has started for the Colonels but the first year without Hines feeding him the ball.
``Derrick was the best high school point guard I've ever seen,'' said Stokes, who has played against Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, consistently one of highest-ranked high school programs in the nation.
Filling Hines' position at Fleming this season is senior Richard Wilson, a slick ball handler. Wilson may match Hines in quickness, but lacks his scoring potential. Consequently, opposing defenses are inclined to sag back and put more pressure on Stokes.
Thus far, Stokes has responded to the challenge. He was averaging nearly 20 points per game until his last outing (Jan. 2 against GW-Danville), when he sprained his left ankle on the opening tip.
Stokes writhed on the floor in pain for several minutes and hobbled to the dressing room (with help), but then returned to score nine points.
``If [Stokes] had been full speed, we might have won that game,'' Paye said.
Without Stokes' standard point production, the Colonels turned to Charles Burnette and R.J. Reynolds, each of whom scored 22 points against the Eagles. GW-Danville is considered to be a contender for the 1996 Group AAA state championship.
After the game, Stokes went to the hospital, where his injury was diagnosed as a chipped bone and a severe sprain.
``They gave me some crutches, but i don't want to wear them,'' Stokes said. ``I'll just limp along.''
The day after his injury, Stokes watched from the bench while his teammates practiced at Booker T. Washington. When practice was over, Stokes conversed with his coaches and teammates, and then hobbled unattended to his home, a short distance away in Lincoln Terrace.
From a scheduling standpoint, Stokes' injury came at an opportune time, as the Colonels' next game is 10 days after the GW loss, Friday night against Franklin County. Look for Stokes to be in the starting lineup.
``I'm going to shoot some threes when I come back,'' Stokes said, pulling the leg of Reynolds, Fleming's 3-point specialist. ``A lot of 'em.''
It may just be a far-fetched joke, but it wouldn't be the first time a Paye-coached team altered its strategy for success.
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL/Staff. James Stokes is averaging 18.6 pointsby CNBand 13.3 rebounds per game as pivot man for William Fleming, which
has a 7-4 record. color.