ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 8, 1996 TAG: 9603080052
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: COMMENTARY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
The New River Valley was shut out of all three state high school basketball tournaments this year. This is too bad because there were some players and coaches who deserved to be there, if for no other reason than to give those from other parts of the commonwealth opportunity to admire their talents.
The good players were spread out across the area this year, at many different schools. Had more of them been on the same team, the New River Valley certainly would have had an entry at the big tournament.
One vote for a squad that would have been competitive:
Always start with a point guard when building a team. A good one makes the whole operation work. This year's candidate, Jamar McNair of Pulaski County, has exquisitely refined skills. He's at his best going to the hole; if you're open. he'll find you. If not, he'll put it up himself.
Anthony Myers of Giles didn't play as much point as he has in previous seasons. Still, he's a guy you have to have. Hard-nosed as you'd expect of a basketball player who also plays an exceptional game of football. You might as well sign up his twin brother Aaron, too. If Anthony can't find anybody open for a pass, he can always find Aaron.
Jon Hutchins of Blacksburg can line up at either point or at the off guard and you don't lose much. Quick feet and a nice feel for the game. He looks as though he's having fun, too.
Darrell Calloway of Christiansburg had some eligibility problems, but in the perfect world portrayed in this space, we grant amnesty. This young man can score and rebound (his 10.3 boards per game was second in Timesland) and he was a marvelously clutch performer.
Dorian Hendricks of Pulaski County was tearing up older kids before he ever had his learners' permit. Timesland's hands-down best freshman, Hendricks is 6-foot-3 and probably still growing. With his size and skills, he can play any position in a high school game and play it well.
Since Hendricks is still a skinny freshman, we'll need help matching up with some of the bruisers our team is likely to face inside. The successful candidate will have to be somebody who is hard to move off the low block but is still versatile enough to play the game with finesse. Kenny Wojiechowski of Auburn is the guy for the job.
Another young guy with a good game is Travis Cantrell, the Floyd County sophomore. We'll let him handle the ball in late game situations. He's an 85.8 percent free throw shooter, best in Timesland.
Philip Klaus of Blacksburg is said to be at his best in a wide-open, length of the floor game. It's hard to tell. That's not the way Blacksburg plays. Even within the confines of the Indians' disciplined scheme, Klaus' ability is evident.
Plenty of shooters are on this team, but you can never have enough, so sign up Radford's John Robertson. He had 56 3-pointers, more than any other player in the New River Valley during the regular season.
To round things out, we'll have to a couple of good athletes and another shooter. The last three lockers are being assigned to Bryan Pruett and Joe Shipbaugh of Narrows and Derrick Chapman of Radford.
Pulaski County freshmen Justin Peek and Katrina Williams can help Cantrell give seminars on free throw shooting while they refine their own games practicing with the older kids.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB