ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, October 15, 1996 TAG: 9610150106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
Harold Deane never believed men's basketball practice would begin today at Virginia without him.
There were times, he acknowledged, when he didn't believe the day would come soon enough.
``I'm approaching the first day of practice like every other year,'' Deane said Monday, ``but [today] is going to be pretty exciting and I'm just happy to be a part of it.
``I knew I had to do a lot of things - a lot of little things - to let everybody know I wasn't a bad person and still had the right goals. I've been through a lot from the last year till now.''
Coach Jeff Jones announced in June that Deane had taken a leave of absence and would not be with the team when it assembled in August to begin preparations for a series of exhibition games in Europe.
The school announced Sept.4 that Deane had been cleared to rejoin the team for conditioning drills, but, until Monday, there was nothing to indicate he would be available for the start of practice.
``The truth is, Harold will be in uniform,'' said Jones, who made no other declarations on Deane's status. ``Harold, like all of our guys, has worked hard and is looking for ways to contribute.''
Rich Murray, UVa's sports information director, said Deane would not address the events of this past summer, including his Aug.5 conviction on charges of trespassing and resisting arrest.
Deane, arrested at a party in April, received two 30-day jail sentences that have been suspended pending two years' good behavior. He is in the process of appealing and faces arraignment Oct.21.
While he did not discuss his court case, Deane, a senior point guard, spoke of the importance of clearing his name before his college basketball career ends this winter.
``Image is a lot to me, anyway,'' he said. ``I don't want anybody to think of me in a negative way. Everybody makes mistakes and nobody is perfect, but in the situation I'm in and with the publicity that comes with being on a team, you really have to be cognizant of what's going on around you.''
Deane led the Cavaliers in scoring last season, averaging 16.7 points per game, and was named second-team All-ACC for the second consecutive year. He ranks 15th on UVa's all-time scoring list and is seventh in assists.
``Basketball is one thing,'' Deane said, ``but socially, being involved in the community and everybody having a good vibe about you as a person is very important.''
Deane remains under a microscope and, presumably, his status could change if he does not adhere to academic and social guidelines. Robert Canevari, UVa's dean of students, is among those who have reviewed his behavior.
``I feel he's [Deane] definitely learned from everything,'' said junior Curtis Staples, Deane's backcourt partner for the past two years. ``I feel it's going to be a special season for him.
``He feels he has to prove a lot of stuff and I think he's going to do it in the right way. He's going to do it by playing within himself and helping his team win games.''
Jones said no Cavaliers player is assured a starting job, not even Deane, who averaged 35.6 minutes last season. Jamal Robinson played point guard for the Cavaliers on their European tour.
``I don't think it's any coincidence that our shooting percentage was higher and that we had more assists with Jamal in there,'' Jones said. ``Our point guard this year, whoever it is, needs to be a playmaker first and a scorer second.''
That's fine with Deane, who has led the Cavaliers in assists for the past three seasons, although he had more turnovers (104) than assists (99) in 1995-96. UVa's lack of a consistent inside scoring threat may have contributed to those numbers.
``Since I've been here, I've always thought of myself as a pure point guard,'' Deane said. ``Granted, things went differently last year, when we had different elements to our team. This year, we have a greater variety.
``As long as we win games, it doesn't matter to me how many shots I take or what percentage I shoot. Nobody was worried about my shooting percentage as a freshman. I didn't shoot the ball well my freshman year, but we won games.''
Robinson was named the team captain, but Deane doesn't plan to keep a low profile. He has been the kind of player who wants the ball at the end of games and wants to guard an opposing team's best player.
``I plan to be an active leader,'' he said. ``I'm one who shows by example. I don't like to lose and, if I think I can make a play, I'll take a chance to make something happen.
``This past year, I think I tried to do that too much. That was the main thing. With the addition of some big guys who can help Norman [Nolan] down low, it will take the focus off me and put it on the team.''
Nothing would make Jones happier.
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: KEITH GRAHAM/Staff. Virginia's Harold Deane plans onby CNBbeing more of a traditional point guard this season. The senior also
will be careful to guard his public image. color.