ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 26, 1996 TAG: 9612260043
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
First a word about the Swiss:
The Swiss occupy Switzerland, a country that is draped picturesquely across the Alps, the mountainous roof of Europe. These fine and peace-loving people are known for their precision watchmaking, their discreet tradition of banking, and their vigor.
Philip Klaus, a 17-year-old American born of Swiss parents, has developed some of these characteristics as a member of the Blacksburg High School basketball team.
Klaus, a 6-foot-6-inch senior, plays the game vigorously year-round, is dependable as clockwork, and has been the basketball equivalent of money in the bank.
Persuading him to discuss these issues can occasionally be as challenging as yodeling, however. No matter. The Indians would be a far cry from a Blue Ridge District contender without him.
``Philip doesn't say much,'' Blacksburg coach Bob Trear said. ``He's not a vocal leader. He's a very quiet person, but being quiet doesn't mean that you can't lead.''
Despite the modern basketball tradition of posturing, gesturing, and woofing, there is nothing that says players who decline to do so can't play. Klaus can play, as many of the coaches in the Blue Ridge can tell you.
Blacksburg is new to this basketball-rich league as of this year. Most coaches already knew who Klaus was before he canned the first short jumper. An informal poll of the coaches before the season started revealed that the Indians would be one of the teams to beat in the district. When asked why, the coaches invariably mentioned Klaus.
The big guy has a nice game. So far this year, he's averaging close to 24 points and 11 rebounds per game. He can play the low post or venture out on the wing to shoot and handle the ball.
``We play him inside quite a bit, but if we can get his man to come outside to guard him we'd like to because it's hard for a lot of them to keep up with him when he goes back inside,'' Trear said.
Klaus is more of a versatile player this year. You can attribute that to his constant work on his game. During the off-season, he said, he plays frequently at Virginia Tech's War Memorial Gymnasium, where there are always high-quality pickup games going.
He is also a member of the Roanoke Hawks AAU team. Among his teammates on that squad are Robert Carson and Peanut Arrington of defending Group AA state champion Liberty as well as Patrick Henry standout Devon Battle.
``Coming into the season, you don't know how much better you are from a year ago,'' Klaus said. ``One thing I have noticed is that I'm going to the free throw line more and I'm a better rebounder.''
Both of these improvements would seem to be related to increases in strength and size. Weight lifting as well as natural growth have increased his weight by 17 pounds in the past year. During the same period, he's been exercising his brain as well.
``I always take hard classes,'' he said, listing social studies and geography as a couple of his favorites. This fall, he has been taking calculus at Virginia Tech.
High academic achievement is an endeavor taken seriously in the Klaus household. Father, Martin, teaches math at Tech, mother, Silvia, teaches German at Blacksburg High. Philip's sister Anne-Louise, a graduate student in Indiana, and he are the athletes of the family. She once was a runner at Blacksburg.
College basketball recruiters have taken something of an interest in him. It is probably safe to assume that he will be given the opportunity to play somewhere. He'll be a good find for somebody, Trear believes.
``He's good and solid and you'll never have any trouble out of him,'' Trear said.
Just like a Swiss watch.
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: RAY COX/Staff. Philip Klaus, a 6-foot-6-inch senior,by CNBplays basketball vigorously year-round, is dependable as clockwork,
and has been the basketball equivalent of money in the bank. color.