ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 12, 1997 TAG: 9703120071
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY THE ROANOKE TIMES
The ``nightmare'' has ended for Virginia sophomore swingman Courtney Alexander, whose immediate goal is to improve his overall game.
It all started last year when an unnamed scout said that Courtney Alexander was the second-best basketball prospect in the ACC.
Since then, Alexander has been besieged by questions wondering when he will be going to the NBA.
``Just because I've got confidence doesn't mean I'm stupid,'' said Alexander, the leading scorer for Virginia, which begins NCAA Tournament play Thursday against Iowa in Salt Lake City.
``I feel I have the confidence to excel at this level, but that doesn't mean I'm ready for the next level and I will be back.''
This is not the first time Alexander has been the object of rumors. Last year, Alexander did an interview with school officials in which he dispelled talk that he might transfer.
``Now, it's the NBA,'' said Alexander, a 6-foot-6 sophomore. ``I just want to put it to rest. It doesn't matter what x, y or z thinks. I'm not ready.
``It doesn't matter how much money I could make next year. I need to work on my game. I'm not totally in this for the money. I mean, I have money. I'm having fun.''
Now, he's having fun. He wasn't having fun in early February, when he went scoreless in back-to-back games. Earlier, he had missed five games after twice spraining his left ankle.
``This whole year was a nightmare,'' said Alexander in an interview on the eve of the ACC Tournament. ``I've struggled with things this year, but I'm at ease now.
``My teammates stuck with me, even when there were times when I'm not sure they wanted to stick with me. Ultimately, I have grown a lot this year, on and off the court.''
Alexander realized he wasn't bigger than the program when teammate Harold Deane unloaded on him at halftime of a Jan.2 game with Loyola. Alexander wasn't starting at the time and seemed to be going through the motions when he was on the court.
Insiders say Alexander considered withdrawing from school, but he was at practice the next day and showed consistent improvement until he injured the ankle for the second time, Jan.22.
``I'm feeling a lot better now,'' Alexander said before the ACC Tournament. ``I'm feeling a lot better mentally. The last three weeks, I feel I've played the best basketball of my life.''
That was before he went out against North Carolina and scored a season-high 27 points in a 78-68 Cavaliers loss. He made five of seven shots from 3-point range and is first in the ACC in 3-point accuracy at 48.0 percent (40-of-87).
When recruited, Alexander was viewed as a possible successor to Harold Deane as a point guard. It appears his more natural position is shooting guard, but Curtis Staples is a fixture there, so Alexander has filled a variety of roles.
His rebounding average has dropped from 4.5 to 2.7, possibly as the result of the ankle injuries, but his assist-to-turnover ratio has improved. Defensively, he still struggles against physical small forwards like Greg Buckner and Matt Harpring.
``The scoring is a positive,'' UVa coach Jeff Jones said. ``We want to continue getting that, but we're beginning to see an evolution in his game. As his game fills out and we see him contribute in other ways, that makes him just that much more dangerous.''
Now that he has regained the lift on his jump shot, Alexander can be almost unstoppable at times. That's why many questioned Jones' decision to substitute for him with the Cavaliers and North Carolina tied 59-59.
``Courtney hit the big shot,'' said Jones of Alexander's tying 3-pointer, ``but, a couple of possessions before that, he was really dragging. He was tired.
``Looking back, I still would have taken him out, trying to give him a little breather. But he was at the scorer's table for so long that I probably made a mistake in not using a timeout to get him back in.''
Alexander played 40 minutes for the first time in a late-season game against Wake Forest and, while he talks of increased maturity, increased playing time can heal many ills.
``I've been told, `Courtney, you need to come out; that's why you're not happy,''' Alexander said. ``They say, `You're still in college and you're the second-best prospect in the league.'''
He may still be the second-best prospect but he's not the second-best player. Not now. Not in the estimation of the ACC media, which didn't vote him first-, second- or third-team All-ACC.
``The NBA, hopefully, will be there for me in the future,'' said Alexander, eighth in the ACC in scoring with 15.1 points per game. ``I need this school. Courtney needs the University of Virginia.
``I guess now everybody thinks I'm going to be coming out after next season but my intention right now is to stay in school and graduate in 1999.''
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN THE ROANOKE TIMES. The imminent departureby CNBof Virginia sophomore Courtney Alexander (32) for the NBA has been
greatly exaggerated. ``Just because I've got confidence doesn't mean
I'm stupid,'' said Alexander. color.