THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409160662
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Booker T. Washington's Michael Basnight used to be the proverbial big fish in a little pond. But after two weeks or rambling over, around and through South Hampton Roads' defenses, there's a string of frustrated would-be tacklers ready to testify that this guy's just a big fish, period.
They should have just asked Basnight.
``I've never had any doubts about my game,'' he said. ``Never.''
Others around the area needed to be convinced. Sure, the 6-2, 215-pound Basnight descended upon Booker T. Washington from tiny Columbia High School in North Carolina with a star's portfolio - as a sophomore and junior, he ran for more than 3,200 yards.
But since the totals came at a school with only 150 students and in a league where Columbia wasn't even the smallest school, there were some natural questions regarding whether he could maintain his numbers against Virginia's Group AAA teams.
Then Basnight ran up 147 yards and scored two touchdowns against tough Deep Creek, and followed it up with a 141-yard, three-touchdown effort against Oscar Smith.
He's also caught five passes, kicked off and punted, and he swears a game-winning 40-yard field goal try at the end of the Deep Creek game would have been good had time not expired before he could get it off.
Any more questions?
``If he turns the corner on you, you've got a problem,'' said Lake Taylor coach Bert Harrell, whose eighth-ranked Titans will take on the ninth-ranked Bookers tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Harbor Park. ``He has excellent speed and he cuts back against the grain like the good ones do. I think he just toyed with Oscar Smith.''
Area coaches have likened Basnight's running style to Tony Dorsett, O.J. Simpson and Herschel Walker. But Basnight says he patterns his game after no one, and simply does what comes naturally.
``I've got skills, but I don't use a lot of fakes,'' he said. ``My running style is basically I'm coming at you. You can either move out of the way, or I'm running you over.''
It's a style that's been sorely missed in Columbia, where, after back-to-back playoff appearances, the Wildcats are 0-3.
``We lost a lot when we lost him,'' Columbia coach James Furlough said.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Basnight's Columbia numbers was they were compiled despite him being limited to approximately 17 carries a game.
``I didn't want to beat on people with him,'' said Furlough, who had coached Basnight since the seventh grade. ``And I also didn't want to wear the kid down.''
But with mail from Division I colleges streaming into the Basnight home, all limits were to be off for Basnight's senior year. Basnight's goal was a 2,000-yard season, and Furlough was ready to do his part to make it happen.
``This was going to be his year,'' Furlough said. ``I was going to give it too him 25-30 times, just to see what he could do. A Mike Basnight can carry a football team. I know I was going to let him carry us.''
The plan unraveled late in Basnight's junior year, though, when he got into trouble and was kicked out of school. No one will say what the problem was.
Whatever the case, Basnight found himself in the market for a new high school. With an aunt living in Norfolk - Basnight lived with his grandmother in Columbia - Booker T. Washington was a natural. The higher profile of this area's football would also provide greater exposure for college recruiters.
The status of Booker T. Washington's basketball team didn't hurt, either. Seems Basnight plays a little hoops, too.
``I've already got him down (on the roster),'' Bookers' basketball coach Barry Hamler said.
But as for what comes after this year, Basnight says he's still sifting through his options. He earned mostly As and Bs at Columbia, and talks about maybe attending an Ivy League school. At one point he'll say he plans to major in engineering, then later mentions he'd like to become a lawyer. And of course, there's professional football.
``That's the ultimate,'' he said.
At this point, however, Basnight said what he does in the future isn't as important as whether or not he's successful. Even more than being a big fish in the football world, being a success in life is what drives him.
``I feel like I've had a troubled childhood,'' Basnight said. ``I lost my father before I was even born. He drowned when he was 17. I always think if I fail, my father won't look up to me. That's why I dedicate everything I do him.'' ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff [color photo]
MICHAEL BASNIGHT
by CNB