THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 18, 1994 TAG: 9410180456
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
He's not shy about his intentions, that's for sure. At the University of Virginia, Chase Metheney says he only wants to be the greatest center since Ralph Sampson last graced University Hall in 1983.
In just his first official week of practice, Metheney has Sampson matched in one area. At 7-foot-4 in basketball shoes, Metheney could stand eye-to-eye with Sampson. Any further comparisons, however, dwarf the skinny freshman from Charlotte.
What everybody says about Metheney at the moment is that he's a hard worker. That's sort of like the proverbial blind date - lots of personality.
But his work ethic is the positive spin Metheney brings into his initial college season, and the primary reason Metheney's wish to eventually approach Sampson's level isn't necessarily a complete pipe dream.
``He will factor into games this year,'' Virginia coach Jeff Jones said. ``But I think the thing we all need to remember is that Chase's best basketball is ahead of him.
``He's going to be a guy that opponents' scouting reports are going to have to deal with extensively in future years. Because he's going to change things around the basket.''
In another season, Metheney might be redshirted, the better to help him boost his weight from 221 pounds and gather the added strength he sorely needs. But with only 10 scholarship players on the team, Jones believes Metheney will see some time behind Junior Burrough and Chris Alexander and anticipates he will make his presence felt as a shot blocker.
Metheney figures the same thing.
``Offensively I'm not that well-prepared, but defensively I think I can help because of my size,'' said Metheney, who turned 19 in September. ``I'm going to work hard every day. That's all I can do.''
Metheney, they say, has had that certain stick-to-it spirit at least since he was a 7-1 freshman for coach Jerry Faulkner at Charlotte Latin, a private school of 1,200 students pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Needless to say, the the recruiters started drooling , and finally stopped when Metheney committed to Virginia last fall.
He selected Virginia over Wake Forest and Florida, then went on to average 18 points and 11 rebounds and block 111 shots as a senior. Metheney finished at Charlotte Latin with 1,717 points and 1,027 rebounds, three North Carolina Independent Schools state titles and a reputation as one of the country's top 100 college prospects.
``A lot of big guys play because they're expected to play, but Chase plays because he enjoys the game,'' said Faulkner, a former assistant at Clemson under Bill Foster. ``The key thing we wanted to do with Chase was to develop the basic fundamental moves and let him graduate with still a desire to learn and enjoy the game.''
Metheney's offensive moves are limited to a decent jump shot from 12 feet when he's able to get into position to shoot it, the occasional hook shot and, of course, dunks.
As a defender, Metheney said he essentially blocks shots on height and wingspan - flat-footed, arms extended over his head,
Metheney measures 9-foot-6, he said. But Virginia looks forward to the day he can stake out turf and block shots with positioning, too.
``Pretty soon he's going to be able to get his body there and contest a lot more shots than he's contesting now,'' said Burrough, who has played pickup games against Metheney all semester. ``He doesn't really intimidate yet because he's not the massive size of a 7-4 guy, as you'd think.
``He gets his body there, but he's not strong enough to keep people from getting to the basket. Maybe they'll call a foul, maybe they won't. But two years from now, a year from now, it's going to be a blocked shot, no question.''
Metheney might not get any taller than his present 7-2 1/2 in bare feet: He has grown just 1 1/2 inches since ninth grade. And though he said ``society'' helped nudge him toward basketball, Metheney said he is comfortable with the stares of the minions he gazes down upon, and with the expectations that come with advanced height.
It's just that those expectations need to be tempered for a while.
``I'm a little tentative (about the season), I'd say,'' Metheney said. ``I don't know what it's going to be like, how hard it's going to be.''
Remember this, though, Jones reminded: Metheney has yet to find any challenge too hard.
``There's times when he's been in what looks like excruciating pain, whether in the weight room or the track or some type of conditioning, and he just won't give up,'' Jones said.
``Simply by that, and by the physical gifts that he has, Chase is going to be a factor for us.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
THE DAILY PROGRESS
Chase Metheney stands 7-foot-4 in his basketball shoes and weighs
211 pounds. With his arms extended above his head, he measures
9-foot-6 from fingertip to toe.
Photo
Virginia's former tall guy: Ralph Sampson.
by CNB