THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410200170
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 27 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Last year's slogan for the Elizabeth City State University basketball program was ``We Deliver.'' Well, they didn't, so this year's slogan, unveiled at a ``Midnight Madness'' program last week, is ``Unfinished Business.''
Nobody said it better than head coach Claudie Mackey as he watched his team run through a scrimmage.
``I came to think that we can take this group and finish what we started. Two years ago we were 18-10, last year we were 23-7. I'd like to see us win about 25 games and see some growth,'' Mackey said. ``Until that's realized, business will be unfinished.''
Winning more games than last year's team may be a tall order, considering the Vikings have lost the likes of Shaun Walker, Maurice Barnett and Nate Higgs. Then again, the Vikings will probably have less pressure on them to win this year and will not be as highly regarded around the CIAA. That is exactly where Mackey wants to be.
The tallest order will be 7-foot-1 center Jo-ve Ford, now a senior, and highly regarded across the nation. Ford is a Street & Smith's small school honorable mention, a Division II Bulletin Super 16 player, an All-American in College Sports Division II Digest, and is ranked as one of the top 10 NBA center prospects by NBA scout Don Lebenthal. At times, Ford has been able to dominate games. Other times his play has been less than spectacular. The Vikings will need a super season from Ford to attain Mackey's goals.
``I think we have a better ball club than last year,'' Mackey said. ``We've got a group of players that will allow us to go deeper into the bench. What is going to make us a good team is that we have players that can do a number of things.''
Other starters from last year's team who appeared at Midnight Madness were point guard Adrian Bell and forward Ron Nowlin.
In the midst of the dunking contest, the free throw shooting contest, and alumni game, sat a player who could be the Vikings' next star. Jermaine Smoak, a player who was on campus last year but did not play and has been bragged about by the ECSU coaching staff, finally made his Vikings debut. Smoak, slightly built at 6-2, 185, hit nothing but net on four straight 3-point attempts. The fourth was the best. On a fast break, Smoak took a pass inside the 3-point line. He had the presence to take a step back across the line and sink the 3-point shot. Every time Smoak canned a 3-pointer, Mackey beamed.
Smoak was the third all-time leading scorer for New York City high school players.
Another sleeper is Bernard Cooper, a 6-10, 240-pound forward from Bertie County, who was supposed to play with East Carolina. Cooper showed athletic ability in the scrimmage and could break the starting lineup.
The Vikings open their schedule on Nov. 18 at the West Chester State University Tip-Off Tournament in West Chester, Pa. They open their home schedule by hosting the ECSU Tournament on Dec. 2 and 3. by CNB