THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 1, 1995 TAG: 9412290175
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
How many players can come out in their first year of organized basketball and make the starting lineup of their high school team? Jermaine Coston, a junior forward from Perquimans County, has done just that and more.
Coston, straight from the playgrounds of Hertford, went out for a basketball camp this summer. Perquimans head coach Luther Overton was so impressed with Coston's raw talent that he wanted him for the Pirates. The only organized ball Coston had ever played was in the Hertford recreation leagues. But by the third game of the season, Coston was a starter and contributed 22 points against Columbia. He also poured in a season high 34 points against Currituck.
Although his 3-point shot is unorthodox (it looks like he's pulling a six shooter from his hip), he is deadly from the outside. But he's not just a shooter. In the Pirates 67-56 win over Edenton in the first round of the Four County Classic Basketball Tournament this week, Coston moved well without the ball, rebounded, and passed. He scored just seven points.
``He's exceptional. He's got the quickest hands I've ever seen,'' Overton said. ``He does make some mistakes, but nothing abnormal.''
Overton said that Coston has adjusted quickly to a set offense even after playing street ball for many years.
``He's caught on real well and worked his way right in,'' Overton said. ``He's what you call a natural athlete with natural instinct.''
Coston said a lot of what he has learned has come on his own by playing in the projects in Hertford. Playing organized ball was a challenge to him at first.
``The first game I started (against Columbia) I was real nervous,'' he said. ``I didn't know the system at first and I got mixed up. But the more and more shots I made, I felt more comfortable.''
The Pirates have opened the season at 6-1 and Coston is a big reason. Coston said he came out for the team because there was ``nothing else to do.'' Overton has to be glad he did.
``A lot of the things he does on the court, I don't know if I could have taught him,'' Overton said as he beamed. by CNB