THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 8, 1995 TAG: 9501060200
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
RIAN EVERETT is one of those quiet guys who prefers to let his actions speak louder than his words.
Better get the ear plugs.
When this Tallwood High point guard lets his actions do the talking, it's a loud conversation.
Against then No. 5 Cox two weeks ago, Everett blistered the nets for 23 points - including four crucial 3-pointers. On Tuesday, Everett was again on, scoring 21 points with three 3-pointers. He also had five assists and three steals.
So it's safe to say Everett is a big reason why the Lions entered Saturday's game against Lake Taylor 6-0 and ranked No. 7 in the area poll. He was averaging 13.2 points heading into the Titan game.
But you are much more likely to hear him talk about how the team is doing than about his own lofty performances.
``He's a very modest kid,'' coach Johnny Pope said. ``He's a little reserved, but he does most of his talking through the way he plays.''
Pope said he has a mental connection with his junior, and it's a good thing, given the fact that Everett is so resolved.
``He'll just look at me sometimes, and I'll give him a look back, and it's like he knows what I want him to do,'' Pope said. ``He's a different breed of kid.
``Maybe we get the connection because we were born on the same day.''
Whatever the reason, Pope cares more that Everett appears to be coming into his own.
But because he is a team player in every sense, Everett is sometimes troubled by his responsibility of running the offense. Like his teammates, he is more into the Lions' energetic trapping defense.
``The whole team likes defense the best,'' he said. ``I feel the same way. We have a lot of great athletes on the team and that allows us to be able to play that kind of defense.
``I think the whole idea of what we do surprises a lot of teams.''
While he might prefer to feed his teammates and play more the role of a traditional point guard, Everett has been stepping up his game - especially the last two outings.
``There are times when he hasn't done that and he knows that he should have,'' Pope said. ``But I think he's getting better at recognizing those moments and doing what he has to do.''
One thing Everett greatly recognizes is the need to excel in the classroom as well as on the basketball court.
When asked how his holiday vacation was, he quietly responded: ``I'm just real glad to be back in school. I love school.
``I just like learning. The whole team pushes each other. Everybody pushes us to do well, and we understand the importance of grades. You have to have them to play. But we don't want to just go out on the court or in the class and do average.''
Everett is anything but average, sporting a 3.4 GPA while taking advanced courses. He took the SAT exam as a sophomore and has already qualified under Prop 48 rules.
And Pope said he gets letters daily inquiring about his team leader.
``But he just takes it all in stride and acts almost like it's no big deal,'' Pope said. ``He's concentrating on what the team is doing right now, first.''
And that's quietly running the Lions stunning success. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LEE TOLLIVER
``I love school,'' says Rian Everett, who has a 3.4 GPA while taking
advanced courses. ``I just like learning. The whole team pushes each
other.''
by CNB