THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 17, 1995 TAG: 9503170671
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: -Tom Robinson
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
When he chooses, Jerry Stackhouse can let one of the brightest smiles you've ever seen wash over his usual poker face. Thursday, before North Carolina's hour-long practice for today's first-round game against Murray State, Stackhouse's grin for once seemed to belie his will on the subject of the NBA.
In response to a reporter's query as to whether the Tar Heels' performance in the tournament would influence his thinking on declaring for the draft, Stackhouse, a sophomore forward, matter-of-factly said, ``It has a lot to do with it.''
Pushed for a clarification - if North Carolina won it all, would he leave Chapel Hill? - Stackhouse looked away, broke into a huge grin and remained silent for about 10 seconds.
``No, I ain't saying that,'' Sports Illustrated's player of the year said. Then, after another prolonged pause, Stackhouse added: ``But all the things that I had set out to accomplish when I came to college I would have accomplished if we did win.''
What if the Tar Heels bow out again in the second round, as they did last season to Boston College? Would that help make up his mind?
``Yeah,'' Stackhouse said. ``That would almost make the decision for me.''
Taken at face value, the hints put North Carolina fans on the horns of a rooting dilemma - win it, lose him. How utterly cruel. by CNB