THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 22, 1995 TAG: 9503220549
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
In March, when all the world is closing in on a college basketball player, serenity can be a much desired but fleeting friend. Jerry Stackhouse, though, is its lockstep companion.
North Carolina's first-team All-American forward knows where serenity lives, what it means, how it thrives. And there, at the heart of the Tar Heels' drive to the NCAA championship, is Stackhouse's strong and silent soul, the window to which is shielded by his smoldering eyes and fixed stare.
Beyond his abundant physical gifts, a practiced self-composure is what makes Stackhouse, a 20-year-old sophomore and Sports Illustrated's choice for national player of the year, a special, powerful force. The Tar Heels benefit game by game, their latest of which comes Thursday in Birmingham, Ala. against Georgetown in the Southeast Regional semifinals.
``He's very unselfish and a natural leader,'' North Carolina coach Dean Smith said this season. ``He does it without a lot of talking. He's such a competitor on the inside, but you wouldn't know it by watching him on the outside.''
What North Carolina needed at the ACC tournament two weeks ago were late 3-pointers against Maryland and Wake Forest on consecutive days to force overtime. Under heavy pressure, with the din of a sold-out Greensboro Coliseum in his ears, Stackhouse coolly delivered both times. The Tar Heels went on to defeat the Terrapins but lost to Wake Forest when another 3-pointer by Stackhouse missed, surprisingly, at the buzzer.
Against Murray State in the NCAA tournament's first round, Stackhouse produced 25 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two blocked shots and two steals to stave off the inspired Racers. Later, the building's least affected person probably was Stackhouse when somebody wondered if he's ever impressed by what he can do.
``I've always felt that I was the leader of my team, even at an early age,'' Stackhouse said in his soft, deep voice. ``I just felt that when it was a key time in the game, I was the one who wanted to make the play. You can call that selfish or what, but I want to make the play, and I feel that I'm capable of making it.''
That points to Stackhouse's poise, molded in Kinston, N.C., as the youngest of 11 children. His mother, Minnie, is a minister who ran her home in a spiritual way that Stackhouse, in fact, couldn't always abide.
Church-going was a given, though ``I never liked going to church, up until recently where I could pick and choose when I go,'' Stackhouse said.
``When you're little and the cartoons are on, you know, that sort of thing, but we were there every Sunday, if not in our church then somebody else's.''
From it, however, Stackhouse eventually gleaned the peace and maturity that sustains him in the height of competition. It's a kind of quiet class along the lines of former Duke star Grant Hill, now with the Detroit Pistons, that is in marked contrast to the modern self-glorifying multitudes.
``Woofing at refs or getting involved in conversations with other players, those are distractions,'' said Stackhouse, who averages 19.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and shoots 52 percent from the floor, including 39.3 percent from 3-point range. ``I just try to stay away from those. Then you're able to concentrate and think freely.
``There are situations where people get rattled, that's just human nature, and I'm not saying I don't get rattled ever. But I think that's the difference between winning and losing a lot of times, having your poise.
``I might think, `Well, we're on the ropes now,' but you can't show it. Because once you show it teams will try to take advantage of it. I think that's the thing my parents taught us the most, not to let people see that you're down or distracted. To try to be bigger than the situation.''
As a practical matter, Stackhouse at 6-foot-6 and 218 pounds plays bigger and more all over the court than most men his size. Always a quick inside player, great jumper and flamboyant driver and dunker, Stackhouse has improved on the perimeter, both on offense and defense.
Stackhouse's overall game is the best in the ACC, Wake Forest coach Dave Odom said, and maybe the best in the college ranks. But his main strength, teammate Dante Calabria said, is his strength.
``He doesn't fear anybody and he'll go to the hoop and rebound and play as hard as he can at all times,'' Calabria said. ``He's so strong. We get matched up in practice some times and he's just a strong guy if he's going to the hoop and you're trying to stop him.''
As Calabria spoke, Stackhouse patiently entertained a crowd of reporters a few feet away. He could be gone to the NBA after this season, where media savvy will serve him well. But nothing bodes better for Stackhouse's future as his even temper and extraordinary perspective.
``People live day to day, and I know all of this could be taken away in just a blink of an eye,'' Stackhouse said. ``I'm happy with the way God's blessed me, but I know if I don't acknowledge Him as being part of my life, then He just as easily could take it away.
``I just feel fortunate. It's not just me, there's a lot of things like my parents' prayers that keep me going. As a young guy, I don't dot every I and cross every T. I mean, I have my flaws and everything. But there's definitely some people praying for me.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
PAUL AIKEN/Staff
Jerry Stackhouse slams home this message: ``I've always felt that
when it was a key time in the game, I was the one who wanted to make
the play.''
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