THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601050198
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
QUICK NOW, WHO IS the highest scoring basketball player in Portsmouth's public schools?
Here's a hint: He also may be the finest cross-country runner in the city, certainly one of the best.
No idea? The name of Perez Bottoms doesn't ring a bell?
That is no surprise.
Wilson basketball coach Terence Green calls Bottoms ``the best-kept secret in high school sports.''
A 6-foot, 160-pound senior guard, Bottoms sports a 20.7 scoring average. He holds a substantial lead over his nearest challenger as Portsmouth's top point producer. He ranks second in the Southeastern District to Indian River's Jason Capel and No. 3 in South Hampton Roads.
A year ago on a squad that won only twice in 21 outings, Bottoms was chosen for the All-Southeastern second team. He maintained a 16-point scoring average and only one returning player in the district carried a higher average.
Not bad for a part-time basketball player.
Bottoms was competing in two sports at the same time. He was running on the indoor track team at Wilson. Because of scheduling conflicts, he was allowed to practice as time permitted.
This year, Bottoms bypassed indoor track to concentrate on basketball. But he is not neglecting his running. Each weekend, he runs over a course he has charted around streets near his home - ``My own 3.1-mile course,'' he calls it.
Bottoms plans to resume track competition in the outdoor season. He finished 11th in last year's district cross-country meet. In May, he was third in the outdoor district meet in the 800-meter run.
``But I'm a basketball player running track, not a track guy playing basketball,'' said Bottoms. ``That's why I didn't run indoors this year. My legs are fresher. I wanted to focus on basketball and see if I couldn't get myself a college scholarship.''
The Wilson basketball team already has matched last year's season total of two victories. Green attributes much of the improvement to the all-around contributions of Bottoms, not just his scoring.
``He's a leader through his hard work. And he has everybody playing better together,'' explained Green, a first-year head coach.
So-so interest in Bottoms by college scouts irks Green.
``Perez will be a steal for somebody,'' said Green. ``He can play college basketball. I have no doubts about that. He's an outstanding young man, too, and before this season is over I'm just hoping the colleges will take a good look at him.''
Bottoms already has caught the eye of one college scout. But in cross-country. Christopher-Newport is interested in him.
``I'll be listening to anybody,'' said Bottoms. ``I want to attend college. Oh, I would love to play college basketball.''
His current overall grade point average of 2.7 was boosted by his appearance on the school honor roll for the last 9-week grading period.
Bottoms' teammates call him `Love.'
``That's because I love basketball so much,'' he said.
His real name - Perez - was suggested by his grandmother.
``She knew some rich man named Perez,'' he said. ``I don't know whether that was his first name or his last name. But maybe she thought his good fortune would rub off on me.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Perez Bottoms is a standout in basketball and track at Wilson High.
by CNB