
DATE: Friday, July 4, 1997                  TAG: 9707020182

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 03   EDITION: FIANL 

TYPE: THUMBS UP! 

SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   93 lines

PARKS AND REC WORKER GUIDES GOOD STUDENTS TO ATHLETIC GRANTS

Darrius M. Hunter proudly proclaims he's a pusher.

At 25, he considers himself successful and now he wants to turn teen-agers on to his plan. He's even written a guidebook to help his young friends along the way.

``But I'm an education pusher not a drug pusher,'' said Hunter, a recreation specialist with the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department. ``If we can just catch the kids when they're young, I think we can hook some before too many bad habits or before they settle for less.''

His recently published guidebook is titled, ``The Scholarship Game, A Parent's Guide to Getting A College Athletic Scholarship.''

At 6-foot-8 and more than 200 pounds, Hunter could try to force his views on young people. But with a shy smile and soft voice he explains it's not about using brawn but brains.

So far, Hunter's success story includes a college degree in sports management and business and his position with the city. A 1990 graduate of Manor High School, he also has several years coaching experience and lots of volunteer work with his favorite people - teen-agers.

Hunter said his parents, Saundra and Henry Hunter of Portsmouth, would not permit his learning disabilities to deter him from graduating and going on to college.

``My mother would not allow learning problems to be an excuse. It was a reason to work harder,'' said Hunter who sang in the chorus, played basketball and struggled with reading and comprehension skills through school.

He learned from his parents and his basketball coach that sports may be the vehicle but education was the fuel to take him places.

When he graduated, college recruiters were standing by. And the Hunters were ready with a list of questions - more about tutors, study halls and class sizes than about promises of being a team starter.

Hunter chose a full athletic scholarship to Liberty University. And four years later, he had a NCAA Division II basketball tournament ring and a college diploma.

His support network in college became the basis for a book to help high school athletes.

Hunter still likens education to fuel. The ``regular unleaded'' education users are the average students who do enough work and meet most deadlines to get down the road, he says. Students who are on the ``premium'' tank are the ones who go far. They put in time and effort and turn in quality performances whether on tests or on the playing fields.

``Many young people have talents and skills, but they don't have the motivation and encouragement to realize that they need education as part of the package,'' said Hunter, who encourages parents and coaches to make athletes give the same effort in the classroom as in sports. ``Or if players do make it to the recruiting stage, some of their choices can make a difference in success or failure.''

In his book, Hunter reviews eligibility requirements, the recruiting process and choosing the right school.

He advises high school athletes who are not recruited to check out smaller colleges and junior colleges for opportunities. And he urges all prospective students to find out the college's graduation rate, especially of the athletes.

``It is important for the student to interview recruiters and school officials and to gather facts before making a final decision, no matter how glamrous the offer,'' said Hunter who provides a list of questions about concerns such as accommodations, summer school, course loads and the employment record of graduates.

Hunter also volunteers his time to talk to school, church or civic groups or to hold one-on-one sessions to encourage teens to do their best.

And he already has some success stories.

Last year, he worked with two young men with athletic skills but not much motivation or support. The men are now in college with more confidence and full scholarships.

And another youth, although not an athlete, also fell into Hunter's program. He now has a scholarship to Johnson & Wales University at the Norfolk College of Culinary Arts.

``I want to continue to preach that success does not happen overnight. But it can happen with one step at a time,'' he said.

In fact, Hunter says he hasn't stopped wanting to improve.

He plans to update his book, has dreams of being a Division I basketball coach and intends to keep pushing the benefits of premium education to teens. MEMO: For more information or to order a copy of Hunter's book, contact

Darrius Hunter at (757) 465-7215 or P.O. Box 3272, Portsmouth, VA,

23701. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY

In his guide to gaining athletic scholarships, Darrius Hunter

stresses that education, not sports, is the true secret to success.

He urges all prospective students to find out the college's

graduation rate, especially of the athletes.

Graphic

By Darrius Hunter