Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Fresha BY BILLY BAKER Of The Gamecock staff Basketball publications have described him as "a small-time Pete Maravich without the floppy socks" and a "ball h4ndlng whiz, but no one knows JAckIe Gilloon's game better than himself. "I'm a playmaker," said the 6-2 freshman recruit from West New York, N.J. "A like to handle the ball; sometimbe I almost go crazy dribbling. We have enough scorers on the team already." He* comes to the college game with credentials to make a con tribution to a team with thoughts of a NCAA championship. He could have gone to college anywhere, but he said the choice was easy for him. "It was either go away or stay," he said. "I was either going to play for Manhattan or South Carolina." Gilloon said a combination of things helped him turn to Carolina. "There really was no main reason," he said. "I was Im pressed with the guys on the team when I visited last spring. They all hang around together like a real team. "Bobby Cremins did a great job recruiting me," he said. "He came to my last 10 games in high school. I appreciated his honesty and sincerity." While Frank McGuire has coached some great guards into the pro ranks, his preseason remarks about Gilloon rival any he has ever given about a freshman. "He is so gifted," said McGuire. "He will provide tremendous excitement for anyone watching the game. He will have a great career. "I watched him beat out Moses Malone for MVP in the SEAMCO Classic," said McGuire. "I do wish we can feed him more." In the SEAMCO Classic, a national high school All-Star game, Gilloon scored 16 points and collected six assists in leading his team to a one-sided victory over Malone's team. Giloon was a three-year starter at Memorial High in West New York. He averaged 24 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as a senior. In his high school career he scored 1,384 points in 81 games for about a 17-point per game average. Giloon is confident of his of fensive ability. He freely admits he will need to spend a lot of time improving his defense. He said that -Junior guard Mike Dunleavy has helped him a lot. "Mike is a Jackie CGilon tan guard likes his 'He is so gifted. He will provide tremendous excitement for anyone watching the game. ---USC Coach Frank McGuire good defensive player and I picked "First of all I would like to play a up a lot from him." lot or start," he said. "And the Gilloon believes in goals'and he possibility of playing on a national hopes to accomplish a lot during championship team as a freshman his four-year tenure at USC. is great." TI Original SW 20 I.e I e. I NoSt"f esn aig,TeOiia maeI efr-ih o o,eeyso thSn ntoa evc o e bv.O menS0twHb ihtt e ek eo upt07 vrcnetoa arus n gra,dyatrdyIfe a.Mkssn I Now ayffeaso Experins, pperinal seaen. itall be reight ton ten week be.., playmake Gilloon is very much aware of the competition he will have from other guards on the team for playing time 'this year. He had some nice things to say about the. only other freshman guard, Billy Truitt.. "Our games compliment one another. I'm a passer and he is a great scorer. I think in future years we are going to put it together." Gilloon said he always followed the Gamecock basketball team and Cast Cast for your H AIRA spares no ting. Save money? Sure, and ir cast styles your hair right ta e your next relaxing visit. Sal 1, we show you how to keep e for your head and your bud Monday through Saturday, se ting new environment. rs role recalls watching several USC games on national television. "I used to especially watch the guard play of South Carolina teams," he said, - "You' know there is a tradition that me and Billy will have to carry on here. "In my opinion, and I don't care what anyone says, Kevin Joyce, was the best of them all because he could do so much." Gilloon might Make others think about that before be's gone. brr ..........I Ol' thing t get get Ie tl