University of South Carolina Libraries
. " ~ I Seven newcomei i.;. M ; * t i > ? * i * Youth XII tsx ' < new er ?fi * By Mike Chibbaro Sports Editor When Bill Foster accepted th< head basketball coaching job a USC in March, he outlined a set o: ~ 1 ~ i ?. |/I ll/l mca WHICH lie pidllllCU U pursue vehemently. Heading his list of priorities were the assemblage of a coaching staff and recruiting. These tw( elements along with the building ol v a competitive schedule became th( foundation for a new era ir Carolina basketball. Two months after his arrival a USC, Foster had succeeded ir bringing together one of the fines coaching staffs in the country anc lurine sevei talented hasketbal players to his program at Carolina FOSTER EXPLAINED his plan< for the development of USC'5 men's basketball program. "We want to capitalize fully or our situation," the successful 49 year-old coach said. "We want tc take full advantage of our in dependent status as far as scheduling and travel are con cerned and we want to utilize the reputation which Coach (Frank) McGuire has built for South Carolina basketball...We feel we have a responsibility to capitalize on these things." Foster, who built winning programs at Bloomsburg State, Rutgers, Utah, and Duke before PAmind #A I TCP vw IJUV, u^-^lll|Jlia3UUU IMC loften overemphasized need for Carolina to affiliate with a con ference. "I know a lot of people would like for us to join a conference, one conference in paticular, but I think this is a feeling that comes anc goes/' the personable head coach explained. "We feel like if we play exciting basketball, have a fairly gooc scneauie, ana a couple exciting players, along with winning some games then the need for a league may not be emphasized as much." THROUGHOUT HIS 20-yeai head coaching career, Foster has been known and respected for his recruitment of quality athletes. He explained his philosophy or recruiting. "We believe in recruiting pJbspfcotar,-.fiot suspects," he said "Wie {have alttftys preferred tc relprift a certain kind ol pfiyet. jQne-that has more thar jilt tilt' finical tools.M JonlpPteriilg Foster's talenteei y?gjng^TcffiT'hing staff are Bob wwizei. Kay Jones, and Steve f St/Jmwedel Wenzel and Steinwede w^j-e assistant coaches under Foster at Duke last season, while Jofles held an assistant coaching p<#it ion c't Furman before relocating t :> Columbia. Jones was al|o an assistant coach under Foster at Duke for two seasons. These three men, along with Foster have accepted the numerous challenges that were waiting for them upon their arrival 11 '. s . : . '-:. . . ' " . . 'X > N - ' ' ' N>,^i : vj*: *>s9'< v-| jp >-<>s i ><i \';\ .' |< >v%v '\.'- : ^^ '"'' v': " rs to aid Gamecoi , enthusic a of bask at USC. Coach Foster and his staff inherited an unenviable task in respect to recruiting. t ONLY FOUR PLAYERS f returned from last year's 16-11 > squad and one of those remaining four, Derrick Scott, will not be , returning this fall. Due to the I coaching change, Foster and his > staff also got a very late start in f the recruiting battle. J Despite the adverse ciri cumstances, the USC coaching staff is pleased with the seven t prospects signed this year. Jones, i who Foster refers to as a t "dedicated recruiter", assessed i the corps of youngsters recruited 1 by the Gamecock coaches. "We got a late start, but we are very pleased with the kids we > recruited," Jones said. "We didn't > siari laiKing 10 Kias uniu Marcn z 1 'We believe in recruiting prospects, not suspects.' Bill Foster head basketball coach \ anH itc tnndh t r\ o 1 lr Jn o nloimr M1 iv> 1UJ tvugu cw m a iv ivr a piajrtl 1 that late, but we feel like we - recruited some very good athletes. > "We wanted to do some more in - state recruiting, but we just got toe j late of a start for that. In the future, we plan to recruit heavily ; in the state," he added. One of the most sought-after i Gamecock recruits was 6-9 Brad i Jergenson from Maitowac, Wise. Jergenson, who can play either forward or center, averaged 17 ; points and 12 rebounds his senior year in high school. "Brad was recruited by i Marquette, Tennessee, ahd Fur man and we feel fortunate to have gotten him," Jones commented "He is a good rebounder and ; defensive player and a very gooc ? athlete." , i ! JOINING TIIK NKWCOMERSir the frontcourt will be 6-9 205 pounc Jimmy Foster from Greenville f Foster, after averaging nearly 3( i points and 20 rebounds a game aunng nis junior year at Wade I Hampton High, did not play hi* senior year due to personal ' reasons. 1 Other frontcourt signees were 6-f Ken Holmes of Savannah, Ga. anc ; Bob Home, a 6-6 forward from I Niceville, Fla. Holmes, who wat 1 recruited by Ohio State and Ole Miss, averaged 2'.i points a game as a senior at Richard Arnold High. Ir Holmes' four years at Richarc Arnold, they won two state championships. Sophomore Kevin DarmoH' be the. PJily ^ :ks ism mark etball Gamecocks in the frontcourt. In the backcourt, junior college transfer Gerald Peacock heads ai impressive list of newcomers Peacock is described by Jones as; "very quick guard who can fly ui and down the court." Joining Peacock in the back court will be 6-6 Billy Bessoir o Scranton, Pa. and 6-3 Scott San derson from Tuscaloosa, Ala Bessoir, whose father is the hea< basketball coach at the Unviersit; of Scran?on, averaged 29 points < game as a senior at Scranton Prep Sanderson's father was recently named head basketball coach a the University of Alabama anc Jones says of Sanderson, "he play: like a coach's son. He makes verj few mistakes." CO-CAPTAINS Zam Fredricl and Kevin Dunleavy will join this group of newcomers in th< backcourt. Fredrick is the mosl experienced returnee for the Gamecocks, while Dunleavy is a scrappy point guard who will be relied upon for leadership. Jones, like all of the Gamecock coaches and players, is anxiously awaiting the start of the 1980-81 season. "1 wish practice startec today," the energetic young coach said. "Evreybody has been so nice to us. Coach Carlen and his stafi have helped us out tremendously and we are ready to get thingj . going." Jones also indicated that Coacl Foster and his staff will worl diligently to solicit student suppor for the basketball program. "We want this place (Caroline uonseum) to be the hardest plaj around to play in and we feel the students can make it that way,' Jones said with a gleam of ex citment. Coach Foster also in dicated that he has plans foi organizing a special studen cheering section. "WK WOULD LIKE for this place to be a madhouse becaust the crowd really does make ? difference," Jones added. "W< want other teams to wish thej never came here." The 1980-81 edition of th< Gamecock basketball team will b< 'We want this place (Carolina Coliseum) to be the hardest place around to play in and we feel the students can make it that way.' RayJones asst. basketball coach very young and inexperienced Coach Foster said jokingly tha Gillette refused to sponsor any o the telecasts for USC this yea; because so few of the Gamecocl players have to shave. FOB GAMECOCK basketbal fans, patience could prove to be i tfoldon virtlio for (hpm OL- n-*%? 0 - .. W. VIIVIII UO LI watch their team suffer> through some early season growing pains under their new head coach. Bu despite the Gamecocks' obvious lack of experience, the high level o! anticipation demonstrated by tin new (lam'1 ''k cn.-H-hin" st;ifi ' tha vwMvr w- *#* * * ? *?>' y' '' s .* j,v -% H t? \ *%"! $ ^ s- > , ~ txV k. 1 V,.; ;:.?^^V; g I- Vf^-SP-'^ -iijSLviif'-f ' rlCM ' p HnnnHr v t:7^ g-^JLg^ i^f 1 Zam Fredrick (pictured above) a [ been selected as co-captains for ' basketball team. Fredrick, Dun/eav uiv amy inree players returning iron \ \ Sports B Intramura 3 on 3 bas t Do you need something to look forwa reruns? j Well, the new USC Summer Intramur; 5 League could be what you're looking for. ? "In the past, the summer Intramural t Softball. This summer we are trying t > (three on three basketball, volleyball, ar ! the schedule and based on suggestions th j we have decided to try three on thre > uirecioroi intramural and Kecreational i Play begins Monday June 23 with an June 17. Leagues are available for men all USC students, faculty, and staff. Rambo places fi | USC track star Tony Rambo placed fift the NCAA track and field championship weekend. Rambo's fifth place time w seconds behind first place finisher Dav w w ? ! tiordges to jot l! Cedric Hordges, a member of last y squad, appears to be headed for the Der Basketball Associations. The Nuggets 1 with the Chicago Bulls to obtain the servi Hordges, USC's 6-8 forward who was di f elected to play out his eligibility at USC. r BYU defeats Lady Brigham Young University defeatec 1 team in the quarter-final round of the , , week. The Lady Gamecocks and the La f matches before USC saw its hopes for ai j BYU captured all three doubles matches j "We've improved since last year (22-:t and there's no doubt we're one of the toj . head coach Jeff Kefalos said after the lot; f a super team. They'll probably finish sec , I In a consolation match, the Lady (i<i \ I Clemson 5-4 USC finished its season with -- " i . IPt 5 '< * * ' * ^ " #* , < i*F ^ :v:: \nd Kevin Dunleavy have the 1980-81 Gamecock y and Kevin Darmody are 1 last year's 16-11 squad. riefs Is offer iketball rd to besides Andy Griffith *1 Basketball three on three program has included only o add some new programs id co-recreational tennis) to at were received last spring ;e basketball," Eric Stein, Sports said. entry deadline of Tuesday. and women and are open to j ifth in meet h in the 400 meter hurdles at s in Austin, Texas this past as 50.42 seconds, just two id Lee of Southern Illinois. n Nuggets ear s Gamecock basketball lver Nuggets of the National lave reached an agreement ces of Hordges. rafted last year by the Hulls, * VI > Gamecocks 1 the USC Women's tennis AIAW national playoffs last dy Cougars >plit six singles n AIAW title hattored when \ and seventh in the nation). > five teams in the country," is. "Brigham Young just has ond to Southern Cal " imecocks were defeated by i an impressive 22-2 record. Soo Twitty, pun" |