University of South Carolina Libraries
THE GAMECOCK Sports ApriJ 17, 1985 ? Page 13 <9. USC continues to land top high school talent Recruiting isn't an easy job, particularly in college athletics. It can be the difference between a winning or los ^ ing season, or between holding or losing your job. For USC, recruiting has been highly criticized in past years, but if the early returns mean anything, the Gamecocks have enjoyed a banner season. Following a 10-2 mark ?nd a trip to the Gator Bowl, Joe Morrison's football staff enjoyed an outstanding recruiting year, headlined by two high school Ail-Americans, quarterback Todd Ellis and receiver Ryan Bethea. Winning 10 games and appearing on national television twice certainly didn't hurt Carolina's efforts to bring top prep athletes to Columbia. But winning isn't the only necessary lngrcuieni 10 a successiui recruiting year. It also takes a solid organization and devoted personnel. BILL FOSTER'S basketball squad didn't enjoy the success many thought they would in 1984-85, but Foster has turned in two solid recruiting efforts over the past 24 months. Last year, he brought in guards Keith James and Derrick Lewis from Dunbar High School in Baltimore, along with Tony Shaw, Tarone Thornton and John Breckenridge. On paper, it looks like he has equalled, if not bettered, that group for 1986-87. Along with 6-7 forwards Bill Verneau and Daryl Martin, Carolina landed Baltimore's "twin towers" in Terry and Perry Dozier from (where else) Dunbar High School. This group couia oc cnougn 10 supplement me existing talent on the USC hardwood and vault the Gamecocks into the upper echelon of the Metro Conference. #The Dozier twins will bring impressive credentials when they hit Columbia. Terry, a 6-9 forward, was one of McDonald's 25 High School Ail-Americans and was named to the Adidas All-America squad. Dunbar coach Bob Wade describes Terry as a "Bob McAdoo-type player" because of his ability to hit the longrange jump shot. Averaging more than 20 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots per game for Dunbar last season, he was the hub of a 28-1 squad that finished as USA Today's top-ranked team. Perry, 6-10, averaged more than 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots per contest to complement his twin brother. OPTIMISM IS HIGH for next season, as it should be, but optimism doesn't win games. The 1986-87 Gamecocks ^ will be a young team with top talent that will need time to ^ mesh into a cohesive unit. Patience will be a must next year from everyone, as this team will need solid support from each other, the coaching staff and, most importantly, the fans. Foster and his entire staff should be commended for a fine job in the recruiting wars this year. The same should be (said for Morrison and his coaching staff. The major source of credit, however, was often overlooked: Ty Coppinger, USC's director of recruiting, who resigned yesterday to return to his alma mater. Auburn University. He came to USC in 1982. In his short time here, he helped many outstanding high school athletes become part of the Gamecock athletic program. Coppinger coordinated Carolina's overall recruiting, but he didn't collect the headlines for bringing blue-chippers to USC. While he received accolades from within the athletic department, he deserved more. WITHOUT A DOUBT, the athletic program at USC has had one of its finest recruiting years in history. Add Mar tha Parker, who signed with Nancy Wilson s Lady Gamecock basketball squad, and you have quite a crop of incoming talent. The 3-10 forward from Columbia's Hammond Academy was a high school All-American, averaging 29 points and 10 rebounds per game while leading Ham^ mond to a "modest" 56-0 record over her past two seasons. Wilson had a more difficult decision than did Morrison or Foster, as she had only one available scholarship to off#?r Rut nni> u/ne ^nnnoh h#ran<^ n? Wilcnn cniri Pnrlr?r "exemplifies the type of student, athlete and person we want at USC." On paper, the 1986-87 athletic year looks promising foi USC in every sport, but remember, as Morrison says, you've got to "take them one at a time." With that in mind, enjoy the recruiting success now, because in August, the real tests will begin for these talented athletes ? and the final determination of how well USC recruited will be in I me won-iost column. Jimmy Higginbotham is a sportswriter for The Gamecock and sports director of WUSC-FM. Twin tow Doziers By Joe Sitarz With Terry and Perry Dozicr signing letters of intent to play college basketball at USC, head coach Bill Foster continued to make a name for the school as a top college recruiter. That's 6-9 Terry Dozier and 6-10 Perry Dozier ? better known simply as the "Dozier Twins." "It's funny," Foster said. fcveryoody talks about the uoziers. "THEY HAVE separate identities. I told them, 'We want to talk about you two guys as individuals, not the two Doziers or the two Dunbar guys." Both Doziers are from Dunbar High School in Baltimore, Md. Terry, the 205-pounder, was selected a member of the McDonald's High School AllAmerican team ? one of 25 players to be so honored. Coach Foster said Terry is the first player he's had since Gene Banks at Duke who's had that honor. Even i: i \4:i_ : i~ i r pictyci!> IIKC IV11M VJI UlIlaKI, (tlbu UI Duke, hadn't been named to such a team. "He's one of the outstanding players in the country. We're real fortunate to have him," he added. nog - Mr *TfJUriteiV -V 3 Jk Indiana's colorful head basketball coi Coach mak By Joe Sitarz With chair in hand, Indiana head basketball coach Bobby Knight took the podium at the Columbia Tip-Off Club's annual banquet Monday night, armeu lur any wouiu-dc nccKicrs in inc audience. The Hoosier coach placed the chair atop the speaker's table, and said in a Dirty Harry-like style, "1 found a real effective method of handling hecklers ? with a chair. So, if anybody wants to heckle me, go ahead." It was Knisht's wav of nokine fun at himself. During last season's PurdueIndiana game, he threw a chair across the court and was ejected from the game. i DURING HIS TENURE at Indiana. Knight has guided his teams to both ' National Invitational Tournament and > National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament championships. Last summer, Knight coached the U.S. Olympic basketball team to a gold J medal finish. iters inin Ramennnl j -mmr m m m TERRY AVERAGED 20.3 points, 12. 2 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game, while Perry, a 6-10, 217-pound center, averaged 10.8 points and 10.5 | rebounds. Foster said he was pleased with their attitude and spirit about the game and their willingness to work toward improvement. He said they are a welcome addition to the team. For the second year, USC recruited two players out of Dunbar. Last season, Carolina got Keith James and Derrick I.ewis. "Somebody said we're the finishing school for future Poets (Dunbar's nickname)," USC's coach said. "It's been a two-year thing." POINT GUARD Michael Foster said the program will be helped by the Doziers' recruitment. "It shows we are able to recruit the top-notch players," Foster said. "It just goes to show Coach did a wonderful job up there recruiting." /Mturuing 10 uaL rresiueni james Holdcrman, the Doziers will be "just what the doctor ordered ? and I'm not the doctor in question. nK: , A ' n* m A J ich, Bobby Knight, entertains the audience at US es banqueter; Knight filled his speech with ancedotes about his past and different aspects of the game. With Bill Foster as USC basketball coach, the university doesn't have to worry about what happened at Tulane, Knight said. He hopes university presidents will do something about the problem ? other than get together and discuss it. "With the guidance that Bill Rives your basketball program, you're going to have a program that will always be very competitive," he said. "It will always reflect the very best ideals of the University of South Carolina." HE STRESSED the importance of preparation in becoming a better basketball player. "There are so many things you can do to become a better basketball player," Knight said. "The opponents may be wearing different colored shirts, but the enemy is yourself. Games are lost because of missed shots ( program "It just goes to show Coach [Bill Foster) did a wonderful job ... of recruiting. Michael Foster IISn hasbAthnll nlnvnr ? j r -"It's going to be fantastic. My hat's off to Bill Foster for getting them." THE TWO recruits should give Carolina the height they were lacking during the past 15-13 season. Junior Duane Kendall said, "I think it's great. We'll have that extra help inside, and they'll really be able to help us out a lot." Tarone Thornton said the team suffered last year because of poor reboun ding. "They'll help us fill that gap. They'll fit right in." Freshman Keith James, the Doziers' teammate at Dunbar for two years, said he was glad they're coming to USC. He had talked to them about playing at Carolina, but "it was their decision. I couldn't make it for them." ^ JOSEPH GARNETT/The Gamecock iC's basketball banquet Monday night. s' 'Knight' and mistakes your own team makes. "There are four things that make a disciplined person or basketball player. They're very simple," Knight explained. "You do what has to be done. You figure out what you got to do to be better ? and do it. It's got to be done now and you do it as well as you can all the time." COLLEGE ATHLETES must deal with the many responsibility pressures that are placed on them, Knight said. "At a state university, you have a responsibility to your community at home, to this university, this community, this state and kids," Knight said. "I fed so bad when I see a kid get involved in something like drugs, like unethical recruiting ? things you can stay out of." Knight said the players he coached on the Olympic team were examples of what he was speaking about.