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LONZA HARDY JR
Staff Writer
Ask anyone in the states of
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana or
Texas the three hottest names in
Southwestern Athletic Conference
basketball, and they're likely to list
Lewis Jackson, Napoleon Johnson and
Aaron Brandon, probably in that
order.
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State, Grambling State and Alcorn
State, respectively, have been the
pacesetters among SWAC scorers in
1983-84, keeping a stranglehold on the
top three spots in individual scoring all
season. Additionally, the three ,fcKhigs ~
of the Court" have ranked all year
among the NCAA Division I scoring
aces as well.
Alabama State's Jacksbn (see story
on facing page) leads the SWAC in
scoring and ranks fifth nationally with
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he also ranks among the
league's leaders in several other
categories, including field goal percentage,
free throw percentage, steals and
assists.
A first-team all-SWAC selectee a
year ago, Jackson has been honored as
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the senior player of the week three
times this season and seems to be on
course for player-of-the-year honors in
the SWAC.
He's scored in double figures 34 consecutive
eames over thp lact twn vparc
and in 43 of his last 44 games.
"Lewis Jackson is probably the best
and most complete basketball player
I've had the opportunity to coach, and
I've coached some pretty good
players," says Alabama State Coach
James Oliver. "I can't find any glaring
weaknesses in Lewis and, believe me,
I've tried."
With every feat Jackson accomplishes
in the SWAC, though,
Grambhng'y"Jt3tmscm\is right behind.
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound center from
Alexandria, La., is only a fraction of a
point behind Jackson in scoring at
press time, averaging 26.0 points per
game to Jackson's 26.1. Johnson ranks
second in the SWAC in scoring and
sixth in the nation, just one notch
below his rival Alabaman.
An intense intimidator, the 4'Napper,"
as Johnson has been tabbed, is
laying claims as the premier center in
the SWAC. Besides his scoring prowess,
he leads the conference in field
goal percentage while placing third in
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rebounding and second in blocked
shots.
Johnson was a first-team allconference
performer a year ago,
averaging 19.0 points and 9.4 rebounds
per contest. He also tallied an amazing
Aaron Brandon
47 slam dunks.
Alcorn State's Brandon has an uncanny
ability to hit from the outside,
>14 114 REVIEW
A.
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Alcorn Triumphs
Alcorn State freshman forward
Reginald Porter dribbles past
UDC's James Neal. Alcorn won the
January clash between the black
college basketball powers 79-40,
but still has had some problems
getting untracked this season,
(photo by Brian Branch-Price).
II Roost
and, in Brandon's vernacular, "outside"
means 20- and 30-footers.
"1 haven't seen any shooters in the
nation better than Aaron," says Brandon's
teammate, Eddie Archie. "Most
pros can't even shoot better than he.
Every time he touches the ball, he's an
offensive threat."
The 18ft-r>nnnrl fnru/arH frnm
Jackson, Miss., currently ranks third
in the SWAC in scoring with a 21.3
average. He has ranked as high as No.
1 in SWAC scoring and No. 2 nationally
before his game-by-game point
totals tapered off from the 28-point
range to around 21. Despite practically
all of his shots coming from 2Q or 30
feet, he's blisteringihe,nets~ax a-percen
tage of 52.3 from the field (seventh
best in the SWAC) and 73.5 from the
free throw line (11th best in the con
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Brandon, like Jackson and Johnson,
was an all-league selectee in 1982-83.
He was also voted the Most Valuable
Player of last season's SWAC tournament.
"One of my goals this season was to
be the best ballplayer that I could be,"
says Brandon. "I've been looking for
opportunities and, when I see them, I
take advantage of them."
S55SS5SS February. 1984-Page 7