Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 19, 1985, edition 2 / Page 11
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WfTTWTr^TTrm hmhAJUMIA Lester Fonvi By ROSCOE NANCE Special to the Review They're not laughing at Lester Fonviile, Jackson State's 7-foot junior center, anymore. When Fonville came to Jackson State two years ago, he had difficulty walking and chewing gum at the same time. His every move on the basketball floor was pure comedy. From those meager beginnings, Fonville has developed into the most dominnM, .1..... .l. to?.i ^ nam piayci in inc ^uuinwcMCrn Athletic Conference. Fonville's dominance begins with his size. He's the only legitimate big man in the SWAC. Initially, that alone was his calling card. But through hard work and dedication his game has improved by leaps and bounds. "His development was more than I expected," said Jackson State Coach Paul Covington. 44He caught on and understood and started doing it." There was much for Fonville to catch on to. He didn't start playing basketball until his junior year at Mound Bayou (Miss.) High. He was self-conscious about his height and everyone made fun of him. The best way for him to "He'd had never had any success. People wanted to laugh at him, but he wouldn't let them. I don't think there's any limit to how good he can be. " aroniu fVio isiVoc mac Kv ctavino to uiv j v/ivvo tt iu u j jiuj "i& iv himself. When he finally started playing, he relied strictly on his height and never learned the nuances of the game. That showed after he got to Jackson State. Things that most basketball players pick up in junior high school were foreign to him. "I wish I had started playing when I was in the seventh grade or earlier," said Fonville. "At that time I was shy. Kids would tease me about my height. I would let them get me down. When I got older, I was saying what I should have done. But I didn't look back." To Fonville's credit, he never got discouraged after launching his basket-, ball career. He didn't have enough credits to graduate with his high school class in 1982. Then he failed to gain admi?cinn to the Universitv of the District of Columbia. He then enrolled at Lake City (Fla.) Community College and played there for a year. When he transferred to Jackson State in 1983, he had to sit out a year. Covington had Fonville play catch ille's no laug up. He spent hours talking basketball with Fonville and giving him individual instructions. The work paid off. Fonville was the driving force behind a mic-scason surge mai saw jacKSon State play as well as anyope in the? SWAC. Fonville finished the year averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds a game. He also led the conference in blocked shots. "He'd had never had any success," said Covington. "People wanted to laugh at him, but he wouldn't let them. I don't think there's any limit to how good he can be." Fonville spent the summer working out with Audrie Norris, the Jackson State product who spent three years in fct, Wf fl hMI^Hll I u l^a I I M the NBA before jumping to Italy. Covington hopes the sessions with Norris will make Fonville more physical and intimidating. "He won't get pushed around as much," Covington said. Fonville was an offensive liability until the final month of last season. He developed a hook shot that he made consistently and wasn't afraid to shoot it. hingstock c M^r*z HR J Steady Grow Fonviprogress brought smiles on t Paul Covington (ph Still, Covington wants him to be more offensive-minded this season. Covington might get his wish. Fonville scored 19 points and blocked 10 shots in Jackson State's final preseason scrimmage. But Fonville still thinks defense fir9t. "Mv main thine ic nlavine rUfsne* ?? "fj ? * ?? ?? t""/ M16 vi?V| he said. "It's all about winning and losing. I can be out there 40 minutes and not score. But I can block shots and rebound and throw outlet passes. That's all that counts." Fonville is still not a polished player. ! 1 mSSSSSm Black College Sports Review inymore .'..? .-.* ? %? &? ' iijsU M ^fl Iftl^KL ^li u ^^^9^ l. ^h rth on /Ae court, above, has be sideline to JSU Coach otosbyMark Gail). But he is so much better than he was that Covington often shakes his head in amazement. Even better for Jackson State is that the best is yet to come for Fonville. "When he plays more and gains more concentration, he could be awesome," said Southern University Coach Bob Hopkins. "It's just a matter of time. He's the only legitimate center in the league. "I had heard so many negative things about him, but I think he is coming along." XT / * tn * AMJtvc i*ar?tr covers sports jor U3A Today. SmSSSh December, 1985-Page 11
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 19, 1985, edition 2
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