^TTVVmTTVTT*
uUiAullutCilli
Howard's h<
By DAVID BULLA
Review Staff Writer
It's been said before, but
everything really does point this
year to HOWARD replacing
NORTH CAROLINA A&T as
kingpin of Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference basketball.
Despite the Aggies'-traditional
stranglehold on the conference title,
it's hard to dispute the Bison's
preseason claim as the team to beat.
Howard returns all of its lettermen
from last season's 16-12 squad,
which finished runner-up to A&T in
the MEAC standings. Moreover,
Coach A.B. Williamson returns
shot-blocker Derek Caracciolo after
an arm injury forced the center to be
a medical redshirt in 1984-85.
Caracciolo's return assuages
Williamson's primary qualm, a
dearth of big men.
"We have the makings of a very
fine team," said Williamson, an
A&T alumnus. "We have a lot of
experience returning and there's no
substitute for that.
it we suiter any casualties,
either academically or through in
juries, we could be in real trouble. I
hope to be the first black college
coach to win some games in the
NCAA Tournament."
Coach Donald Corbett's A&T
squad, coming off a 19-10 campaign,
figures to remain on top if
Howard meets disappointment. The
Aggies return two potential league
standouts in forward Claude
Williams and shooting guard
George Cale. Williams did some
body toning over the summer. The
6-foot-7, 210-pound forward now
looks more like Lorenzo Charles
than Reggie Williams.
Although the Aggies lack depth at
point guard, sophomore Thomas
ftriffic is an aH*?nnat#? renlarement
for conference Player of the Year
Eric Boyd, who came up short in his
tryout with the Golden State Warriors.
Meanwhile, Cale should be as
potent an offensive force as the
departed Jimmy Brown, who led the
Aggies with an 18.2-point average.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE had
its best recruiting year in awhile.
Although the Bulldogs will be
young, they have the potential to
challenge. Coach Chico Caldwell
had to have a big recruiting since all
five starters from last season's 11-16
club have departed.
The top recruit is 6-5 Rodney^
Mack of Berkeley, S.C. Mack
averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds.
He was an honorable mention all
IB
IaC*
Howard's Robert Jones (32)?
strunnle with thft AnnipQ thic
^ www ? >'V
America selection by C/S>1 Ti
Transfer Mike Joyner, a 6-6 1
also had good numbers. J<
averaged 28 points and 14 rebc
for Lawson Junior College in 1
ingham, Ala. Caldwell
recruited a seven-footer in G<
Paulk, who is still in the dev
ment stage.
DELAWARE STATE also fi
to be in the title chase, prin
hcranw thp return
ME AC forward Bernard Cam
from a 12-17 team. Cam
averaged 18.9 points and 6.
bounds. DelState returns three
fmI
mm
and Mike Jones (15) go up f<
> year for MEAC supremacy i
oday. | starters in guard Ro
wing, points), center L>e
syner (six rebounds) and
>unds (four rebounds). ^
5irm- returns after being a
also coach high school b
eorge rely on his returning
elop- he was not hired unt
signing of the fom
gures prevented the Horn*
larily single recruit.
all- bfcTHUNE-COC
ipbell last season, returns 1
pbell leading scorer in sen
7 re- shaw, who average<
other game. Coach Cy Mc
SSSSSSSSSi Black
or a loose ball against A&T. Thi
(photo by Brian Branch-Price).
y Johnson (12.6 other star
reck Hendricks Donald Hil
guard Joe Jeter ed shots)
Marshall Emery With such
iway six years to McClairen !
all and he must season's fif
players because MARY
:il July. The late SHORE is
ner DSC coach who averaj
its from luring a conferenceEagles
of
)KMAN, 8-19 return all
J- *
miv vwiau^iiwc & uisasirous j
ior Kevin Brad- ning starter
i 19 points per (11 points)
Clair en has two Plec
~ 4 ' * w . v
College Sports Review
fed
m WM I
T 4 i H
V
%'&
ey may finally win the
ters back in juniors
1 (nine points, 1.6 blockand
Gregory Starling,
experienced personnel,
hopes to improve on last
th-place finish.
LAND-EASTERN
led by Donnell Boney,
ged 18.4 points and a
leadins 4.7 atcictc tVia
Coach Howie Evans
five starters from a
-25 team. The top returs
include 6-6 Don Butler
and 6-1 Tom Foster (12
ise See Page 16
55 December, 1985-Page 9
' * -