Newspapers / Chowan University Student Newspaper / Dec. 1, 1983, edition 1 / Page 13
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I Burgess signs with VPI By KEN RAINVnXE News Herald Sports E^tor When you stand 6’8” tall, weigh 225 pounds, have extraordinary skill on the basketball court and have developed that skill over the years against some of the best competition that America'has to offer, you become a valuable com modity to major college basketball programs from one coast to the other. Virtually every four year basket ball program in the nation knew of David Burgess’ basketball skills. He had been heavily recruited in high school at Cardinal Gibbons in Baltimore but when he failed to ob tain the 2.0 Grade Point Average necessary for Division I NCAA basketball, Burgess opted for junior college rather than play at the Division II or NAIA level. Burgess has worked his way back to a firm academic founda tion at Chowan and improved on his already impressive basketball skills enough to be named to several junior college All- American lists. When Chris Washburn and Danny Manning an nounced their college choices earlier this fall, David Burgess became even more valuable and the race for his services was on. Heavily Recruited “David Burgess is the heaviest recruited kid we’ve ever had here,” Coach Bob Burke said. “The pressure has been immense. Early signing days are a new thing in college basketball and no one really knows all the impact- the rule will have but I understand why David signed early.” Burgess announced his decision BASKETBALL BRIEFS.. Andre McGee, an outstanding player from last year’s squad, has joined teammate Larry Cannady at Campbell University. Thomas Umphrey, another 1982-83 Brave, has joined ex-Brave Greg Exum on the Atlantic Christian College squad. • • The three top sophomore perimeter players last year averaged over 47 points per game for the Braves. Nate McMillan and David Burgess have been voted pre-season All-American picks in several basketball publications. McMillan has already signed a letter of intent to play with N.C. State’s Wolfpack next year in the ACC. Burgess will transfer to VPI following his graduation in the Spr ing. • • Coach Bob Burke, in his fourth year at Chowan, should win his ,100th game with the Braves sometime in February. The Braves, and Burke, face a tough schedule and will meet five of the na- ticm’s “Top 20” JUCO teams this season. • • The sophomores on last year’s squad did quite well academically. Five of the six were awarded Associate degrees at Commencement Exercises last May. • • John Thomas, a strong member of the 1982-83 squad, led the nation in field goal percentage dur ing the past basketball season. to join Virginia Tech in late November and was obviously relieved that the decision had been reached and announced. “Tech made a great impression on me,” Burgess said in explaining his choice of over 100 schools that were offering him scholarships. “I knew a lot of schools wanted me and I hate to say no to anyone, but it got to the point that to be fair to the other schools and myself, I had to make and announce my deci sion.” Burgess had seen the pressure big time recruiting can bring to a player last year as Tracy Myles, Jimmy Thomas and Andrea McGee experienced much of the same thing. His decision to an nounce early was based on serious thought which reflects the maturi ty of this extraordinary young man. “I saw last year how it affected the other guys,” he said, “and I didn’t want it to affect me that way. I am supposed to be a leader on this team and we have a long way to go and I didn’t want it (the pressure) affecting me and carry ing over to the rest of the guys. We’ve got a great team here and we want to win. Besides, I’ve got to concentrate on the books. I can’t just give it a little bit here and a lit tle bit there. Now I can concentrate on basketball and studying.” Burgess has always been associated with a winning team in high school, in summer league pro grams and at Chowan. Joining Virginia Tech, he isn’t exactly g^ ing down hill either. Tech has been picked in various preseason polft to finish anywhere from 10th tpi 19th in the nation this year, and with nearly the whole team retur^ ■ ing next season in addition t4{ Burgess, the Tech staff is excited.f' In the meantime, Burgess will hit the books and the hardboarcfti for Chowan in an attempt to lead the Braves past the Region X coni' petition and into the illusive n^^* tional junior college tournament m Kansas in late March. “We think the best of Davidl;' career is ahead of him,” a spokesman for the Tech basketbaB program said. “We need a big mai^ desperately and are happy to g«t: someone of Da vid’s abihty. ” Tech plans to team Burgess wilfe Bobby Beecher in a combination high-low post offense and the Tech staff feel the two players will com pliment each other perfectly, with Burgess providing the inside power and Beecher adding the finesse touch. Tech will have the inside game that “will definitely give us a great opportunity for post season success.” X M \ DAVID BURGESS . . signs with Virginia team I Garrison I top cooch I in region Chowan football coach Jim Gar rison has been named the NJCAA Region 10 Coach of the Year for leading the Braves to a 7-2 season in the Coastal Conference. The All- Region team was also selected by a coaches vote and Chowan placed eight players on the 26-man squad. Offensively, the team includes quarterback Anthony Baynard, lineman Carl Isaacs and end Mar vin I>each. Defensive Braves chosen were lineman David Kramer and Charles Burgess. Thomas Herring was a linebacker pick and Jeff Gethers and Michael Bowset were selected at secondary positions. Garrison was also selected to coach the South team in the Coastal Conference All-Star game, played in November at Basset. Chowan representatives to the All-Star squad included Baynard, tight end Anthony Hill, Isaacs, Leach, Kramer, Burgess, linebacker Terry Blowe, Gethers, Boswer and defensive back Paul Smith. T. AAartucci new coach for matmen New Head coach, Tom Martucci, is readying his matmen for the 1983-84 season. Martucci, who wrestled collegiately at Trenton State College (NJ), has served the last 2 years as an assistant coach at UNC-Chapel Hill. He replaces Colin Steele who left Chowan to return to graduate school. The Braves return 5 wrestlers from last year’s team with 2 of these being lettermen. Bob Pierce of Poolesville, MD, a 177 pounder, was an All-American last year and returns for what could be a great sophomore season. Alan Cooke, from Clover Hill High in Midlothian, VA, is a returning letterman in the 126 pound weight class. Martucci has recruited several freshmen who were high school State Champions, and who are expected to give im mediate help to the team. The Braves have a home match on January 11 at 7 PM against Newport News Apprentice. The Chowan Duals, January 27-28, is a 2-day affair involving eight teams and wiU be held in the Helms Center. PAGE 14—The Chow/anian, December, 1983
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