12BasketbaIl ,92-,93The DaUy Tar HeelFriday, November 20, 1992
Derrick gets defensive: Phelps
By John C Manuel
Assistant Sports Editor
He came to UNC as part of the much
ballyhooed class of 1 994. He was one of
those "can't-miss" prospects, the kind
high school recruiting guru Bob Gib
bons scouts.
In other words, he and the rest of his
class were hyped.
But when he came to play basketball
at North Carolina, Derrick Phelps was,
well, a little lost.
"As a freshman, I was clueless," he
said. "I didn't know what was going on.
"Then last year, I was just learning. I
definitely feel comfortable now."
That should come as good news for
Tar Heel fans, because the 6-foot-3,
1 84-pound junior will again be the main
man for UNC at point guard.
Phelps had all of 1 99 1 -92 to get com
fortable. After playing 30 games behind
King Rice as a freshman, Phelps got the
nod in all 33 UNC starts last winter,
logging 1,027 minutes second only
to Hubert Davis, now of the New York
Knicks.
In all those minutes, Phelps put up
some respectable numbers. He led the
team in assists (averaging 6.3 per game)
and led the ACC in steals (2.4 per game)
while scoring just more than nine points
per contest.
While the many minutes could be
seen as a reward for Phelps' solid, steady
play at the point, they also illustrate the
lack of experienced depth coach Dean
Smith had available behind Phelps.
Entering last season, Henrik Rod! had
played some point for the German Na
tional Team, Scott Cherry was untested,
Kenny Harris had transferred and Don
ald Williams was, well, a freshman.
The pressure and the physical pound
ing of being his team's sole ball-handler
took its toll on the Pleasantville, N.Y.,
native.
"I was getting tired near the end of
the year," Phelps said. 'Taking the
pounding and keeping me in there all
the time, it was a little tiresome.
"I knew I had to be in there, but it'll
L
be a relief to get more rest (this year)."
Phelps' teammates, on the other hand,
seem to think he handled it all right.
"Derrick has the ability to play con
sistently for 30 to 35 minutes every
game," Rodl said. "I don't think condi
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Phelps (1 4) went head-to-head with Duke
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III
tioning is a problem."
Cherry agreed. "Derrick's an amaz
ing athlete. He never seems to get tired.
At his height, he got some big-time
rebounds for us a couple of times last
year. He can really get up."
point guard Bobby Hurley (1 1 ) three times last
November
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keys point of attack
Senior forward George Lynch said
that through persistence, Phelps had
made himself a central figure on the Tar
Heels' stage. "Derrick is one of the most
valuable players on the team," Lynch
said.
season, averaging 8.0 points and 8.0 assists
92& now
w tor 'yo
"For someone to come out as a sopho
more and play 40 minutes (a game) in
this league is incredible."
Phelps' value to Smith is seen most
on the defensive end of the court. Aside
from the steals, Phelps played the pres
sure D that Smith demands from the
point guard spot.
"Derrick's amazing defensively,"
Smith said. "I was watching films over
the summer and I appreciated him more
and more."
But although Phelps has, in play
ground parlance, serious hops, he
doesn't look to be the finisher on fast
break opportunities.
"I'm going to pass the ball," he said.
"I mean, I'm the point guard. My job is
to pass the ball."
This is despite the fact that Phelps
has thrown down eyebrow-raising, left
handed dunks in his short UNC career.
But Phelps seems right at home in
Smith's System, er, philosophy of play,
where point guards aren't supposed to
bring attention to themselves.
"I felt more confidence last year after
playing some my first year," he said. "I
think of myself as an extension of Coach
Smith on the floor."
And if he needs a mentor, Phelps
need look no further than assistant coach
Phil Ford, UNC's all-time scoring leader
and second all-time assist man.
"Each and every day we work on
certain drills," Phelps said. "He really
helps me out a lot. If I don't understand
what Coach Smith wants me to do, I ask
him. He usually knows."
Smith displays enough confidence in
Phelps to assume that Ford's help often
isn't needed.
"Derrick's been impressive," Smith
said. "He had some brilliant moments
behind King two years ago. I've always
had confidence in Derrick."
For Phelps to continue improving, he
must gain the confidence of UNC fans
and the respect of other teams by hitting
the open jump shot He shot just 40
percent from the floor last season, in
cluding 28 percent from 3-point range.
That lack of consistency has not been
lost on UNC fans. Phelps didn't exactly
warm their hearts after the end of last
season, either. Following UNC's loss to
Ohio State in the NCAA Regional Semi
finals, he outlined his off-season plans.
See PHELPS, page 28
University Square Chapel Hill 967-8935
tit 4" T 4 U