Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Nov. 15, 1981, edition 1 / Page 15
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The Chronicle, Sunday, November 15, 1981 - Page 15 Understanding The Intracacies Of Recruiting On any given day between the mon ths of March and July, it is common to pick up your newspaper, turn to the sports section, and read about this prep super-star who just signed a grant to attend a,college. To the average reader, it may appear so simple. A college offers the youngster a scholarship, the youngster accepts, and a smooth relationship bet ween player-coach-institution begins. ■ Although, this scenario may take place in the majority of signings, it is the culmination of many sleepless nights on the part of player and coach. Sometimes a lot of frustrated feelings may occur. Before you can understand the in- tricasies of recruiting, you must first understand that the recruit and his per-. formance has a direct bearing on the livelihood of the coach and the coach’s family. When a coach signs a 17-year-old or an 18-year-old to a basketball grant, he is in part, turning over his career to that youngster. If the young man adapts quickly to the academic demands of college, the large number of fans in attendance, the media blitz as well as the social life involved on a university campus, the chances of that coach having a successful tenure in creases. If too many of the recruits fall victim to any of the forementioned areas, the coach’s chances of a long tenure quick ly diminish. “Because many of the major col leges with their resources are now recruiting student athletes who used to come to schools like a North Carolina A&T or a Winston-Salem State because of tradition, we are now forc ed to really sharpen our eyes in sear ching for talent,” said third year A&T head coach Don Corbett. “The high school coach has pro bably the most influence on what col lege decision a young athlete will make. If the coach is familiar with your pro gram, knows that you as a coach, will watch out for the youngster’s welfare on as well as off the playing floor, your chances of signing a youngster in crease. “Parents also play a major role in recruiting. In this particular area, so much emphasis is placed on the ACC with their extensive media coverage. It’s important for parents to realize the limitations of their children and not en courage them to attend an institution where their skills cannot be utilized to the fullest and where, their academic progress remains questionable and their social development rarely blossoms.” Warren Reynolds, a former coach at N.C. A&T, now at Shaw, who signed Al Tyson, a former high school All- American, battle with several major colleges, feels that character and fami ly background is important in recruiting. “Talent is very important when recruiting a player but it is equally im- - w Chronicle CIAA Pre-Season Poll Northern Division 1. Virginia State 2. Elizabeth City 3. Virginia Union 4. Hampton Institute 5. Norfolk State 6. Bowie State 7. St. Paul’s Southern Division 1. Johnson C. Smith 2. St. Augustine's 3. Winston-Salem State 4. Shaw 5. North Carolina Central 6. Fay«tcville State 7. Livingstone Chronicle MEAC Pre-Seeson Poll 1. North Carolina A&T 2. Howard 3. Rorida A&M 4. South Carolina State 5. Delaware Stale 6. Beihune-Cookman 7. Maryland, Eastern Shore Pre-Scuon All-CIAA Team Fronicourt-AI Tyson, 6-11, Shaw Universiiy Fronicourt-larcell "Bleu" Oliver, 6-8, Johnson C. Smith Frontcoun-David Pope, 6-8, Norfolk Slate Backcouri-Phil Flores, 6-4, Johnson C. Smith Backcourl-Daryl Stitch, Virginia State Pie-S«aaoD AJJ-MEAC Team Frontcourl-Joe Binion, 6-8, North Carolina A4T Fronieourl-James Raliff, 6-9. Howard Fromcoun-Oreg Wilson. 6-6, South Carolina Stale Baekeourt-James Anderson, 6-J. North Carolina A&T Backcourl-Daryl Spence. 6-5. Florida A&M "Bighouse” Gaines Head Coach WSSU portant to recruit players with sound backgrounds,” said Reynolds. “Men tal attitude is also important because in those close games in the closing seconds, when there is no margin for error, you want to know that the young men you have on the floor can execute. “It has always been my belief that good academics and good athletics go hand in hand. On my best teams, the academic performance was equal to the quality of play on the court.” This story would be incomplete if we didn’t discuss the monetary factor. Most schools in the CIAA and MEAC operate on small budgets. This eliminates the “camping in” on a player that can turn the fortunes of a program around. Although, most coaches do get out to high school games in their im mediate areas and others attend various camps and all-star sessions during the summer, many coaches rely on “tips” from alumni and friends on possible recruits. Don Corbett Head Coach A&T Probably, the best two examples are Johnson C. Smith’s Robert Moore and Winston-Salem State’s Clarence “Bighouse” Gaines. Remember, Earl “The Pear!” Monroe was probably the biggest gift surprise the Ram athletic program will ever receive. Moore, on the other hand, has established a Houston, Texas connec tion which has landed him 6-4 Phil Flores, one of the top guard prospects Bob Moore Head Coach JCSU in the country this season. “We do have a limited recruiting budget at Johnson C. Smith, so it is important that 1 establish contacts that I can rely on for information about players,” Moore said. “It is important that these people understand basket ball, your program, and the kind of in dividual that will fit into your system. “We have been very fortunate at Johnson C. Smith to attract the right kind of individuals to our program.” When the Rams take the court they are Ram Tough with sporting goods from Sportsman’s Supply Co. 600 N. CHERRY ST.‘PH.725-8791 •WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. 27101
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Nov. 15, 1981, edition 1
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