Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 10, 1991, edition 2 / Page 14
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ALUMNI Sixers" Mahorn gives credit where it's due Rick Mahorn, Philadelphia 76ers' power forward, has a message for some of the country's top high school players. Mahorn, a three-time, NALA All-Ameri can, said there is nothing wrong with playing black college basketball. "Today, I think most of the finest ? high school players want to play for col leges such as Michigan, UCLA and North ? Carolina, -sard Mahorn, a 6-10, 25.5 pounder who played his college ball at Hampton Institute (now Hampton Univer sity). "They want to play on national tele vision and in these big arenas. They also enjoy reading their napes in the major newspapers. Quite naturally, this makes the bigger schools more attractive. But not everybody who attends these big-tini ^versilies receives an of the acclaim. - "That's why going to colleges like Hampton, Virginia Slate or Howard Uni versity isn't a bad idea. You may not receive all the national recognition of a Notre Dame, but they will provide you with an opportunity to play a quality brand of basketball/ This season, Mahorn is averaging 10.9 points and 7 rebounds a night as one of the Sixers prime contributors. At Hampton, he was an A11-C1aa performer and also ted Division II in rebounding ^ 15.8 a game) and was No. 5 in scoring (27.6 ppg) in his senior year (79-'80). He set 18 school records and played in four post-season all-sty games, including the Aloha Classic, becoming only the third - small college player to be invited to play (Jack $iltma, Illinois Wesleyan and Leonard "Truck" Robinson, Tennessee State, were the other two V ? - ?. ?? ? "I had a pretty good college career," Mahorn said. "I enjoyfrH Paying for Hani r Ford (former Hampton coach)., We had a lot of great teams during those years. I remember getting the rebounds and throwing long passes to Darryl Warwick in the open court. 1 also enjoyed playing in the CI A A Tournament every year. You know, everybody talks about how the ACC used to get big crowds at their tour naments. But the CIAA Tournament sets attendance records every year. Plus, the tournament was a big event for all of the fraternities, sororities and alumni groups." The tournament also attracts a num ber of NBA scouts. Mahorn's brilliant per formance in the conference tourney caught the eye of the Washington Bullets, who selected Mahorn in the second round of the 80 NBA Draft. "Like I said before, the black colleges don't receive a lot of publicity," Mahorn said. "But the pro scouts know where to come to find good players. There are always a lot of scouts at the CIAA Tour . nament. In my situational think being chosen in the second round was pretty good for a small college player. Right now, I think the CIAA is well represented in the NBA with myself, Charles Oakley and others (Terry Davis of Union now with the Magic; A.J. English of Union now with the Bullets; Ken Bannister of St. Augustine's now with the Clippers; and Ken Williams of Elizabeth City State now with the Pacers). Mahorn, 32, is a 10-year veteran of the pro game. He played five seasons with the Bullets and in '85, was traded to the Pistons for Dan Roundfield. In his four seasons with Detroit, he teamed up with Bill Laimbeer to form the infamous "Bad Boys" image. Mahorn's rugged style was a key factor in the Pistons' winning the '89 NBA title. But after Detroit won the champi onship, the Pistons' management left Mahorn unprotected in the league's expansion draft, where he was promptly Then Philadclpfcffr got Mahorn in a trade with the T- Wolves in exchange for one first-round pick and two second-round picks. ? ^ ? T ? r:?~ "I've played a long, long time in this league/ said Mahorn, who earned his undergraduate degree in business admin istration. "I wasVvtry fortunate to win a .championship. Now, I would certainly like to win another one. But if it wasn't for Hampton. 1 wouldn't he where T am today, i wave 10 give- Litem a lot oi credit. They have me an opportunity to play bas ketball and receive a good education. I don't think anyone could ask for more." . -Donald Hunt Mahorn's physical style has served him well doting his ten years m the NBA. Pholp by Mike Maicher i \ X ? \
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Jan. 10, 1991, edition 2
14
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