PROFILE
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As a high school player at Philadelphia's Dobbins Tech,
Larry Stewart's basketball skills were hidden in relative
obscurity. Stewairt^gULreceive the notoriety that such cele
brated prep start like Lionel Simmons, Pooh Richardson and
Bo Kimble acquired throughout their careers.
But even in the face of little or no publicity, Stewart has
developed into atop-of-the-line player for Coppin State.
Stewart, a 6-7 ,220 pounds senior, has been the Mid-East
em Athletic Conference's most impressive player this season.
At presstime, he was averaging 22.7 points and 13.2 rebounds
a game while leading defending league champ Coppin to
another possible appearance in the MEAC tournament finals.
"I didn't play any organized basketball until my junior
year in high school," said Stewart, who was voted MEAC
MVP by conference coaches last season. "I spent a lot of time
playing basketball in the schoolyards. 1 had to adjust to play
ing high school basketball. But I worked extremely hard on
, my game in the Sonny Hill League. It really made a difference
in my senior year. I made the All-Public League team. It's just
that I didn't get any recognition from the press, so I wasn't
recruited by many colleges.
"Actually, Coppin Slate was the only school that really
showed a lot of interest in me. Coach Fang (Ron Mitchell)
was building^the basketball program at the time. Basically, he
wanted me to be a part of the school's success."
When Mitchell took over at Coppin State in the fall of
'86, the Eagles had finished on the downside of .500 for three
straight years. It wasn't until Mitchell's third year that the
Eagles came through with a winning season at 18-11.
Last year, the Eagles continued to ascend to new heights
with a 26-7 mark and its first-ever trip to the NCAA playoffs.
Mitchell feels that Stewart has been a major factor in his
team's rise to prominence.
"Larry was a big recruit for us," Mitchell said. "He camc
in and played a lot for us. He had an impact on the team right
away. Larry, who runs the floor, rebounds, shoots and plays
good defense, kept getting better each year. As he got better,
so did our team. He also did a good job of blending in with
the other players." -
But while Stewart has produced at a high level, he's quick
to admit that Reggie Isaac's presence has been a major plus
for him. Isaac, a 6-3 senior guard is a deadly accurate outside
shooter who averages 24.4 ppg.
"We have a pretty good inside and outside combination,"
Stewart said. "The other teams have to respect Reggie's out
side shooting. He can hit from just about anywhere on the
court. This gives me an opportunity to roam the baseline, post
up, and make some moves in the lane. I think Reggie is one of
the best shooting guards in college basketball. Tm sure NBA?
scouts will take a look at him"
The scouts ^are familiar with Isaac and they are also
knowledgeable about .Stewart's value as an all-purpose con
tributor. At the end of the season, he'll get his chance to show
what he can do in the^frestigious Portsmouth Invitational
Tournament, which is heavily attended by NBA scouts each
year.
Don Levanthaf, an NBA draft expert, has rated Stewart as
one of the top forwfda ii* the country.
"Larry is playing power forward in college/' Leventhal
said. "Hell have to play small forward in the NBA. He is a
very consisteny player and he puts up good numbers every
- night The only thing he needs to develop is an outside game."
For now, however, Stewart is more concerned about his
team making a repeat appearance in the NCAA Tournament
He realizes that the road leading to the playoffs won't be an
easy onefor the Eagles.
This year we've got to win our tournament and then we
have to play the winner of the Southland Conference," Stew
art said. "We don't have an automatic bid like most confer
. ences. But I want to get back to the tournament. 1 know how
important it is for the school. I want Coppin State to continue
on the path to succcss."
-Donald Hunt
Photo courtesy of Coppin State College
Stewart's stellar play makes him a heavy favorite to repeat as the MEAC's MVP this season. Enter
ing the season's final month, Stewart was averaging better than 22 points and 13 .rttmndf ,RC|r..*?
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