Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / April 21, 1994, edition 1 / Page 20
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AAU State Finals Profile Webster Rediscovers Lost Confidence B> MICHAEL JOHNSON Chronicle Sports Writer Derrick Webster knew he was struggling. So it came as no surprise when coach Reggie Williams took away his staring job on the Wm !ston Lake 12-under AAU team. "I was making some mistakes on the court , rushing myself. So I don't blame the coach for not start ing me some games," he said. "Novs I've been trying hard in practice to win back my starting job back." Webster, a point guard on the Lakers squad, figures to be a key contributor as Winston Lake plays in the state finals in Concord this weekend. For the 12-year-old. play ing well would be a great way to make a strong comeback into the starting lineup. * At the start of the year. Web ster was a starter. As one of six holdovers from last year's team that reached the state semifinals, he fig ured the job would be his to lose. Unfortunately, it was. Webster had to adjust to a new coach in Williams and a new offen sive system to run. During the first three games, the point guard had difficulty with the various schemes and picked up his dribble at the most inopportune times. Naturally, his uncertainty extended to his out-f side shooting. "When 1 got into the game.' ] wasn't calm enough to run the pla\ ." Webster said. "My jumper ' was a little flat because 1 wasn't get ting enough arc on my shot. 1 think that was because my confidence was down." - It was during the Greensboro . Invitational that Williams took his struggling guard aside and sat him on the bench. Both the player and the coach agree it was probably the best move for Webster at the time. "At that time, Derrick was not Derrick Webster C used to/ that level of competition running the plays we wanted to run. plus we had to rotate eight guards in and out of our rotation." Williams said. He also had to get adjusted to the coaches. The players were not u^ed to being pushed as hard and 1 w ould send my assistant ^coaches behind me to make sure their confi dence wasn't shaken." Instead of sulking about com ing off the bench. Webster went out - and did something about his situa tion. On days when the team did not practice, he would be at either Polo Park or Speas Elementary practicing on his game. His regimen -would include shooting free throws, jump ing rope and conditioning drills. Webster also worked on a drill that impToved his ball handling skills by dribWing with two balls whenever he had a chance. Webster also credits his older brother. Daniel, with helping him to relax. "He would tell me to take my time, not to panic and rush myself." he said.' He said to pretend that you're at home playing in_y:oiui backvard plaving one-on-one." ^ t L Instead of being timid when he enters the game. Williams noticed the quiet-by-nature point guard has shown more of a take-charge atti tude on the floor. Webster calls the right plays and set ups during the games. Winston Lake assistant coach Jack Jackson has noticed an improvement in W ebster's game and has noticed an inner confidence in the guard. He had a rope in his hand one day after practice and 1 asked him has he been jumping rope. He said. 'Yeah.'* 1 also asked him has he been working on his ball handling and his dribbling, an4-he said 'Yeah.' ' Jackson said. ? - ? "When basketball players start, they kind of take their posi tions for granted without working hard, and 1 think that's what hap pened to Derrick." Jackson said. Whet) his playing time diminished, he started- working out on his own,. Now you see the improvement in his game and you can see the confi- j dence in his face." Williams has also noticed AVxbster's improvement across the board and is certain his young guard will be back in the starting lineup again. What Williams never ques tioned Was Webster's effort. "The bigger the game is. the bigger he plays. When the game is tight, he plays that much better." he said. "Derrick's grown a lot in the last seven-and-a-half weeks. He's concentrating on doing the right things on the court instead of forc ing things." Now Webster is ready for this weekend. And he feels he's a much better player for going to the bench. "I've been working hard the past few weeks trying to get back in the starting lineup, but now 1 want to go to the nationals," Webster" pan and do the things I have to for_ us to win." Sims Center from Page 1 7 "When I was growing up. my father used to take me to Memorial Stadi um and watch the Baltimore Orioles play. Its also good for the kids to sec some other things besides the negative images in the projects." As the youngsters looked around the Coliseum, some were amazed at the vendors and people at the game. Despite sitting in the top tier, most youngsters commented on how great the- view whs "When 1 saw the Coliseum; 1 was expecting it to he nois\ and have a terrible view.'.' 14-year-old Gars Henderson said. "Bui 1 ve enjoyed it a lot more than 1 thought 1 would Plus the gam ? * " 1 osi to the y. hard it was to gel tickets to the game on a short notice. The Hornets are one' of the NBA s . hiyresi dr.tws .and each name at the I Coliseum has been a sellout in the si\-\eai existence of the fran chise. Bui" Ivithomas Graham said the game u ill always he special to him. "It wa\ the hest time I had. and see mo :t h:islfMh:ill p;inv? up front is real spe ciy^^said Lipomas. 12 * "It s much more exciting seeing the players close up. plus seeing Scott te Ptppen and B.J. (Armstrong in person was special." Gary Henderson relaxes during half time Friday. from Hage 1 7 the coaches believed in me and I played my best." Duncan's development gave the Demon Deacons an added inside player alongside tor ward Trelonnie Owens and took some of the pres sure off guard Randolph Childress. Duncan capped off his inaugural year with 16-point. 15-rebound effort against Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Duncan said he misses the pace of life that exist in St. Croix. While at home, he said things were taken on a day-to-day basis, where as life here is more hectic. It was back home where his brother-in-law taught him how to play the game. "Everybody my age was a little bit shorter than 1 was. so I had to pla> with the older guys." said Dun can.. who grew nine inches in three years. "My coordination was a little off. so 1 concentrated on playing defense and running down the court, the basic thing's. He really helped me out a lot in learning how to post up. how to score. " Where he is from, things such as coats are as rare as a bad Caribbean day in July. Imagine his surprise when he went to Alaska in December when the Demon Deacons played in the Great Alaska Shootout. "That was something to get used to. the cold weather, because I'm used to wearing shorts, tank tops and T-shirts." Duncan said with a lauyh "It was the first time 1 ever saw snow-flakes and I also had~ to yet used to the nights. When you got up at : 30. the sun wouldn't come lor another hour. Then it would go down at 3 or 4 o'clock." Naturall\. Duncan did suc cumb to the elements and got some thicker clothing. And he also did some adjusting on the court. His first time around the league. Duncan did not realize how much stronger the players Would be. But during the second half of the conference schedule. Duncan felt his once unsure confidence soared with his play. Playing in this tough of a con ference. with the great players they have, can wear on you. so there were some touch times." he said. "But there were some fun times as well. The lack of experience I had. not knowing what to do when 1 was in the gam'e. hurt me somewhat, but I came in and played hard when 1 was in." Duncan die! note thai the peo ple in the United States are more open with their feelings and arc more expressive. It s just one the man\ things that Duncan likes; about being over here. , Despite the long distance. Duncan has kept in touch with his family on a weekh basis and visited one of his two sisters, who attends Swarthmore (Pa.) College. As a special surprise, the Duncan family came to see him pla> live in the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. But now he reads to get home and see his father and two sisters. "Most students say they are ready to go home, but they don't realize that home for them is differ ent from home for me." he said. "Their homes are here while mine is much further away. When 1 get home. I'm just going to., do the thincs I used to do." 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Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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