Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9503150005
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MONETA LENGTH: Long
After all, Foxx was Staunton River's best returning basketball player. Hoggatt, who led the Seminole District in scoring as a freshman at Altavista, might have been viewed as usurping Foxx's territory.
To the contrary, Foxx was delighted with Hoggatt's arrival.
``I felt good when I heard he was coming,'' Foxx said. ``It would give me more help. Before, I had a hard time doing everything.''
The two are complementing each other and have become the Seminole District's top 1-2 scoring punch. So far they've paced Staunton River to a 9-5 record and put them in position to finish as high as third in the Seminole District.
Hoggatt was leading the district and Timesland in scoring with a 25.6 average while Foxx was scoring at a 17.5 clip. Foxx's 45 percent mark from the 3-point range was leading Hoggatt, who was averaging 30 percent.
Foxx has played in every Staunton River varsity game since he was a freshman and has started in every game since he was a sophomore.
``He's played more consecutive games than any other player in the school's history,'' said Golden Eagle coach Eddie Carter.
Going into this week, Foxx had started in 53 consecutive games and played in 74 straight. He had scored 772 points.
So it's easy to see that Foxx might have resented an intrusion on his territory by a star player at Altavista, one of the Golden Eagles' major rivals.
``It doesn't bother me that he takes a lot of shots,'' Foxx said. ``I'm kind of an unselfish person. We get along pretty good. We've sort of become friends and go a lot of places together.''
``Hunter has blended in very well,'' Carter said. ``The kids really have accepted him. I won't say there's no jealousy, but I'd say it's minimal, considering the impact he's had on our program.''
Hoggatt's arrival has affected Foxx in one more way. Carter has moved the senior from playing inside to the outside with his sophomore guard.
``Cornelius was the leading rebounder the last two years,'' Carter said. ``Now he's No. 2 because he's in more of a guard role. We moved our 3-point shooters outside because everyone is trying to jam us up inside.
``Last year he was our only experienced returning player, and we were concerned about him carrying the load. He's not a person looking for stardom. I have to make him shoot sometimes because he passes off. He blends in and is willing to do anything it takes to win.''
Hoggatt didn't arrive at Staunton River without some controversy. He came out of an program where longtime coach Stu Richardson was not rehired. Hoggatt was a good friend of Richardson's son, a fellow basketball player at Altavista, and his family was among the coach's biggest supporters.
When Richardson moved (he now coaches at Varina in Henrico County), Hoggatt opted to switch schools.
``First of all,'' Hoggatt said, ``my family found a real nice home in the Staunton River district. I was very impressed with the program here and the coaching staff. I just felt [after the incident between Richardson and Altavista] that I needed a change.''
At Staunton River, Hoggatt has lived up to his billing. He scored a school-record 53 points against Buckingham County and has been held under 20 points just three times in the Golden Eagles' first 14 games.
No one in the Seminole District questions Hoggatt's ability to shoot. The 6-foot-2-inch guard, who should go over the 1,000-point mark this season, can throw it in the basket with the best of them.
Because of his impact, he is one of the leading candidates for Timesland's Sizzlin' Sophomore of the Year award. In fact, Carter believes that it's a slam-dunk for his player to win the award.
Hoggatt's main wish, though, is to be a team player. His second goal is to play Division I basketball.
``The guys on the team have been good in accepting me,'' he said.
Hoggatt believes he is much improved from last year. ``The main thing is that I've learned there are other things besides scoring points, such as assists and rebounds.''
Hoggatt averages just over five assists a game, which might be amazing considering his points. However, he's more than willing to give up the ball when he's covered. He scored 29 points earlier this year against a strong Amherst team, but took just 17 shots from the field.
He is also an excellent free throw shooter with an 81 percent mark. That's important because Hoggatt is willing to go in traffic and draws a lot of fouls.
Hoggatt refuses to take all the credit for his record-setting production against Buckingham County.
``A lot of it had to do with the other players,'' Hoggatt said. ``They gave me the ball and set the picks.''
There have been rumors that Hoggatt will not stay at Staunton River, a school that traditionally has not been strong in basketball, for his final two years. Four of the past six Timesland Sizzlin' Sophomore of the Year winners have not finished their careers at the high school they attended as 10th-graders, so if Hoggatt wins the award, the tradition is there for a move.
Hoggatt said he has heard the rumors, but ``I love the schools and the coaches very much. Right now, Staunton River is the place for me, and I'll stay there for all three years.''
by CNB