ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997 TAG: 9702210015
SECTION: NEIGHNORS PAGE: N-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM/STAFF WRITER
There were days not too long ago when Liberty boys' basketball reached bottom with a 1-19 record.
That's enough to drive a coach batty. Liberty coach Mark Hanks, though, knew there was help on the way.
Aid for the Liberty program was to come in the form of Raymond ``Peanut'' Arrington and Robert Carson.
``I used to go over and watch them in rec league,'' said Hanks. ``Peanut was small and skinny. But he could shoot. Robert at that time was physically bigger and could do some more things. They were in the sixth grade. The team went all the way to the state rec tournament and lost back-to-back games to Hampton for the state championship.''
Arrington and Carson were just part of the help Hanks would get that culminated in an unbeaten record and Group AA title last winter.
While last year's team was paced by senior stars such as J.J. Coles and Gregg Reynolds, it is Arrington and Carson, now juniors, who are the constants for the Minutemen.
Both started as sophomores. Arrington led Liberty in scoring with a 14.9 points-per-game average and was Timesland's Sizzlin' Sophomore of the Year. Carson, a point guard, also was the quarterback for the football team.is also one of the school's best football players, who moved to quarterback this year.
Arrington leads this year's team in scoring with a 20.1 average. Carson is third with a 9.4 average, but he deals out more than five assists per game.
Both players are taking college preparatory classes, and are sure to meet the NCAA requirements needed if they get a scholarship. The letters from colleges are flooding the mailboxes - football and basketball for Carson and basketball for Arrington.
What's scary is that these two players are so much better than they were a year ago. How good will Arrington be? He's already attracted attention from Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia, who want to know about this prospect who is practically on their doorstep.
``I feel I move better on the dribble. I don't have to depend on others to get me open. I'm stronger than last year. I've worked on getting my release higher,'' said Arrington, who is one of Timesland's top scorers despite logging little time in some games when Liberty blows out the other team early.
Hanks said,``For instance, Robert doesn't get the credit he deserves. He's one of the highest-rated point guards even though he doesn't average as many assists as he might if we played closer games. He had 15 points and 10 assists when he played a full game against Heritage.''
Arrington has already made unofficial visits to Tech. ``I wouldn't say I'm going there. I've just put more time in with them so far. I do want to stick close to home.''
Arrington's father, Raymond Sr., coached his son and Carson in rec league. He brought this pair together.
``We've played together since we were 7,'' said Arrington, ``except for one year.``
``They started drawing names from a hat one year in rec league,'' recalled Carson. ``It was fun playing against Peanut. It was competitive. It was for bragging rights. They beat us and he'd talk about it. Now it's something to look back and laugh about.''
Carson feels as if the two are like family. ``We know what each other can do. We've played with each other that long. We know where each other will be on the court.''
Arrington says playing rec ball for his father wasn't easy. ``He stayed on me more than anyone else because he was my father,'' he said. ``Just on the court. Not at home.''
The senior Arrington still tells his son if he sees something he's not doing right.
More important, Arrington's parents demanded he get good grades. ``My dad said grades are first. If I didn't have grades, I wouldn't be playing basketball. One is no good without the other,'' said Peanut.
Arrington has a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. He's a member of the National Honor Society.
Carson might wind up playing football in college. He's got the build (6 feet, 209 pounds) that is more suitable for the gridiron than a hoops court.
``I'm not going to pick between them yet. I'll leave the door open to see what offers I get. I don't want to limit my opportunities,'' said Carson.
In football, North Carolina and Virginia have already sent letters to Carson, but the rush for that sport won't come until next fall.
Both players have been good enough to play for the Roanoke Hawks, the top AAU team in the area. At one time, Bedford had an AAU team, but lack of funds shut it down and Carson and Arrington looked around to join such players as Patrick Henry's Boo Battle and other Roanoke city players.
Hanks knows about these two in the classroom because he's been both their math teacher and coach.
``They're both sharp kids. Other than a little chitchat at the beginning or end, it's business as usual. I don't want anyone to think I'm cutting an athlete a break. But they don't need a break,'' said Hanks.
``Really, they make it just like having my son to play for me. You can be too easy or too tough on them. I'd rather be a little tougher. I expect them to act like gentlemen. But that's never been a problem.''
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: JANEL RHODA/Staff. Coach Mark Hanks of Liberty said heby CNBknew Robert Carson (left) and Raymond "Peanut" Arrington could help
his team when he first saw them play recreational basketball.
color.