THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 11, 1995 TAG: 9501110545
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Athlete Of The Week
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Andrew Prickett's numbers last week weren't the kind that would make college scouts hightail it to Catholic High to see the point guard play.
But his overall play sure was the kind of stuff that made Crusaders coach Dennis Price feel delighted.
In three victories last week that pushed Catholic into first place in the TCIS at 2-0 (5-7 overall) Prickett scored only 20 points.
Obviously, that isn't what earned him this week's Virginian-Pilot/Ledger-Star boys athlete of the week honor.
It was more how he performed in the other aspects of the game, and how he sparked his team to victories, that was impressive enough for his selection.
In a 65-60 victory over St. Vincent, Prickett scored only five points, but had six assists and eight steals. In a victory at Norfolk Christian, he had 13 points, including three 3-pointers during a key run.
And in a 58-54 victory over Walsingham in which Prickett scored only two points, it was his assist on the go-ahead basket that will be most remembered. He handed it out after sitting out about four minutes with a slight hamstring pull.
Throughout it all, it is Prickett's defensive skills that have been most impressive.
``We're really starting to come together as a team and our defense has sparked it,'' said Prickett, who has received recruiting literature from Virginia Tech and James Madison for his baseball skills. The second team All-TCIS shortstop and pitcher was also second-team all conference as a sweeper in soccer.
``Defense is what I do best,'' Prickett said of his basketball skills. ``I usually get assigned to the other team's best players unless he plays down low. Then Jimmy (Whitehead) takes him and I take the next guy.''
Said Price: ``They're our best shooters, but that's no ringing endorsement on our team. If we don't play defense, we don't win.''
Prickett and Whitehead are the Crusaders' co-captains and team leaders - a role Prickett said he is well suited for.
``We're the most vocal and we know the situations better than the younger guys,'' the 5-foot-11 senior said. ``I feel like I'm taking more of a leadership role.
``But the whole team is stepping up its game. I think these three wins will go a long way towards making us competitive at the top of the conference and at the state Catholic tournament. That's a goal of ours.
``I think we're going to be in every single game the rest of the season.'' ILLUSTRATION: Andrew Prickett
by CNB