THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090531
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Long : 129 lines
Wake Forest coach Dave Odom recently looked at a list of former great centers who had played in the ACC and quickly realized how special this season is.
On the list were names like Virginia's Ralph Sampson, Clemson's Tree Rollins, Maryland's Buck Williams, and North Carolina's Brad Daugherty.
``They were all truly great players,'' Odom says. ``But when I thought back to how those guys were when they were sophomores, I think they pale in comparison with the three great sophomore centers in our league this season.''
Odom was referring to North Carolina's Rasheed Wallace, Maryland's Joe Smith, and the Deacons' Tim Duncan.
The trio, who led their teams to shares of a four-way first-place tie in the conference, will tower above the ACC tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The ACC, which has produced numerous NBA superstars, may never have seen the likes of such a magnificent class of centers.
And may never again.
The three young big men each will face a hard decision during the summer - whether to return for their junior years or begin collecting millions of dollars to play professionally.
All figure to be lottery picks if they come out early. ``You wouldn't go wrong by picking one of those guys,'' says Phoenix Suns scout Al Bianchi.
``It is amazing how all three can affect a game on both ends of the court,'' Clemson coach Rick Barnes said. ``I am sure we will be watching them for many years to come.''
Odom says that Duncan, Wallace and Smith as a group are the best the league has ever seen.
Virginia coach Jeff Jones agrees. ``I can't think of any class being better,'' he said. ``They are all exceptional players and do a lot of things on the court. But each has his own game, too.''
The 6-foot-10, 230-pound Duncan, a St. Croix native, established himself as an expert shot-blocker as a freshman when he led the ACC with an average of 3.8 blocks per game. He upped that to a round 4.0 this year - Wallace was a distant second at 2.9.
Only 19 years old, Duncan has the potential to grow one or two more inches and add another 35 pounds in the next two years without losing quickness.
Wallace, at 6-10, 225 pounds, runs the court a little better and plays with more emotion than the other two. Smith, also 6-10 and 225, may have the most rounded game.
``All three are really quick to the ball and obviously can get up in the air,'' says Maryland's Gary Williams.
``It is not surprising to see either Joe or Rasheed on the finishing end of a fastbreak. They have that greyhound look to them, and both could play power forward.
``Duncan might be a little more physical inside and more of a true center. He does have the frame to put on more weight.
``Each guy has one thing he might do better than the other two, but when you look at all three, they average out pretty good. I am just glad I have one of them.''
Florida State coach Pat Kennedy says the most incredible thing about such a sensational trio is that ``two of them were not projected to be there.''
Wallace, from Philadelphia, was a highly-publicized high school player and made the high school All-America teams, but no one expected the kind of impact that Smith and Duncan would make in the ACC.
Smith did not make first or second-team All-America while playing at Maury High in Norfolk, and Duncan was discovered on a St. Croix playground by former Wake Forest player Chris King, who recommended him to Odom.
Duncan was grooming himself to be an Olympic swimmer before Hurricane Hugo wiped out the team swimming pool and his interest changed to basketball, to Wake's great benefit. Along with his four blocks a game, Duncan has pulled down a league-best 12.2 rebounds per game this season and chipped in 16.5 points.
``He learns as quickly as anyone I've ever been around, and really is a workaholic,'' says Odom. ``When he came to us, he was unbothered by the recruiting process and eager to learn and develop his skills. He studies basketball all the time.''
Jones, who got in late on trying to recruit Duncan, said he has the ability to change the complexion of a game with his defense.
``We have to make adjustments when we play Wake Forest,'' says Jones, ``because you can't play your normal game with him back there and being so effective as a shot-blocker. For a young player with comparatively so little experience, he does so many things well.''
Smith, who decided early on Maryland, was the surprise of last season when he was selected national freshman of the year and only the third freshman in league history to make first-team All-ACC, joining Clemson's Skip Wise (1974-75 season) and Georgia Tech's Kenny Anderson (1989-90).
``He is just a tremendous player,'' says North Carolina coach Dean Smith, who had mild interest in recruiting Smith.
``Joe is getting more defensive attention this year, but he passes well and he's not looking to shoot when some one else has a better shot. That is a compliment to Joe.''
Williams said Smith, the ACC's leading scorer this season at 20.9 points per game, worked during the off-season to get stronger and become a better passer and free-throw shooter.
``He figured out you don't have to shoot a lot to score, but he has confidence in his shot to score when he has the chance,'' Williams said.
North Carolina State coach Les Robinson has glowing compliments for Wallace, who got 17.6 points and 8.6 rebounds this season and was miles ahead of second-place Smith with his .661 field-goal percentage.
``I like to call him the most valuable player in the nation,'' Robinson said recently. ``He is scoring at a high percentage, he has a turnaround jumper you can't stop, and is such a big force defensively blocking shots.''
But there is not much difference in the quality of all three sophomore centers, Robinson agrees.
``I heard Dick Vitale say that with those three and a couple of others he could beat any all-star team in America,'' Robinson chuckled.
``I don't always agree with Vitale, but this time I think he is right. And that says how good those three guys are, when even he could win with them.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
File photos
Joe Smith
Tim Duncan
Rasheed Wallace
TOPS IN ACC
Chart
[For a copy of the chart, see microfilm for this date.]
ACC STATISTICS
Chart
[For a copy of the chart, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB