THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 10, 1995 TAG: 9508090230
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
PHIL CROCKER'S basketball career has made him accustomed to traveling.
After graduating from Suffolk High in 1989, he went to Laurinburg Prep in North Carolina. A year later, Crocker returned to Hampton Roads to attend Old Dominion University. Then, it was off to the University of Texas at El Paso, a school that made trips to Hawaii, Utah, Wyoming and California for conference games.
On Sunday, Crocker made perhaps his most important trip when he boarded a plan to Saupablo, Brazil, to begin a professional basketball career. The 6-foot-8 forward recently signed a two-year contract to play for Club Nossum, a team in Brazil's top league.
``It's definitely an important move for me,'' Crocker said in a telephone interview from Charlotte last week. ``I'm happy to get this chance to play pro ball.''
Crocker said he isn't worried about going to Brazil and compared the move to his transferring to UTEP.
``When I went to El Paso, I didn't really know what to expect,'' he said. ``It's different than a lot of colleges. It's a border city next to Juarez, Mexico, so I had to learn Spanish and get used to a different lifestyle.''
``I was going far off, living in a different culture. Same with Brazil.''
Except Brazilians speak Portuguese and Crocker doesn't.
``I'll just have to learn it like I learned (Spanish) in El Paso,'' Crocker said. ``I'm looking forward to it. It's a chance to experience and see different places.''
Crocker also hopes his two years in Brazil will give him a chance to play professional basketball elsewhere.
``This is a chance for me to go over there and work on my game day-in and day-out,'' said the 24-year-old. ``I know what I need to do in two years and hopefully this will give me a chance to play pro ball over in Europe or in the NBA.''
One aspect of his game Crocker won't need to improve much is defense.
Crocker was named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season and was the Miners' floor leader on defense.
``He always drew the toughest defensive assignment for us,'' UTEP assistant coach G. Ray Johnson said of Crocker. ``He guarded everyone, from a small point guard to a team's center, depending on who was the other team's best player.''
Despite averaging only 4.8 points per game as a senior, Crocker isn't worried about his ability to score.
``(UTEP Coach Don) Haskins gives everybody a role and my responsibility was to play good defense,'' Crocker said. ``He doesn't recruit any All-Americans. He takes players and molds them into what will help the team.''
``Being the number one defensive player in the conference overshadowed my offense,'' Crocker added. ``At my height, I can do things others can't do and I shoot well for my size.''
Crocker was rarely asked to do much scoring, according to Johnson.
``He just did what we asked him to do, but when we needed him to score, he did,'' said Johnson. ``I don't think (scoring) will be a problem for him.''
Crocker added that he's worked hard this summer so conditioning won't be a problem either.
``I've been playing all summer to work on my game,'' he said. ``I've also talked to some pro scouts and will try to put on weight. That's all my game needs.''
Crocker said he learned his most important asset while playing three years at UTEP.
``Coach Haskins taught me a lot about metal toughness,'' Crocker said. ``In basketball, you need a little heart and a little bit of schooling and you can succeed.''
He forgot to mention a good set of luggage. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PAUL FERRIS/UTEP Sports Information
Phil Crocker's basketball career has taken him from Suffolk High to
Laurinburg Prep in North Carolina to Old Dominion University to the
University of Texas at El Paso.
by CNB