THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 7, 1996 TAG: 9604050193
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
YOU CAN HOLD HIM to his promise, says D.J. Dunbar.
If he receives an invitation to compete in the 1999 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, he will play.
Dunbar, the player of the year in area high school basketball in 1994 as a junior at Churchland, just finished his first season on the nation's No. 1 ranked junior college basketball team - at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Next year, Dunbar predicts Indian Hills will be even better.
Several other former area high school basketball stars who moved into the professional ranks, most noticeably Alonzo Mourning and J.R. Reid, shunned the PIT.
``I grew up watching this tournament, and I will come back to play,'' said Dunbar, who was among the Thursday spectators at the 44th annual PIT. He's home on an Easter break from school.
``It's a 31-hour train ride here from Ottumwa,'' said Dunbar. ``I'll be going back again for my second year, but then I hope to be able to attend a college on the East Coast.''
He admits an interest in Old Dominion University. ``I'll be listening to anybody who is interested in me,'' he said.
His high school coach, Mac Carroll, feels Dunbar ``has the potential to play for anyone in the country.''
Indian Hills drew the No. 1 ranking in the final junior college poll after a 30-1 regular season. Overall, the team finished at 34-2 and was the champion in District 11.
``It was the highest ranking ever for Indian Hills,'' said Dunbar. ``The best before was No. 4. We can't rank any higher next year, but I think the team will be better. This year, we were knocked out in the second round of the national tournament and we're hoping to improve on that.''
Indian Hills opened the season with 15 consecutive wins. After a loss, Indian Hills registered 17 more victories before bowing again.
``We are losing only three players, and there are some more good ones coming in,'' said Dunbar. ``One of those leaving has a grant from Stanford.''
Dunbar was first off the bench for Indian Hills and was given the 6th Man Award. He was an honorable mention all-region selection.
He played small forward and No. 2 guard, averaging 9.7 points and 2.2 assists. ``We had balanced scoring on the team with 14 the highest and four players in double figures,'' he said.
Next season, Dunbar, 19, will become a starter. The 6-foot-3, 193 pounder could move in for departing point guard David Watts.
Spending time on the bench has been a new experience for Dunbar, who has been a standout on the basketball court since he was 10 years old. He was only the third non-senior ever picked as Player of the Year in local high schools when he maintained a 20-point scoring average for Churchland in his junior season. Coincidentally, the other two were Reid and Mourning.
``My game definitely has improved in the past year,'' said Dunbar. ``I think I'm passing the ball better and my defensive play has picked up. Now I need to do a little work on my jump shot.'' He also is spending more time in the weight room to improve his strength.
His desire to become a professional basketball player has increased, too.
``But, no matter what, if they invite me back for the PIT in a few years, tell them I'll be delighted to play.'' ILLUSTRATION: PORTSMOUTH INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
D.J. Dunbar, Churchland's player of the year in 1994, plays on the
No. 1 ranked junior college basketball team, Indian Hills.
by CNB