European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 26, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 the stars and stripes wednesday february 26.1986 file Priolo Indiana s Steve Alford. Bigger is better in 86 backcourt players assume Star roles on College Hardwood flit Polo Georgia itch s Mark Price. The Little sucker won t die by Dick Joyce a sports writer let s hear it for the Little Guy in College basketball. For years thanks to an overabundance of 7-Foolcrs dunking and blocking their Way to stardom guards Haven t had Mucor a shot at the spotlight. But with the absence of dominating big men such As Ralph Sampson and Patrick Ewing headline rubbers now include senior guards like Johnny Dawkins Mark Price Dell Curry Andre Turner Steve Mitchell and Scott skills plus juniors Dwayne Pearl Washington Steve Al Ford Kenny Smith and Sophomore Dav Drivers. Even the nation s leading scorer wag Ner s 6-foot-2 Terrance Bailey averaging 30.1 Points is a backcourt an. It s a Good crop from the standpoint of depth said Marly Black director of scouting for the National basketball association. As for Point guards it s the Best we be seen in a number of years. There s a lot of Good players who have potential for greatness. There s a Strong possibility that 10 to 13 of the top 28 picks will be  when Black talks about guards he s referring to seniors and also projecting some College forwards or swing Man Ron Harper of Miami of Ohio Rafael Addison of Syracuse and Anthony Jones of Nevada Las vegas who will have to make the transition to backcourt in the pros. But there Are plenty of legitimate College guards to Stock the Aba for years. Duke s climb from the Atlantic coast conference s also rans to one of the nation s top teams is directly tied to Daw Kins a 6-foot-2, four year starter who should become the leading scorer in Blue devils history by season s end. He s aver aging almost 19 Points a game this season. He came through in the clutch in close victories Over North Carolina stale by hitting two free throws with two seconds left and notre Dame by blocking Rivers last second shot. He s shown the ability to handle the Point guard spot when Tommy Amaker is in foul trouble and he teams with Amaker in helping Duke Lead the acc in forcing turnovers 20 per game. Price 6-1, play maker and Long Range shooter has been a prime Factor in leading Georgia tech out of the acc cellar to among the nation s Best. He s Only the second player in tech history to top 2,000 career Points and leads the yellow jackets in scoring with a 17.7 average. He also tops the team in assists. Mark Price is having a phenomenal year said tech coach Bobby Cremins. He s done it All for us. He s become our team Leader he s our play maker our lop scorer and the person we turn to for the clutch  says Virginia assistant Dave Odom the Little sucker won t die. You can Nail him in the ground and shovel dirt on him twice and he still won t  Memphis state coach Dana Kirk said of Turner his 5-10 Point guard he s an excellent Leader who s consistent offensively and defensively. Look at our won lost record the four years he s been Here. I like to have the Ball in his hands at the end of the game. He s got the Green Light to do what he wants with it. He knows what i  Turner once nicknamed Andre turnover is now known As the Little general. While averaging 14.1 Points he also has averaged 7.5 assists to 3.0 turnovers this season. Last season his Buzzer shots won two Mcaa playoff games. I m convinced Andre Turner is the first Guy Here from Mars said univ assistant coach Ralph readout. He s so Quick it s incredible Curry 6-4, recently became the leading scorer in Virgin tech history and ranks As one of the top scorers in the nation 23.8, including 41 Points at Cincinnati on Jan. 18. Dell Curry is so explosive said West Ern Kentucky coach Clem Haskins. You can Stop him for awhile but you can t Stop him for a full game. He is n terrific shooter. If i was going to coach a pro team i sure would like to have him on my  vm1 coach Marty Fletcher said in his time at Virginia tech Dell Curry has suffered in this area in comparison to Michael Jordan of North Carolina. But As far As True guards Are concerned who s belter than Curry skills 6-1, has had his problems off the court but has virtually carried Michigan state this season averaging 26.8 Points on 57 percent shooting from the held and 90 percent foul shooting. He s also been Good for 4.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists. It s possible that Syracuse s Stocky 6-2 Washington will leave the orangemen after this season for the pros which is More suited to his flashy wide open style. Pearl looks like he s 35," Blake said but he plays a great transition game and his outside shooting stymies the  Washington has been turning it on lately for the big East leaders averaging 27.8 Points in the last five games is Points a game for the season. He makes fewer mis takes averaging 7.8 assists to 3.2 turnovers and will soon break his school record for most assists in a season. Indiana s Alford is having his Best sea son even though he s slumped to 85 per cent from the foul line a figure most players would love to have. It was 91 and 92 percent in previous seasons. This year i came into the season in the Best condition of my life said the 6-2 Alford. I added 10 pounds Over the sum Mer and that has helped my strength and  picked for the . Olympic team after his freshman year Alford averages 22.9 Points 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals. He also is hitting 56 percent from the Field. Smith 6-3, of North Carolina averages 11.8 Points and 6.4 assists gets the Ball to the tar heels big men and is explosive leading the break. He s playing the Best Ball of his Ca reer said coach Dean Smith. Kenny is up for our defensive award each game. He s team oriented on offence Ana de sense. He s simply a great All around  Rivers a speedy 6-footer, turned notre Dame from a lumbering team to a running one since his arrival last season. Some times out of control last season Rivers has toned Down. He leads the Irish in scoring 15.9assists steals Field goals and free throws. It look Lime for the team to become comfortable with me said Rivers. Critics say my teammates had to do a lot of adjusting to me but i had my share of adjusting too. I try to create a shot or hand off. It was the same thing last year but i m More aware of my shot  also making noise from the perimeter Georgetown senior Point guard Michael Jackson Louisville senior Milt Wagner Back in stride after an injury Layoff last season Michigan s Junior backcourt duo of Antoine Joubert and Gary Grant Junior Freddie Banks of univ senior Mau Rice Martin of St. Joseph a senior Calvin Thompson of Kansas senior Jim Les of Bradley senior Alvin Franklin of hous ton and senior Kevin Henderson of Ful Lerton state. Duke s Johnny Dawkins. Zeroes in on scoring Mark Memphis stale s Andre Turner. The Man from Mars