European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 18, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Sports nothing comes fast or easy for Aba rookies by Bill Barnard associated press the Aba Rookie class of 19bft railed the deepest most d of the list 10 years Wilh .1 Quality av.iil.iblt.1 to almost every ilm Iii with a first round draft pick. Ii l a Juirl Turki Doul Thill Way Wilh loss than six first i in milking a in Ihu first six wet is of the regular season. Several others a Ivi pleased their Coachi s in a Rule Natl Aba scouting service director Marly it s Loo irly it assess this s Meikok. l xxx it immediate Galifi Dillon Blake swirl weak. Allante had to so , before its Young players started to Oul. Now they lire a Good team and they did h the i Juht Way bit by bit the Early runaway favorite for Rookie of the year honors i fonts Ron Harper was not chosen up phom Chuck Pinon went Tram Auburn to a hurting Rale Wilh infant by Cleveland until the eighth pick of the first round. Nol coins dentally the Cavaliers have five rookies on the Rosier and three of them Are starters Harper no. 1 pick Brad Daugherty and Forward Lohn hot Rod Williams. "1 of Suici Soful .1 Rookie is often is just it matter of playing time Blakes Iid the k is filling the most minutes Are with the weaker the top three rookies Harper Chuck person of Indiana and Kunny Walker of new York nil Are Wilh learns that won fewer than 30games last season. , averaging 22.0 Points per game after six weeks of play was 13lh in the Aba in scoring. Ten limes he scored 20 at More Points and twice he scored 34. It s no problem to score 20 Points a game in the Aba Harper said la easy. All you have to do is take enough Shols. I feel i m taking Good shots Harper from Miami of Ohio said he has taken advice that he must be aggressive offensively in the Aba. Now i be reached the Point where i Don t worry about that he said. I m not pacing myself any differently than College. It s a Mailer of playing two or three games a week. That s a lot Wilh travel. I m trying to improve not so much for myself but to make the team play better. I m trying to be More relaxed and have More fun. I was a Little lense at the Slart. I mainly wanted to prove to people that i belong in this Harper is seeking to join an Elile group of rookies who averaged 20 Points or More in heir first season in the 1900s. The others Are Michael Jordan Ralph Sampson Terry Cummings Darrell Griffith Patrick Ewing and Kelly Tripucka. Person the no. 4 pick from Auburn took Over As a starting Forward for Indiana when Clark Kellogg was injured. Six weeks into the season he was leading the pacers in both scoring and rebounding Wilh 16.3 Points and nine rebounds per game. He s taking Over games when they re up for grabs Indiana general manager Donnie Walsh said. He came to Camp knowing it would be Tough. He Flat out wants to be Walker the no. 5 pick from Kentucky inherited Bernard King s Small Forward spot for the kicks. He s been averaging 13 Points and six rebounds. I was in Awe at firs Walker said. Since i m a Small Forward t was guarding a lot of offensive weapons like Adrian Dan Ley and Alex English. I could t believe i was guarding suy5 liken it those Guys were my idols. But i got Over that in a hurry. I went from a tentative player to an aggressive player in a matter of a few Harper Williams and Daugherty Are 1-2-3 in scaring far the Cavaliers. Williams who Sal out a year while wailing to be exonerated in the Tulane Point shaving scandal averaged nearly 16 Points and eight rebounds six weeks into the season Daugherty has of photo Waller Berry wowed pm it is Lohn i but hat seen Little playing Lime Wilh Portland. Eased criticism that he is a soft player Wilh eight rebound1, per game to go Wilh his 13 paints. I m physically mature enough to play in the Aba and i think i m proving that Daugherty said. It s ironic that people Are saying that j m rebounding Well because i know i can do much other rookies who have been impressive at times in Reserve or spot starting roles Are Johnny Dawkins of san Antonio Brad Sellers of Chicago Mark Alarie of Denver Billy Thompson of the los Angeles lakers and Scott Skiles of Milwaukee. The biggest disappointments have been the draftees who left College before their eligibility was Complete. College player of the year Walter Berry of St. John s appeared in Only five games for Portland and scored five Points in the first six weeks. Chris Washbum the no. 3 pick from North Carolina slate has been habitually tardy to games and practices and has not been impressive for Golden state. Washington s Ohn Williams who played at Louisiana stale and Phoenix s William Bedford who played at Memphis stale have been hampered by injuries. New Jersey s Dwayne Washington who played at Syracuse struggled As the nets won Only three of their first 16 games. 76 decanter h
