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VIEWPOINT
Lattan To Th MUor
Pen Pal's Critique
Dear Sir:
Here's
pal's season-ending
your pen critique:
Ed DavenderToo streaky, Gets out of control amongst the tall timber too often. Has bad habit of taking weird little half-step and bunny hop before leaving the floor for the basket on a wide open run out, allowing the defensive trailer to almost always get him or the ball. This is probably due to dodging street gangs in New York City.
Rex ChapmanHas only one weakness, but it's a big one. He is not a good shot. Hit 48 or 49 percent senior year in high school, 45 percent this year. In this day and age 50 percent is nothing to brag about. Must improve in this area before realizing full potential.
James BlackmonNever lived up to advance billing coming out of Marion, Ind. Mystery player. Not a good shot, or else left it in Marion. Confidence may have been destroyed by previous coach. Derrick Hord and others rumored to have suffered this fate.
Rob LockToo slow. Typical Joe Hall center. Can't shoot without putting the ball on the floor and taking that one silly little dribble before going up for his shot. Opposing defenses love this type of player; search him. strip him, and go the other way with the ball.
Richard MadisonGreat athlete, but chose wrong sport. Would have been great tight end, but should take 90 MPH fast ball and to stick to baseball.
Irv ThomasHe is not a division 1-A player.
Cedric JenkinsLike Kenny Walker, he is from Georgia, but there all similarity ends.
Mike ScottShould be at Morehead State, Marshall, or stayed at Wake Forest.
Paul AndrewsNice kid. Just along for the ride.
Derrick MillerSeldom misses from 20 feet, seldom hits from six feet. Lost inside the three-point circle. Needs weight. Would probably blow away in a sudden windstorm.
Sincerely yours,
Kenneth Rowland
U. S. Penitentiary Atlanta, Ga.
[Continued From Page 6]
awayleads to deterioration. And that's what's happening.
We'd like to see those who are responsible for running the program WAKE UP before it's too late! We trust that we have capable administrators, coaching staff and support groups, but we'd certainly like to see more resourcefulness, creativity and boldness from all of them so we can reverse what has happened during the 1980s. Any knowledgeable fan across the country will readily tell you that Kentucky basketball has been the best in the past, over four decades, but they 'laugh up their sleeves' and 'wink at each other' when you suggest it has maintained that peak during the 1980s.
Those of you fans who are lucky enough to be able to live in that wonderful Bluegrass state may not be cognizant of what we've attempted to point out in this letter, and believe us, we're diehard fans and we've tried to be objective and fair. WAKE UP, KENTUCKY, LET'S GET BACK ON TOP WHERE WE BELONG!
Sincerely,
Orville Williams James Weber Alonzo Lavengood
Ft. Wavne. Indiana
Hard Work Has Paid Off For Shawn Evans
UK Recruit A Diamond In The Rough
Following in his dad's footsteps, Madison Central High School standout Shawn Evans recently signed a football scholarship with the University of Kentucky.
Evans, who helped the Indians win the 11th Regional Tournament basketball championship in Frankfort a couple of weeks ago, is a diamond in the rough, according to UK defensive tackle coach Bill Glaser.
"He's a real sleeper," said Glaser. "We're very impressed with him as a football player."
The 6-7, 230-pound Evans chose Kentucky over his hometown
Mel Holbrook
Cats' Pause Columnist
college, Eastern Kentucky University, plus Western Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Vanderbilt.
"I love Kentucky," said Evans. "I always have. Coach (Jerry) Claiborne is a great man. He takes care of his players. He's brought respectability back to Kentucky football."
Like his father Roy, who signed with UK in the late '60s, Evans was recruited for his strength and agility. He could play on either the offensive or defensive units at tight end or defensive end or tackle.
Glaser Says Evans Is A Good Athlete
"He has great athletic ability," said Glaser of Evans, who also played baseball at the Richmond school. "We need help at the tight end position badly, but he could play other positions as well."
Evans played tight end and defensive end at Central, averaging four catches and eight or nine tackles per game. He also handled the Indians' punting duties, which could benefit Kentucky as well.
'I did a lot of blocking on offense because we were a run-oriented team," said Evans. "We used the I-formation. (UK) Coach (Terry) Stock told me I was recruited because I have good hands, good foot speed and good work habits. I hope I can keep it up in the future."
Evans started playing football back in the fourth grade, but really didn't play full-time until the seventh grade. He grew six
Shawn Evans
inches between the seventh and eighth grades, making his decision to become an athlete all the more easier.
Father Roy Didn't Push Evans Into Athletics
"My dad didn't push me at all," said Evans, whose father, at 6-5 and 240 pounds, played with UK, Eastern and then profes-
sionally with the Dallas Cowboys before suffering a career-ending lung injury.
"It was the same with my decision to attend college," Evans explained. "We talked about it, but he said not to let him or anybody else persuade me. It was my choice, my decision."
Evans played on the varsity level all four years of prep school, seeing a lot of action his sophomore season and finally starting his last two seasons. It was the same in basketball and baseball, where he excelled.
"I've heard he's good enough to play on our baseball team," said Glaser.
"Coach Claiborne told me they preferred athletes who played
Shawn Evans Is Three-Sport Star
three sports in high school," said Evans. "It's helped me develop my athletic ability. From football, you get strength and agility. From basketball, you get foot speed and quickness. From baseball, you learn discipline and hand-eye coordination."
Evans has Been A Star In Many Sports
Besides football, Evans is a star in those other sports. He averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds on the basketball team that participated in the State Tournament last week at Rupp Arena. It was Madison Central's first-ever Sweet Sixteen appearance in the school's 31-year history. He also hit over .400 and had many homers for the school's traditionally successful baseball teams. He once hit three home runs in a game his junior season.
"I've been really lucky," said Evans. "Everything has come together for me."
Evans, whose grade point average is 3.6, plans to major in pharmacy at Kentucky. His favorite subject is chemistry.
"It's always easy to find a job in the pharmacy business," he explained.
It was because of UK's outstanding pharmacy program, plus UK's interest, that he chose the Southeastern Conference school over other institutions.
"It was a hard decision because there was pressure to stay home and play at Eastern," said Evans. "There are some people there (in Richmond) who I've heard hold grudges against me. But that's their problem. I'd never dreamed I'd be getting a (NCAA) Division I scholarship in football. It's like a dream come true."
Evans is looking forward to knocking heads against some of the tougher SEC teams like Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana State, Florida and Auburn.
"It'll be great playing against those schools," he said. "The SEC is the best football conference in the nation. I'll really have to gain more strength if I'm going to go up against those guys."
And he believes a lot more Kentucky players will choose to attend UK in the future.
"It'll be a great place to play," he said. "I'm excited about it."