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Better Days Ahead For UK's Reggie Hanson
Big Blue Newcomer Not To Be Overlooked
"There's been a lot of publicity given to some of the big-name recruits who are coming in. But there hasn't been too much said about Reggie Hanson. Reggie is a phenominal ballplayer. . .He's really going to be a big key for us."
UK senior forward Winston Bennett
With Eric Manuel and Johnny Pittman recently meeting the requirements of Proposition 48, the University of Kentucky, thus, has seven freshmen eligible for next season. Shoot, at one time last season UK's rookie class would have almost outnumbered the
		
pi	f	Nick Nicholas Cats' Pause Columnist
		
1986-87 Wildcat squad.
Now, Kentucky is obviously loaded in quantity, not to forget tons of quality as well.
Add team leader Winston Bennett and you've got eight 'Cats who didn't suit up for Eddie Sutton's 18-11 club. But there's a ninth newcomer who will be making his Big Blue debut in 1987-88. He's someone who could and should provide immediate excitement.
Of course, we're talking about Pulaski County's Reggie Hanson.
Shame on you if you've forgotten. While waiting for that blistering blush to go away, let me refresh your memory.
The 6-foot-8 swingman: A) captured the Most Valuable Player award while helping the Maroons bring home the state title in 1986: B) was Eddie Sutton's first Wildcat signee: and C) was a Proposition 48 casualty last season.
Following two successful semesters of hitting the books on the Lexington campus, Hanson met the NCAA academic guidelines and is ready to take his best shot at playing for UK. Rumor is that
No More Watching From Stands For Reggie
Hanson has been turning heads in pickup games with Wildcat teammates. Believe me, it's no rumor. It's a fact.
Eddie Sutton, Bennett and others have warned the local media not to forget Hanson. They sincerely believe he could make a major contribution his freshman season.
After recently watching him play on several occasions, I do, too.
"Reggie is going to surprise a lot of people," said former UK player and Laurel County product Paul Andrews. "I've had the opportunity to follow him, and played against his brothers in high schoolArt and Donald. I've been around him a lot and know how he can play. It's just a matter of Reggie coming out and showing everybody in the state of Kentucky what he can do.
"He had that one year to sit out and I just think that did wonders for Reggie, because he's gotten a lot stronger and has developed his game."
No Longer A Skinny Rail
Yes indeed, a year of working in the weight room has done wonders for Hanson. While he could stand to put on a few more pounds, he can now no longer be compared to a skinny rail. He's almost Timex approvedCan take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. In
"The most difficult thing was to sit in the stands, watching the team play, because I felt I could help out last year."
Reggie Hanson
fact, on one particular June evening he was seen by this columnist giving a certain pro hoopster a few fits all over the playing floor.
"When we play pickup games I'm usually the one that's guarding Kenny (Walker)," said Hanson, of the former Wildcat and now New York Knick player. "That's a tough job. I look forward to it, but then again (pause) he wears me out. I don't get down on myself but at times I get frustrated."
Don't worry, you won't run into too many Sky Walkers on the college level. Just to remind us, Reggie, accompanied by his familiar ear-to-ear grin, noted, "There's not too many players as good as Kenny."
He admits times have changed greatly in comparison to his memorable senior year at Pulaski County. The two-time all-state performer averaged 23.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest his senior year. However, he was the team's starting center. Hanson's role has clearly changed.
"I'm a lot different player." noted Hanson, "because when I was in high school I had to play a lot inside. Now, I've been working
on my jumper, which has come along pretty well. So now I'm more of an outside player."
Improving his outside jumper has been his main concern this summer. With all the new competition, Hanson knows that if he's going to play this season his outside shot has to be clicking.
"My jumper has come a long ways," he said, "but it still has a long ways to go. I still need to work on that and get a little stronger. But I've gotten a lot stronger and I feel a lot stronger.
"I feel that I can play with the team. I hope to get a little (playing) time. But as long as we're winning and everybody is having a good time everything will be all right."
Probably the last player on this team who would bellyache because of a lack of playing time is Hanson. According to Sutton one reason he recruited Hanson is because of his "big valentine."
Sealed With A Smile
Packaged with a smile. . .with 16 players striving for a piece of the 200-minute pie, Hanson's get-along attitude only can help the chemistry of this year's club.
Oh, this is not to say Hanson is too easygoing!
The way he hustled and led his team to the high school championship proves he can be a feared talent on the court, while still being as loose as a goose. So when I recently saw him stalk an offensive board and jam it home, it was then I also got the impres sion he's one hungry customer.
"I think so, too," agreed Andrews. "He is very hungry to play and wants to prove it to the people in Kentucky. Coming out of high school he wasn't an Ail-American and didn't get some of the publici ty as a Rex Chapman or Derrick Miller did. He just wants to come out and show the people that he belongs at the University of Ken tucky."
Reggie, whatever you do don't lose that priceless smile!
Watching his teammates from the stands last season, it was ob vious his attitude kept him afloat.
Hanson weathered the Prop 48 storm. And admittedly so, Reg gie Hanson is a better individual for it. He stuck it out and earned a second chance, plus holding onto four years of eligibility at his choice college.
"The most difficult thing was to sit in the stands, watching the team play, because I felt I could help out last year," he remembered.
Meanwhile, he didn't show his feelings. "I'm always happy. If I ever have a problem with anything I really don't let anybody know about it. I don't want to drag anybody else down with my problems:
Hanson's troubled times are behind him.
In regards to the upcoming campaign, he's getting ready to suit up with his teammates instead of worrying about missing a full season. As someone once said, "Time heals all wounds."
Said Hanson, "I'm just waiting my turn."
Hauserman To Remain As Lady Kat Assistant
Assistant coach Cindy Noble Hauserman will remain on the University of Kentucky women's basketball staff for the upcoming season, UK athletics director Cliff Hagan announced July 2.
Hauserman, who served in the same capacity with UK from 1985-87, joins the new Lady Kat basketball staff under Sharon Fanning. Hauserman will resume her duties which include on-the-floor coaching, recruiting, scouting and academics.
"I don't think there is a better person than Cindy in'terms of background and potential as a young coach," Fanning said. "She is a winner, a hard worker and has complete loyalty to Lady Kat basketball."
Hauserman, a native of Clarksburg, Ohio, is a 1983 graduate of the University of Tennessee. She played professional basketball for three years (one in Italy and two in Japan) and represented the United States on the 1979 World University team. 1980 and 1984 Olympic teams, and the 1983 Pan American team.
"I'm tickled to death to be back with the Lady Kats," Hauserman said. "It's rare to keep members of the old staff when a new coach is brought in. But, Coach Fanning took her time in making the selection and I'm glad I was chosen."
Hanson Joins UK's Miller At Festival
Earlier this month Kentucky freshman Reggie Hanson was selected to play basketball at the U.S. Olympic Festival in Chapel Hill, replacing Duke's Alaa Abdulnaby.
Abdulnaby was ruled ineligible because he's not an American citizen. Under international rules, a player must be a citizen for three years if he or she is to play in Olympic basketball.
Hanson, who hasn't played in an organized game in more than a year, scored two points as his South team ousted the West 90-71 (July 18). The South squad, coached by UK's Eddie Sutton, was paced by North Carolina's J.R. Reid (20) and Kentucky's Derrick Miller (14). Miller connected on 6 of 10 shots from the field, including two three-pointers.
Last season Hanson was forced to sit out due to not meeting Proposition 48 guidelines.
At this writing Sutton's South team, 2-0, appeared to be headed into the Gold Medal contest. Following its opening round win, the South defeated the North, 75-66.
In that contest Miller hit on three of seven from the field (seven points) while Hanson was held scoreless, missing on six attempts from the field. The Pulaski County product, however, did pull down four rebounds.
Rob Lock Reinstated lb UK Basketball Squad
University of Kentucky senior-to-be Rob Lock has been reinstated to the Wildcat basketball team following the resolution of a traffic violation in Madison District Court (July 8), according to UK head coach Eddie Sutton
Lock was arrested in Richmond on DUI charges May 27, although under Kentucky law he did not register legally intoxicated on a breathalyzer test.
During an open court appearance on June 19, following a motion filed by his attorney, the charges were amended to "driving contrary to law," which according to Sutton is a "very minor offense."
As a result, Sutton said, no further disciplinary action will be taken.
"Lock said he was "very pleased with the court's ruling.
"It has been a difficult period since many people perceived me to be guilty as a result of the reports of the incident," Lock continued. "I'm happy the court upheld the fact that I was not driving under the influence."
Lock is currently attending summer school at UK.