SPORTS : 3 S, The Michigan Daily Sunday, October 18, 1981 Page 9 Heuerman takes a step 'forward'as a pro cager By RON POLLACK When last seen in Ann Arbor, Paul Heuerman was playing center for the Michigan basketball team and giving up four or five inches in height to his counterparts at the pivot. Now, the 6-8 cager is playing forward for the NBA's Phoenix Suns, who picked him up in the fifth round of, the 1981 draft, and he can finally look eye to eye with the players he guards. THE SWITCH to forward has changed Heuerman's responsibilities in a uni4ue manner. "Believe it or not, I was moving more outside at Michigan," said Heuerman. "Here at Phoenix they're emphasizing more post-up play where the forwards come across to post up and play low. It seems that here I post up more as a MacLeod. "He was schooled well in college. We like a lot of things about him. He runs well, he's a good passer, he knows how to free a teammate with a pick and how to get open."' WHILE NOT all NBA players are willing to spend time on picks or passing (when they could be shooting instead), Heuerman finds such areas of the game to be of vital importance since he is not a prolific scorer or a dominating force on the court. "There's no area I shine at, but no area I'm really bad at," said Heuer- man. "I just have to play consistent." "I think he's played very hard," said MacLeod. "He played well at camp and he's given a great effort. But he has not scored much." ALTHOUGH Heuerman (7.8 ppg last people aren't in the NBA that are good enough because they weren't in the right place at the right time. It's just a matter of fitting in at a place where they might need you. It's a numbers game." Should the "numbers" dictate that Heuerman be cut, he will not throw in the towel. Instead, he will seek an op- portunity with either another NBA squad or in a European league. "I've been told that it's pretty easy to go to Europe for a big guy," said Heuerman. "Plus, I came from a name school and I'll have stuck with Phoenix for a while. All that will be in my favor." The LSA Internship Program Will Be Accepting Applications for Summer and Fall Internships, 1982 October 12-Applications Available October 30-Applications Due Juniors in Natural Science, Math, CCS, Social Science, Humanities, BGS, and ICP, are encouraged to apply. a 'He 's .a heads-up player. He was schooled well in college. We like a lot of things about him. He runs well, he 's a good passer, he knows how to free a teammate with a pick and how to get open.' -Phoenix Suns' head eoach John MacLeod on Paul Heuerman Come celebrate forward then I did as a center at Michigan." Phoenix head coach John MacLeod believes it, because it was he who moved Heuerman closer to the hoop. "We try to use all of our forwards low and develop an inside game for the high percentage shot," said MacLeod. . TAKING THIS explanation into con- sideration, one might wonder why Heuerman wasn't used inside more in college. Wolverine head coach Bill Frieder explained the reasoning behind not setting Heuerman up within dunking distance of the basket more of- ten. "He was very mobile and a good shooter," said Frieder. "And when you're playing versus Herb Williams (6-10), Joe Barry Carroll (7-1) and Randy Breuer (7-2) at center, they won't come out and play on Paul. Defensively, Heuerman also has had to adjust to the playing styles of pro forwards, which are significantly dif- ferent from those of the centers he played against in college. "(LAST WEEK) I played against Joe Barry Carroll, but didn't have to guard trim," said Heuerman. "Now most of the guys I guard are quicker, . Despite the changes that Heuerman i having to make in his game, he has been able to fit into the Suns' system of play. "I guess .they emphasize a lot of passing here, and at Michigan we used. of lot of passing," said Heuerman. "So i've been well prepared." Another plus for Heuerman in his at- Stempt to make Phoenix's 12-man roster is that he is a fundamentally sound player. "He's a heads-up player," said year at Michigan) has not been lighting up the scoreboard for the Suns, MacLeod has not given up on the rookie's offense. "I think it's just a matter of getting some breaks," said MacLeod. "He's had some good shots, but they haven't been falling. We know he's a batter scorer than he's shown." The former Wolverine is battling for the final spot on the Suns' roster and the competition is fierce. Fighting for the same position on the squad are rookies Sam Clancy and Craig Dykema, free agent John McCullough, who worked out with Phoenix last year but did not suit up, and veteran Clifford Ray. "I GUESS IT will be tight," said Heuerman of his chances to make the final cut. "Some days I play well and think I can make it and other days I don't play well. The coachesare positive to me, but they are positive to everyone. "It's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. A lot of Poetry Reading with Dudley Randall and Barbara Feldman Reading from their works Mon., Oct. 19-8 p.m. at GUILD HOUSE 802 MONROE ADMISSION FREE with us0 And save on Hewlett-Packard calculators. We're having a Grand -Opening Celebration, all this week for our New Electronics Showroom Come in and register for our Thanksgiving Give-Away* Winners will receive a TI-55 list $40.00 or a TI-59list $250.00 Hsor a HP-41lCV list $325.00 i And with we re celebrating * Drawing will be held at the showroom Friday, Nov. 27, 1981 specials for everyone. HEWLETT PACKARD HP-11C...........list$135.. HP-12C ...........list$150.. HP-32E ..........list $55. HP-33E (40only) .......list $ HP-33C. HP-34C. HP-38C. HP-41C. HP-67.. HP-97.. ... list $90. . list $150. .list $150. . list $250. .list $375. . list $750. . ..........$98.95 .........$113.95 ..........$42.95 90. ....... .$48.95* . $68.95 .........$113.95 .......$113.95 .........$187.95 .........$292.50 ..... . .$574.95 All accessories - 20% off suggested list price *Special price plus FREE math & statistics booklets. We'll be open Friday 'til 9 p.m. Stop in, see our new digs and take advantage of these and other specials too numerous to mention here. Celebration sale ends Saturday, Oct. ( ' S /