Page 14-The Michigan Daily -Wednesday, March 28, 1990 Blue hopeful that Webber will replenish basketball team Michigan's by Albert Lin Daily Sports Writer -_ Last Friday, Chris Webber stepped onto the floor of Crisler Arena and scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. But he was wearing the black and gold of his Country Day Yellowjackets. What Michigan fans want to know is if he will ever wear the familiar maize and blue. Webber, a 6-feet-9, 230 pound junior is considered by many the finest high school player in his class. He has averaged 24.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks on the year. Chris Wallace of Blue Ribbon Sports and Barry Temkin of Basketball Weekly both ranked him as the premier player in the class of 1991. Dave Krider of USA Today has him in the top three in the country. He is the top player in Michigan "by far," says Mick McCabe of the Free Press , an opinion also reflected by his selection as the number one player in Michigan by the Detroit News and the Free Press, and by his second consecutive selection to the News' Dream Team. Webber is also a Parade first-team All-America selection. The experts know that Webber has tremendous all-around skills. His game compares favorably to that of former Kansas star Danny Manning, with inside and outside abilities, strong rebounding and exceptional ballhandling talent for a big man. Clark Francis of the Hoop Scoop says, "He's definitely one of the top three high school juniors in the country. He's a phenomenal talent... He's the type of player that can step into a program and do the same things that some of these guys are doing this year like Bobby Hurley and Kenny Anderson. He can get you there." Webber led the Yellowjackets to a second consecutive state title on Saturday, scoring 30 points, pulling down 14 rebounds, and blocking eight shots in a Class B victory over Saginaw Buena Vista. What makes this feat.- even more remarkable is that last year Country Day won the Class C title last year. "Not too many teams have won it in one class and then elected to move up, voluntarily, and won it again, so it was a big achievement in my life," he said. Though he is softspoken off the court, Webber is unquestionably Country Day's vocal leader on the floor. His 25 points Friday were evenly distributed by quarter - six, six, four, nine, respectively - but when the game is on the line, Chris is the man to go to. As he says, "When I want the ball, I think it's time for the team to score." His first love was football. "If you asked me what schools I dreamed of playing football! for I could tell you right now, but basketball, no, I've never really had dreams about playing basketball in college because I never followed Take one...take two. Detroit it that much," he says. But as he grew, "it Webber dunks. The 6-feet-9 didn't look like I was gonna get to play much of the top high school junio football." A father of a classmate, who was an AAU coach, recognized Webber's potential and offered to help him with basketball. "He's the one that made me a basketball player," Chris says, "Without him, I wouldn't be playing basketball." Former Michigan coach Bill Frieder reportedly "babysat" Webber in his early high school years. He doesn't mind the use of that term, and he has the utmost respect for Frieder. "I think he is the best recruiter there is - the best," he says. "He was at my first high school game, and that's something, even if I don't play basketball in college, I'll always remember." tural resource Despite his athletic talent, Webber does not neglect his education. He decided to attend Country Day because of its better academic program, but he originally harbored thoughts of attending Detroit Southwestern. When asked why he explains, "I'm a product of Detroit. I felt that all the people in the city should stay in the city and help the city out, and help rebuild it," he says. "I looked at myself as being a hypocrite by going out to the suburbs, and playing and going to school, when the city is in need." Growing up in private schools, Chris has been in an academic atmosphere his entire life. He believes in academics because, "I've been around a lot of kids who played basketball, and I've seen the stories, I've faced the stories...I've dealt with reality a lot and I just know that in life you have to study, and you have to go to a great school, so I just want to make something of myself in doing that." 'I just want to go some place where it's real basketball crazy. That will help me a lot' -Chris Webber He sees himself as a communications major in college, with thoughts of being a sports writer or commentator. He will prepare himself for a non- playing career because he realizes that basketball could leave him in one day; he looks ahead to possibly playing in the NBA with caution. "I wouldn't mind it," he says, "but I'm not counting on it." When will the 17-year-old make his college choice? He will probably wait until the regular signing period one year from now. And what are the Wolverines chances of getting him? "It's great in academics, it has a very good coach, and it's always in the elite of basketball. And it's close to home," he says. "It has a lot of pros, and I really haven't thought of the cons that much." He also wants to play now. "I definitely want to go someplace where I can play right away, and that I feel has a chance to win a title or win their conference," he says. "I'm really not fond of sitting on the bench, so yeah, I want to play right away." But some of the other things he is looking for in a school do not appear to be here. "I just want to go some place where it's real 4kbasketball crazy. That'll help me out a lot," he says. David Hyman Tourney snub doesn't diminish senior effort The time finally came. Nine seniors skated for the last time with the crested 'M' on their chest. Though these players did not represent a dynasty or era, they represented Wolverine hockey for four years - four years of much improvement and excitement to Michigan hockey. Though the careers of these players ended on a sour note when the team failed to receive a bid to the 12-team NCAA championships, one must look past this gaffe by the NCAA selection committee and look at what these players provided the Wolverines. Coming into this year, and throughout the season, this senior class was looked upon as the nucleus. If Michigan expected to reach its goal of "going to the Joe" - the CCHA Final Four - and possibly the NCAAs, these seniors needed to become a major factor. Michigan made it to Joe Louis for the first Wolverine appearance in the CCHA Final Four since playoff play began in 1982. With the help of these seniors, Michigan defeated Bowling Green to finish in third place after falling to Michigan State in the semifinals. Since the present seniors arrived in Ann Arbor for the 1986-87 season, Michigan has improved its record in each successive year. Michigan coach Red Berenson noted that their four years has been a culmination of four years of improvement. He added that the players came at a rough time and they were part of the rebuilding. With nine first-year players during that 86-87 season, the Wolverines suffered through a long year. Michigan finished in eighth place the year before with only 12 wins and improved to seventh place, compiling a 14-25-1 record. Yet with the growth and maturity of these players along with some new blood, Michigan improved to consecutive fifth and two fourth-place finishes, including this season's 24-12-6 mark. The Wolverines catapulted themselves from one of the league doormats to one of the top teams in what some people consider the toughest college hockey divisions. A 10-game turnaround in only four years is marked improvement for any college sport and the Wolverines should hopefully be able to continue its winning ways. But new leaders will have to emerge without these seniors around the rink. This happens every year in college sports - players graduate or leave early, requiring teams to find new leaders each year. This is not an unusual situation, and the Wolverines should not have trouble finding new leaders to step forward in the years to come. Michigan began this season placing six first-year players in prominent roles: By the end of the season, all of them matured and were considered veterans by both coaches and other players. Many of these newcomers credited the seniors with providing them the guidance and leadership they needed to succeed in their first season. This tutelage will enable these rookies to further help newcomers in the next few years. Without these seniors around Yost in the future, the hockey team will take on a different appearance. The loss of nine players out of a total of 26 is significant. For now Michigan fans say thanks to Rob Brown, Todd Copeland, Tim Helber, Randy Kwong, Mike Moes, Ryan Pardoski, Alex Roberts, Warren Sharples and Brad Turner. 0 As for style of game, Chris wants to play "very much running, running a lot. I wanna go to a team that presses and that fast breaks, that's like their basic offense." The general feeling among recruiting experts is that Michigan State leads the Webber derby. It is too early to say, but when asked if Michigan's possible decline in basketball prominence might steer him away from the Wolveerines, Webber cited Michigan State as an example of a team that followed t Country Day's Chris 9 forward is considered one rs in the country. 9 followed an unsuccessful year with a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. He also mentioned State's Steve Smith as a favorite player. He does feel that Fisher will "surprise a lot of people next year, even without all the talent." Even if the Michigan program is down, "one person would come back and help them, act as a pioneer, in bringing them back." So as pressure begins to mount for his senior year, Webber says he will not let that affect him. "I'm really looking forward to next year, because it's my last year. I think I'll be in the spotlight a little bit, and I really won't mind that because it'll be my last year, and I just want to have fun on my way out and have a lot of memories." An & Grammy Award Winning Gospel Recording Artists AMERICAN SUBS 715 N. University (Next to Supercuts and Alphagraphics) QUALITY & VALUE for your $$$ Variety of Subs " Soups " Salads " Platters Hair Styling with a Flair - 7 Barber Stylists for MEN & WOMEN " NO WAITING!!! DASCOLA STYLISTS Opposite Jacobson's 668-9329 #0 AS YOU LIKE 'EM. Eat-in carry-out NOW WE DELIVER! 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