4 - ff '94 - Thursday, Novembe#, 1994 0 0 . 0 a 1994-95 Associated Press Preseason All-America Team I A five-member recruiting class that includes Jerod Ward, who won the Naismith Award as the nation's top high school player, comes to Ann Ar- bor this season. It may sound like a familiar sce- nario to Michigan fans, but don't expect the same results as three years ago. With three returning starters, it is unlikely that all five newcomers will make the starting lineup to- gether this year. Ward may be the most heralded member of this class, but the other four are talented players as well. "They bring a very talented mix of players that can play a variety of spots," Fisher said. The rest of this year's class in- cludes forward Willie Mitchell, Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan, along with center-forwards Maceo Baston and Maurice Taylor and guard Travis Conlan. The freshmen have already drawn the praise of their teammates. "They can play," Jackson said. "I mean they're just like everyone's been saying. They've impressed me a lot." "They're really athletic players," Saint-Jean said. "Once they learn about Big Ten basketball and what it takes to be a player at Michigan, they're going to be great players.', Perhaps the biggest hurdle this group will face in the early going is the countless comparisons between themselves and the group that included Webber, Jackson, King, Rose and Howard. Already nicknames such as Fab Five H, Fab Six Through Ten,FabFive: The Sequel, and Fab Five: The Next Gen- eration have already been given to this group. "We're well aware that people are going to do that," Ward said. "We're just trying to go out and help Michi- gan keep a winning tradition and win basketball games." Ward, capable of playing up front or at guard, averaged 27.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg and shot 64 percent from the field his senior year at Clinton High School in Mississippi. Several publications listed him as the best high school player in the nation. Averaging 26.9 ppg and 13.3 re- bounds a game as a senior, Taylor finished third behind teammates Mitchell and Conlan for the Michigan Mr. Basketball award. Mitchell claimed the honor after leading Detroit Pershing to the Class A state finals with 21 ppg and11 rpg. Conlan was the runner-up for Mr. Basketball after averaging 21.5 ppg, 7.5 assists per game and a state- best 8.5 steals per game. He led Lake Shore High School to the Class B championship, accumulating a 28- 0 record. Baston joins Jackson, King and Crawford as Wolverines who hail from the state of Texas. Baston av- eraged 24 ppg and 12 rpg in his final season at Spruce High School in Dallas. Several of the freshmen will be asked to fill the void in the frontcourt left by Howard. Baston, Taylor and Ward stand at 6-feet-9, providing the Wolverines with plenty of height. "One of my concerns is who's go- ing to play in the paint for us," Fisher said. "Maybe Makhtar wi cantly better this year th was thrust into an impossi a year ago." Ndiaye and Ward like the two other starting beginning of the season could be made as other velop. Mitchell and Taylor w for one of those startings ing to play in the paint for us," Fisher for one of those starting if INTRAML SPORTI PROGR) Corliss Joe Williamson Smith 6-7, F, Jr. 6-10, C, So. -Arkansas Maryland Michael Finley 6-6, G, Sr. Wisconsin Damon Stoudamire 5-11, G, Sr. Arizona Finished one vote short of being a unanimous selection...One of five starters returning to defend- ing national champions...named SEC Player of the Year last season with 20.4 points per game and 7,7 rebounds per game...shot 63 percent from the field...selected as a second-team All-American team a year ago. Led the Terrapins to the NCAA Regionals a year ago...Averaged 19.4 ppg and 10.7 rpg and played 30 minutes a game...ACC Rookie of the Year...just the third freshman ever to be named to the All-ACC first team...led league in rebounding, second in block shot, and was third in scoring. One of the nation's most versa- tile players...Averaged 20.4 ppg and 6.7 rpg as the Badgers advanced to the NCAA Tourna- ment for the first time in 47 years...shot 36 percent from three-point range...two-time Wisconsin MVP...ranks fourth on the Badgers' career scoring list. May be the quickest guard in America...finished last season with 18.3 ppg, 5.9 assists per game, 4.5 rpg and 1.6 steals per game...fifth on Arizona career assist list with 443...participated with Team USA at the Goodwill Games this summer in St. Petersburg, Russia. Shawn Respert 6-3, G, Sr. Michigan State Arguably college basketball's best three-point shooter...shot 45 percent from three-point range...averaged 24.3 ppg with a 48 percent field goal percentange...returns for coach Jud Heathcote's final season with the Spartans. PRE-SEASON BROOMBALL PRE-SEASON BASKETBALL ICE HOCKEY Entries Taken: Mon 1111 Entry Fee: $25 per Manager's Meeting (Man( Tourney Dates: Mon - Th Entries Taken: Mon 11/2 Entry Fee: $35 per Manager's Meeting (Mand Tournament Dates: Sat 8 Due to renovations at Yc March and April, 1995 ar offered during the Fall T Hockey program will no GREAT" UPCOMING AC 1995 NCAA Tournament Sites First/Second-Round Sites (March 16 & 18) Regional Sites (March 23 & 25) ' a S ".. '' ' . r .'.9 , , , -' ,:. a ;... , n fsy .! " . ' _ . _, East Baltimore Arena, Baltimore. Southeast The Pyramid; Memphis, Tenn. Midwest University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio. West Hunstman Center, Ogden, Utah. First/Second-Round SItes (March 17 & 19) East Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, N.Y. Southeast Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee, Fla. Midwest Erwin Special Events Center, Austin, Tex. West Boise State Pavillion, Boise, Idaho. Southeas West Regional East Midwest Final Fou April I Nz April 3 NE t Birmingham Civic Center, Birmingham, Ala. Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland. Sites (March 24 & 26) Meadowlands Arena, E. Rutherford, N.J. Kemper Arena, St. Louis. r ational semifinals Seattle ational championship I m p L-. 0 U U.E'~l.A[E ROLLEwRBL .,A DEscn c UK*TE MAML P 1T1ITM ~ GET/,J RE A~h _ _ _ _ W I N. ,,. I i s u ::.1 9 .._> ; _, Start thinking about WINTER Basketball, Racquetball, Paddle Free Throw Contest, Swimm Relays Meet, Mini-Soccer, Voll Broomball, Cross Cc OFFICIATING OPP PRE-SEASON BROOMBALL clinic begins PRE-SEASON BASKETBALL clinic WINTER TERM OFF Basketball, Mini-Soccer, Voll For additional information concerning IM activities and officiating Buy Rollerblade skates with Rollerbiade protective gear and receive a ten dollar mail-in rebate. Fill out a sweepstakes entry form and enter to win a sporty new 1995 Geo Metro LSi Coupe or LSi Sedan! 37 Air Strong. 330S. Stat. "761-7615 ARlerMade Gee. Hnn Orbor Cydlery 1224 Packard 761-2749 UL FILE PHOTO/Daily The Wolverines will be counting on Ray Jackson to provide scoring more than ever this season. w 4 f S k ' "? . , k f ' ' t. M r i . G : .