Heath Needs Help From Freshmen
Wednesday, August 7, 2002
Column By Harry King
Arkansas News Bureau/RazorbackCentral
Impressive on the basketball court, Eric Ferguson sold himself to Arkansas' new basketball coach with a couple of words off the court.
"He told me that one of his favorite players was Mateen Cleaves and he liked to play that way," Stan Heath said. "So, I'm hoping I get bang for my buck."
Heath was an assistant at Michigan State in 2000 when Cleaves decided to pass up NBA money and return for his senior year. In the NCAA final against Florida, he didn't miss on three 3-pointers and scored 13 points as the Spartans built an 11-point lead. He turned his right ankle early in the second half and had to leave the floor to have it taped. But, he returned to help secure the 89-76 victory.
"He has the heart of a lion," said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, Heath's main mentor. "He has done it for four years, not just one."
A year earlier, Michigan State had lost to Duke in the Final Four.
"Normally, when a team wins a national championship, they have to have one of the best leaders in the college game," Heath said.
He mentioned Juan Dixon of Maryland last April, Shane Battier of Duke in 2001 and Corey Beck of Arkansas in 1994. "I thought that particular year, Corey Beck was the best leader in college basketball," Heath said.
It was Beck who went to the bench with his fourth foul in the semifinal game against Arizona and then found a spot next to Mike Anderson so that he could plead with Nolan Richardson's trusted assistant. Eventually, Anderson sold Richardson and Beck was everywhere during a rally that carried the Razorbacks past the Wildcats, 91-82. A couple of Beck's teammates later admitted they told him to stay away from the fifth foul and that they would help on his man. They knew they couldn't win without their point guard.
For the 6-foot-2 Ferguson and 6-foot-3 Kendrick Davis, there is no time for transition. They must play immediately.
Four Razorback guards were seniors last year. Plus, Charles Tatum — a true point guard — is probably out for the year with a knee injury. The only players returning in the backcourt are senior Blake Eddins and walk-on Jamar Blackmon. Ferguson will start the year as the point guard and Davis figures to be the first to replace him.
Heath wasn't hired until late March and there is a tendency to look twice at any basketball players signed so late in the process. Common wisdom says there should be nothing left but the dregs by that time.
"When I watched them play, I had no question in my mind that they could play," he said. "I just don't want to build the guys up too much."
Originally, Ferguson signed with Villanova. But, he did not qualify and spent last year at Milford Academy in Connecticut. He played high school ball in Hempstead, N.Y., and Heath said that New York toughness was a magnet. "That's his mentality," he said. "That was one of the things I was looking for in a guard."
Davis, out of Sugar Land, Texas, is more of a combination shooter-point guard. Three times last year, he topped 40 points in a game.
In Davis' case, Arkansas got awfully lucky.
Texas recruited the left-hander, but did not believe that he would be academically eligible. Instead, the Longhorns wanted him to walk on. That way, they could offer him a scholarship the following year. When Davis became eligible, Arkansas had a scholarship and an opening for a guard.
"I was really, really pleased and kind of surprised that two such quality players were available," Heath said. "You can look at some of the other schools that were recruiting those guys."
Ferguson was recruited by Oklahoma, North Carolina State, Providence and others and Davis was supposed to be a Longhorn.
Ferguson, with "E-Star" tattooed on a shoulder, is already on campus. So are Davis and the three signed by Richardson.
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