Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: McLinton aims high for Terps Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 15:11:15 EST Message-ID: \SE D;SPORTS;COLLEGES \HD McLinton aims high for Terps \BY Dave Mackall \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES And some people said Maryland's Kevin McLinton couldn't play basketball in the ACC. If averaging 20.3 points, 8.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds in three games against two-time national champion Duke last season wasn't succeeding in perhaps the nation's toughest conference, McLinton must have been mighty lucky. In Durham, for example, he had 25 points and 11 assists in the Terps' 91-89 loss. "When you prove somebody wrong, all of a sudden everybody's in your corner," McLinton said. "It kind of makes me smile." McLinton - son of the late Harold McLinton, a longtime Washington Redskins linebacking stalwart - is counted on to add stability to a Maryland team laden with underclassmen. The 6-foot-3 guard from Silver Spring is one of only three seniors available to fourth-year coach Gary Williams in his first season of eligibility for postseason play at Maryland and is likely to play both the point and off-guard positions. "Kevin played half the year at two-guard and half at the point," Williams said. "He's big now [217 pounds], and we play three guards a lot anyway. If you can play the point, you can certainly play the two wings if you're big enough - and Kevin's certainly big enough. With [freshman] Duane Simpkins playing - if he plays - you don't want to take Kevin out." McLinton also might see more time at shooting guard if Johnny Rhodes, another freshman who has been heralded as possibly the best backcourt prospect in the country, develops at the point. "When I came in, I wasn't looked upon to do much and neither was our team," McLinton said. "But now we have a chance to do a lot of things, like go to the NCAA tournament, and I want to be a big part of it." McLinton came to Maryland in 1989 after leading Springbrook High School to a 43-6 record over his final two seasons and a state championship in 1987-88. His freshman season at Maryland - Williams' first - ended in the seventh game when he suffered a stress fracture in his left leg after breaking into the starting lineup. Then the probation hit and Maryland was under wraps for two years with sanctions that banned the Terps from postseason play and national television appearances. Although McLinton played well, improving each year and averaging 11.8 points, 5.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds last season, there was really nothing to play for except pride. "But now it means something," he said. "We have a big-time goal. You're going to see a whole different brand of basketball from the Terps this year because everything means something. You're going to see a whole lot of diving on the floor and pressure defense - maybe a lot of things you saw last year but with a lot more intensity." Terps women sign guard - The Terps women's program announced that Tammy Brown, a 5-8 guard from Anne Arundel Community College, has signed a national letter of intent. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM