Amonett
WestContributing Reporter
Amonett
West
Stringfellow
Wilson
After a stellar 1994-95 season which included an ACC Championship and an Associated Press final national ranking of three, the Demon Deacon basketball team has established a strong precedent for victory. The future of Deacon hoops, and the task of maintaining this newfound perennial basketball powerhouse, rests in the hands of the "future four" -- this year's freshman class.
To Head Coach Dave Odom, half of his recruiting this year was seemingly all a dream about Tennessee. His "Tennessee twosome" of Joseph Amonett, a 6-5 freshman from Byrdstown, Tenn., and Rodney West, a 6-10, 210-pound freshman from Oneida, Tenn., look to add both shooting ability and strength to the Deacon lineup.
Amonett, who averaged 33.5 points per game as a senior for Pickett County High School, led his team to a 35-3 record and a Class A state championship last season. As a senior he was awarded Player of the Year honors in Tennessee by USA Today.
Amonett is a versatile performer, combining an excellent jumper with the ability to be a defensive force. This Deacon freshman is the most likely of his class to contribute significantly to the team in his first season at either the small forward or big guard position, but regardless of his immediate impact he wants to assist the team in seeking victory.
"I'm not sure what my roll will be this year," Amonett said. "I just want to contribute any way possible, whether it be in practice or in games."
West's ability to play effectively in the high post and his mental and physical toughness are factors that will help him play big in the ACC, although Odom's immediate plans are to redshirt him this season. His teammates are contributing to his progress. "I think working with the older guys will help me out a lot overall," West said.
Although he was slowed by various physical ailments in his high school basketball career, West managed to average 18 points, 12 boards and five blocks per game in his senior season. At the conclusion of his high school career, he had amassed over 500 blocked shots, and he should prove to be a veritable force in the near Demon Deacon future.
Probably the best pure athlete in the freshman class is William Stringfellow, a 6-8, 208-pound freshman from Austin, Texas. "Strings," as he is known by his friends and invariably soon enough by the nation, presents the ACC with an explosive package of size, athleticism and quickness.
"I'm a person who likes to go hard," Stringfellow said. "I like to rebound." The Deacon fans should look for Stringfellow to be a prolific rebounder and shot blocker, as he averaged 14 boards, seven swats and 18 points a game his senior year at Anderson High School. He has high expectations for the success of his team this season, and although his role has yet to be defined, he said: "My personal goal for the season is to play as hard as I possibly can."
Rounding out the freshman class is Armond Wilson, a 6-2 point guard from Laurel, Miss. Wilson is recognized for his ball handling skills and floor presence, and with his innate leadership abilities he may be a crucial asset in the seasons to come. This freshman Deacon is a playmaker and a winner, who averaged 14.8 points and six assists as a senior at Northeast Jones High School. In his junior season he led his high school to the class 4-A state championship. Wilson is a hard worker, and a team-oriented individual.
"I'm here to do what coach (Odom) wants," Wilson said. "If he wants me to score, I'll score. If he wants me to dish the ball, I'll dish it."
The "Future Four" is a class of freshman loaded with talent and a desire to win, and all are intent on succeeding in the ACC. Judging from their athletic abilities and past histories, it appears as though they will be capable of meeting the high expectations that surround their class and the institution of Demon Deacon Basketball.