North Carolina State University Athletics
Here's to the other seniors, as well
3/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 6, 2005
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH -- Not every contribution on a college basketball team comes from a first-team All-ACC player or an All-American. In fact, there likely would be no first-teamers if it weren't for the help and production of teammates.
So as NC State prepares to say good-bye to reigning ACC Player of the Year Julius Hodge in today's regular-season finale against Wake Forest, no one should forget about the three other seniors who will be playing their last basketball game today at the RBC Center: Jordan Collins, Levi Watkins and Will Roach.
Collins came to NC State from Hyattsville, MD, as a chubby center who weighed 286 pounds and carried more than 20 percent body fat on his 6-11 frame. He has slimmed down in his three years, and gone from a player who saw little action as a freshman to an important contributor as a senior starter.
Not only has he rebounded, blocked shots and played better defense, he has burned opponents with his outside shooting ability. He's hit a team-leading 45.7 percent from 3-point range, making 21 of 46 shots from beyond the arc.
Collins, the latest in a long line of former DeMatha Catholic High products to play for the Wolfpack, says he's just taking advantage of a defense's inability to cover the Wolfpack's spread offense.
"It's more or less, when opponents help out when our guards post up, I go outside," Collins said. "I spot up and most of the time I am wide open. I take my time and try to knock it down."
Making those shots has done wonders for Collins' confidence, Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek said.
"It has grown so much,'' Sendek said. "He has done a great job in becoming one of our positive, vocal leaders. Right now, he is as outspoken as any one we have on our team. We have seen tremendous growth in Jordan. I think it has a lot to do with his determination and ability to be an every-day guy and stick with things." Hodge added: "When he first came here. He was just like a little chubby guy with no strength. Now he is practice drop-stepping, dunking, getting rebounds, hitting the jumper."
It's been a somewhat trying career for Watkins. Much of his freshman season was wiped out when he suffered torn knee ligaments against Maryland, and he's been hobbled again this year with a knee sprain he suffered on Feb. 1. His minutes played declined to 12.2 per game, but Sendek says his contributions to the program have not changed.
"Even now, when he is hurt, Levi is very vocal," Sendek said. "The other day in practice, he was helping [freshma] Gavin Grant know where to go and what to do. He has been a real bedrock in terms of doing the right things, being a great leader, having the right work ethic.
"He has carried forth a set of values that reflect how we want to be represented as a basketball program. I know it has been very difficult on a personal level, he hasn't allowed that to get in the way of what he can contribute as a leader and the value he can add on our basketball team." Roach will attempt to remain low-key in his second final game at the RBC Center. He went through similar ceremonies this time last year, when he expected that he wouldn't return for his final year of eligibility.
But because he missed it - and because Sendek needed some extra bodies for game preparation - Roach returned to the roster in January, mainly so he could help in practice. But he'll take his notice again today when the seniors are announced.
"I think they have done a good job in carrying forward their own unique gifts and talents," Sendek said. "They have really fulfilled their roles very well, and represented us well both on and off the court. "It's really all relative when you say excelled the most. The key is, we are all blessed with different talents and gifts and that is good. I think each of those guys has brought forward what they do well and really helped our basketball program. Julius, Levi, Jordan and Will have all been really good for us in their own unique and special way."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
