Freshman sensation? Not yet

By Monty Phan

Arizona Daily Wildcat

"Socks" Terry?

No, it's not a misprint, but it is a reference to the original "Socks," the Phoenix Suns' Elliott Perry, the pint-size point guard who filled in for the injured Kevin Johnson last season. But if the Arizona basketball team needs a high-wearing white-stockinged sparkplug of its own this season, freshman guard Jason Terry may be it.

Just ask sophomore forward Michael Dickerson, who, while at Federal Way (Wash.) High School, twice played against Terry's school, Franklin High in Seattle.

"He's the best dribbler on the team," Dickerson said. "There's no question he's the best dribbler on the team. And he's quick. Only thing I see that he needs to do is just gain a little more weight. He's capable of playing on this level right now."

At the moment, however, the freshman is going to have to wait his turn. Senior Reggie Geary currently has the job, and rightfully so. Last season, Geary started at shooting guard, but subbed for All-American Damon Stoudamire when he needed a breather. But his qualifications don't end there.

"When Damon and Khalid (Reeves, 1993 graduate) were here, sometimes Reggie would run the point against those two," head coach Lute Olson said. "Leadership-wise, Reggie's a natural. He's a guy that can lead by example, but he's also very vocal."

Olson said for now, Terry will be the understudy, playing at point when Geary needs rest. That means sophomore Miles Simon will probably play the role of "emergency" point guard Ÿ and, he said, that's how he likes it.

"If I have to play point, I have to play point, but that's not going to be where I start at," Simon said. "I'll be the shooting guard. If Reggie's in foul trouble and Coach calls on me to play point, that's my job. I'll play point."

Simon did say, though, that Terry has been impressive in the pickup games leading up to the first day of practice.

"He's probably the best ball-handler (on the team)," Simon said. "He handles the ball really well. But I think preseason and practice is going to be a lot different than pickup ball. People will start playing a lot harder now."

But is he ready to be the next Damon Stoudamire? Geary said not so fast.

"That's still to be determined," he said. "He's young, he's got a long way to go physically, maturity-wise. Our motto is 'Get in where you fit in.' If he fits in, I hope he gets along."

Last year at this time, that's what the team was saying about Dickerson. And if what is being said this year about him is any indication, he may be exactly what the coaches hoped he'd be when they recruited him.

Last season, Geary called Dickerson his "project," taking the quiet forward under his wing. Geary said that won't change this season.

"I'm going to stay on Mike," he said. "Mike's still going to be picked on. He's a tremendous ballplayer. As soon as he gets the little things down, he's just going to blow McKale (Center) right up."

"Michael has the ability to score in a lot of different ways," Olson said. "He's a slasher, but also a good perimeter shooter. He's someone that can play anywhere in the three-man mix."

And with the "three-man mix" Ÿ the two guard spots and the shooting forward position Ÿ settled, that leaves the two frontcourt roles.

Enter seniors Ben Davis and Joseph Blair. With last season's troubles out of the way, Davis, who missed the first eight games due to academic ineligibility and the NCAA Tournament because of NCAA violations, said he's anxious to get back on the court.

"I think we'll be a lot faster this year," Davis said. "Last year everybody used to give Damon the rock and Damon was great so we all wanted to watch the 'Damon Stoudamire Show.'"

Blair said he's ready to step into the leadership role. But, he said, just in case one of the other guys go down Ÿ like Geary, Terry, Simon ... Ÿ he's ready to step in.

"I'll play wherever I'm needed. If I need to distribute the rock, bring the ball up, I can do that," Blair said, jokingly. "I've been working on my handles."

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