FIRST TEAM

USA TODAY (pre-1997 Fulltext) – McLean, Va.
Date: Apr 16, 1987
Start Page: 07.C
Section: SPORTS

DENNIS SCOTT, Flint Hill, Oakton, Va., 6-7, Sr., G: Set school career record with 1,737 points. Led Falcons to 91-6 record over four seasons, including 41-0 in tournaments. Earned Most Valuable Player honors in 13 tournaments. Averaged 24.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 3.5 steals this season and shot 53.3 percent from the field. “Dennis is the best high school player I’ve ever coached,” Flint Hill coach Stu Vetter said. “I’ve coached a lot of great players at Flint Hill and in all-star games, but Dennis is superior. He’s one of the most versatile players I’ve ever seen.” Signed with Georgia Tech.

ERIC MANUEL, Southwest, Macon, Ga., 6-6, Sr., F: Called by veteran coach Don Richardson, who has coached NBA standouts Norm Nixon and Jeff Malone, “the most complete” player in school history. “He’s probaby the most unselfish player I’ve ever had, because you had to force him to shoot.” University of Kentucky signee averaged 24 points, 11.9 rebounds, six assists and four steals and shot 56 percent from the field.

RODNEY MONROE, St. Maria Goretti, Hagerstown, Md., 6-3, Sr., G: Set state career scoring record with 3,047 points (21.2 average) over four seasons. Averaged 27.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.4 steals this season. Converted 93.4 percent of fourth-quarter free throws, backing coach Cokey Robertson’s statement that he “is tremendous in the clutch.” Scored 47 points, including 60-foot game-winning shot as the buzzer sounded, to hand Baltimore Lake Clifton its only defeat. Signed with North Carolina State.

LaBRADFORD SMITH, Bay City, Texas, 6-4, Sr., G: One of the finest high school players in Texas history. Scored 2,990 points while leading Bay City to 125-8 record over four seasons, including one state Class 4A championship. Averaged 26.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 4.5 steals this season. Bay City was 31-5, losing three games when he was out with a sprained ankle. Had single-game high of 48 points. Signed with University of Louisville.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MARCUS LIBERTY, Martin Luther King, Chicago, 6-7, Sr., F: Led team with two freshman starters to runner-up spot in Illinois Class AA tournament. Set two state-tournament records – 41 points in championship game and 143 points in final four games. Averaged 27.7 points, 12 rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals for 28-5 team. Shot 64 percent from field and 79 percent from the free-throw line. His 915 points this season set the school record, passing Efrem Winters. Signed with University of Illinois, where Winters also played.

[Illustration] EAR PHOTO FIRST;color,Steve Falk(SP,Marcus Liberty,F1);PHOTO,color,Dean Curtis,USA TODAY(SP,Dennis Scott,S);PHOTO;color,Joe Stewardson(SP,Eric Manuel,F1);PHOTO;; color,Charlie Archambault(SP,Rodney Monroe,F1);PHOTO;color,Bill Baptist(SP,LaBradford Smith,F1);PHOTO,color,Steven M. Falk(SP,Marcus Liberty,F2)
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DENNIS SCOTT, Flint Hill, Oakton, Va., 6-7, Sr., G: Set school career record with 1,737 points. Led Falcons to 91-6 record over four seasons, including 41-0 in tournaments. Earned Most Valuable Player honors in 13 tournaments. Averaged 24.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 3.5 steals this season and shot 53.3 percent from the field. “Dennis is the best high school player I’ve ever coached,” Flint Hill coach Stu Vetter said. “I’ve coached a lot of great players at Flint Hill and in all-star games, but Dennis is superior. He’s one of the most versatile players I’ve ever seen.” Signed with Georgia Tech.

EAR PHOTO FIRST;color,Steve Falk(SP,[MARCUS LIBERTY],F1);PHOTO,color,Dean Curtis,USA TODAY(SP,Dennis Scott,S);PHOTO;color,Joe Stewardson(SP,[ERIC MANUEL],F1);PHOTO;; color,Charlie Archambault(SP,[RODNEY MONROE, St],F1);PHOTO;color,Bill Baptist(SP,LaBradford Smith,F1);PHOTO,color,Steven M. Falk(SP,Marcus Liberty,F2)