Conference USA report

SportsLine Report
June 5, 2000

A Glance at 2001

If things go according to Rick Lutz's blueprint, there will be changes all around at UNC-Charlotte.

For starters, the 49ers will not rely so heavily on sharpshooters Diego Guevara and Jobey Thomas, refining their offense so there is more inside-outside balance.

Now they can only hope this helps them return to the NCAA Tournament after a mediocre season that landed them in the NIT.

Besides their backcourt, the Niners are hoping that one of their four returning centers can provide some inside punch. Perhaps that will come from freshman forward Tory Reed, but it has to come from somewhere if the 49ers hope to get better.

Lutz hopes the signing of a pair of 6-10 junior-college transfers, Jermaine Williams and Malik El-Tamer, will pay off. If nothing else the duo will provide some bulk inside and will stop teams from extending their defenses against the 49ers' shooters.

The Coach

In his two years of stalking UNC-Charlotte's sideline, Lutz has maintained the program's success while doing a commendable job recruiting. Although last year fell short of expectations, he has proven he can win in Charlotte.

Who'll Be Back

One of conference's best backcourts returns in Guevara and Thomas, but the 49ers also have some good role players coming back. Junior forward James Zimmerman led the team in steals, while sophomore swingman Dalonte Hill will be counted on to make more big shots.

Meanwhile, someone from the quartet of sophomore Kenny Whitehead and juniors Wade Helliwell, KenKay Jones and Jonathan Neely must develop their games during this offseason.

Who'll Be Gone

Charlotte loses three players, but none will be tougher to replace than senior forward Jason Gardiner. He started 66 straight games before missing the NIT tilt with a groin injury, averaging 12.1 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Otherwise, the 49ers lose fan favorite and 5-11 guard Kedric Smith, not to mention four-year walk-on Chris Dwiggins.

Key Newcomers

PF Tory Reed (6-8, 240, Fr.): Rated among the nation's top power forward prospects, he played ball last year at Milford (Conn.) Academy. Well-built player who doesn't budge easily off the blocks, he should get some minutes right away if he is eligible.

SF Kevin Johnson (6-7, 200, Fr.): Nicknamed "Butter" because he plays a smooth game, he was a teammate of Reed's at Milford Academy. One of the top swingman recruits, he can also play point guard in a pinch. Signed early with the 49ers, picking them over a slew of other major Division I programs. He could start from the get-go.

Jermaine Williams (6-10, 225, Jr.): Averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds at San Jacinto Junior College in 1998-99. He added two blocks a game and shot 58 percent from the floor and 71percent from the free throw line. He sat out last season for academic reasons.

Malik El-Tamer (6-10, 235, Jr.): Averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots last season at Casper Junior College in Wyoming. He played at Centralia Junior College in Washington in 1997-98 before serving in the German Military for one year.

Cam Stephens (6-8, 200, Jr.): Originally signed with Purdue, played last year at Vincennes University and helped that team to a fifth-place finish in the national junior college tournament.

Rodney White (6-8, 230, Fr.): He originally signed with the 49ers in 1998, but had to return to school to finish course work after not making it past the NCAA clearinghouse. At Newport Prep in 1998-99, White averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and shot 52 percent from the floor. He averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds at George Washington High School in Denver, Colo. before attending Newport Prep.