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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1998)
Harvey producing for NU By Andrew Strnad Staff Reporter If the Nebraska baseball team was a business, Ken Harvey would be the CEO. The Cornhusker first baseman has been the biggest source of capital so far this season for the Huskers, leading the team in 10 offensive cate gories. Harvey is batting .408, and has slugged out seven homers, while dri ving in 27 runs. The Beverly Hills, Calif., native also won the Huskers’ only confer ence game thus far, with a 10th inning home run against Kansas State. While Harv ey recognizes his run producing capabilities in the lineup, the sophomore admitted he’s a long way from maximizing his talents. “There's always room for improvement in baseball,” Harvey said. “1 have to learn to be patient and learn to get deeper into the count and draw more walks instead of being so aggressive.” He has only drawn six walks in 98 at bats this season, while striking out 15 times - but his on-base percentage (.431) is third-best on the club. Harvey and the Huskers (13-12 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12 Conference) will be put to the test again tonight at 7 when they begin a three-game series against 13th ranked Texas A&M (29-11 and 12-6) at Buck Beltzer Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon. fcfc I'm not the guy that does all of the talking. ... I just do my job at the plate." Ken Harvey NU first baseman Standing at 6 feet 2 and weighing 230 pounds, Harvey hopes to be drafted in the Major League Baseball amateur draft, but insisted that it is the furthest thing from his mind. Collegiate players are not allowed to be drafted until after their junior sea son. “I understand that I have the talent to get drafted, but I don’t really think about it right now,” Harvey said. “We're too busy trying to play ball, and that’s what’s most important right now.” Harvey said he wasn’t drafted out of high school because of a rotator cuff injury he suffered while pitching when he was 13. Last year, Harvey impressed scouts and teammates alike with a strong performance in Big 12 games. Harvey hit an eye-popping .481, which was 75 points better than any body in the conference. One teammate who noticed Harvey's talents was junior shortstop Bryan Schmidt. “Last year you could see the potential he had, especially in the sec ond half,” Schmidt said. “He was dominant.” Harvey hit .388, with five homers and 28 RBIs in his freshman cam paign. His freshman batting average and slugging average of .641 were both school bests for freshmen. Not only has Harvey improved from his freshman season, but Schmidt said he’s noticed changes in Harvey off the field. “When we came back from Christmas, I could see that he grew as a person,” Schmidt said. “Last year he would be rattled if we were picking on him or making fun of him. This year he’s real calm, settled down, he does his job, and it’s tremendous.” Now that he’s a sophomore, and one of the team's biggest threats, Harvey is beginning to assume some what of a leadership role. Harvey said his leadership does n’t come from his mouth, but from his bat, where he feels he's more effec tive. “I’m not the guy that does all of the talking. That would be Bryan Schmidt,” Harvey said. “I just do my job at the plate.” Schmidt welcomes the role as the team’s vocal leader, and at times becomes Harvey’s spokesperson. “He told me one time, ‘Schmidty, the one thing I like about you is everything I want to say, you do say.”' Schmidt said. CHRIS BENDET/DN NU FIRST BASEMAN Ken Harvey leads the Cornhuskers in 10 offensive cat egories this season. After having a doubleheader rained out Wednesday, NU plays host to 13th-ranked Texas A&M tonight at 7. Texas recruit signs By Sam McKewon Senior Reporter The Nebraska men's basketball team added another player to its list of 1998 recruits Thursday by way of the Lone Star State. Louis Truscott, a 6-foot-7, 190 pound forward out of Milby High School in Houston became the third player to sign with the Cornhuskers after considering Louisville and Lamar. Truscott joins 6-4, 205-pound guard Rodney Fields of Tyler Junior College as the second recruit out of Texas. The other recruit is 6-9, 215 pound forward David Murray of Mesa (Ariz.) Junior College. Both Fields and Murray signed in the fall. Named the No. 63 high school prospect by Hoop Scoop magazine, Truscott averaged 17.2 points and 11.1 rebounds for 26-4 Milby. NU Coach Danny Nee said Truscott is an exciting player who could contribute right away. He s the type or player who can help you in a number of ways,” Nee said. “He can run the floor well and is an excellent leaper” Truscott has the qualifying test score on his college entrance exam but still must receive the qualifying grades to be eligible next season. If anyone’s selling the idea that Nebraska will suffer after losing point guard Tyronn Lue, Fields isn’t buying. Fields said he sees Nebraska mak ing a big move in college basketball next season, despite losing Lue. “Everything ran through Tyronn last season because he was such a great player,” Fields said. “Next year every body has to step it up, including me. If we do that, we could be a great team.” Fields originally wanted to play for the Huskers out of high school in Tampa, Fla., but went to Tyler because of academic problems. In two years, Tyler Coach Kyle Keller said, Fields has turned into a complete player. “He's improved by leaps and bounds, especially in shooting,” Keller said. “He's a great finisher, and he com petes on every possession.” After averaging 15 points, six rebounds and three assists per game for Tyler (15-17) last season. Fields said he will arrive in Lincoln this summer to learn the offense. That time can’t come soon enough, Fields said. “Playing m Texas for two years has wore on me a little bit,” Fields said. “1 just want to get a little time in this sum mer.” For Murray, Nebraska is a long way from his origins in the Bronx, N.Y. Mesa Coach Joedy Gardner described Murray as a “quiet kid” with an immense upside. 1 his kid can really run the tloor, Gardner said. “He fits Nebraska well. His athletic tools are incredible.” Gardner said Murray, who picked NU over Rutgers, Xavier and Fresno State, averaged 16.5 points, 15 rebounds and 3.2 blocks last season and shot 66 percent from the field. The only concern with Murray is his weight. At 215 pounds, Murray will have to gain weight to be effective at Division I, Gardner said. “There’s no dorm system here in Mesa, so David lives on junk food - 99 cent hamburgers, if he can get them,” Gardner said. “That’s not going to keep any weight on.” Nebraska is continuing to look for a point guard to replace Lue. After sign ing Truscott, NU is now at the 13 scholarship limit and would need a cur rent Husker player to transfer if it added a point guard. The Huskers are still m the running for Lamont Perry, a point guard out of Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Calif. Lafleur steps up as new punter By LisaVonnahme Staff Reporter Bill Lafleur has been waiting for this year all his life. A senior from Norfolk, Lafleur is ready to make the most of his final year at Nebraska. Lafleur has finally earned what he's wanted since he came here in 1994: a starting posi tion on the football team. Lafleur, who holds the Cornhusker performance-index record for the punter position, will replace departing senior Jesse Kosch as the punter for the 1998 season. “I guess since the day I got here the goal has been to start,” Lafleur said. “Now it’s really more of a focus than a thought.” Lafleur’s three-year experience as backup to Kosch will play an important role in his transition from second string to starter. And Lafleur, who booted one punt 40 yards last year, is confident he can make the transition smoothly. “When Kosch started and I backed him up, I phased into the backup role,” Lafleur said. “I knew that if he got hurt or couldn’t play for some reason I could step in. I think the coaches had confidence in me. They thought - and I knew -1 could do a good job if he went down.” Kickers Coach Dan Young shared Lafleur’s confidence. “Bill will do real well,” Young said. “He’s got a very strong leg, and he probably has more distance than Jesse. Bill is a competitor and an ath lete. He’s got everything we’re look ing for.” Last year, Lafleur said he knew he was next in line as punter and saw his opportunity coming. Now that Lafleur has secured a starting posi tion, he said he feels more pressure has been placed upon him. Lafleur said last season during practice, Young would remind him to be ready for the starting position this year. Those reminders motivated Lafleur to focus on football more. He spent a lot of time during the win ter lifting and working on condition ing drills. “I’d like to say I've been working hard before,” Lafleur said. “This year is my year. This is the last year I'm going to have, and I’m trying to put everything I have into every practice.” Having played in two games last year, Lafleur’s mam oosiacie - next fall will be his lack of game experi ence. But senior place kicker Kris Brown said L a f 1 e u r should be able to handle the job. “By the time we play our first foot ball game he’ll have played in numerous scrimmages,” Brown said. “He’s not going to total ly go out and be thrown into the fire with out any game experience. Brown, who owns nearly every place-kicking record at Nebraska, returns for his final year as well. Last season, Brown was second on the team in scoring with 116 points. “It’s going to take a little time for the special teams to get adjusted,” Brown said. "But that’s what spring football is all about - getting the cob webs worked out so we’re ready for the fall.” The special teams will have a lot of transitions to deal with this sea son, including a new snapper, holder and punter, Young said. “We’ve got enough good athletes who care about playing on special teams,” Young said. “They know the importance of special teams, and I’m sure we’ll be as good as we’ve always been.” Returning specialists [ Players listed according to spring depth chart (statistics from 1997) Kicker Ht. Wt. Yr. Field Goals PAT Kris Brown 5-10 205 Sr. 18/21 62/62 Dan Hadenfeldt 5-11 200 Jr. 0/0 2/2 Punter Ht. Wt. Yr. Punts Yards Bill Lafleur 5-11 200 Sr. 1 40 Dan Hadenfledt 5-11 200 Jr. 0 0 Kick Returner Ht. Wt. Yr. Returns Avg. Joe Walker 5-10 200 So. 15 25.9 Shevin Wiggins 5-11 200 Sr. 9 27.0 Kenny Cheatham 6-4 210 Sr. 1 23.0 Punt Returner Ht. Wt. Yr. Returns Avg. Shevin Wiggins C 5-11 200 Sr. 19 11.6 Lance Brown 5-11 190 Sr. 3 9.0 Bobby Newcombe 6-0 195 So. 12 20.3 Kicker: Frankie London Snapper: Dominic Raiola, Russ Hochstein Letterwinners lost: Jesse Kosch (P), Ted Retzlaff (K), Kyle Henson (snapper), Brandon Drum (snapper). Jon Frank/DN