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Show ln52!qP27 kss Thursday, December SI 1 3, 1 979 Page 21 Sfti3 fliQmS Slit By Keith Duncan Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harper, the parents of Weber States Todd Harper have a problem. The problem is finding the solution of how to be in two places at the same time. With their son Todd seeing more and more time on the hardwoods for Coach Neil McCarthy and the highly-regarde- d Wildcats and Todds brother getting better all the time in San Diego prep play, they need an answer. The parents, who are in Ogden this week for the big home stand Weber is facing, are watching their son come into his own for one of the top collegiate squads in America. As Coach McCarthy has stated, Todd will challenge for a starting role at either the big guard or small forward spot. Todd is a great outside shooter with sound fundamentals. He made a great contribution last year as a freshman, so we look for bigger things from him this year. Harper has yet to start this season but his game minutes probably stand equal or barely below the original five. The Wildcat sophomore showed a lot of savy last year while playing in 30 games, one as a starter, and averaged nearly seven points a game while playing an average of just 13 minutes a game. A highlight was his game high of 18 points in his first collegiat? outing against Although Todd calls San Diego his home where he earned his basketball laurels, Harper is in actuality a transplanted Utahn. He was born in Salt Lake City and his family is from the Ogden area. His parents lived in the Ogden area for several years before moving to California when Todd was a youngster. Mom and Dad have purchased season tickets and theyll probably be up for every game except one. They dont take vacations anymore, only to Ogden, Utah, said the 4 sophomore. Saved Room For More Harper felt the Wildcats recruited him the best and craning to Weber State filled his desire about playing for a four year quality basketball school program. There was nothing like stepping into a McCarthy headed basketball team and to take the Big Sky championship his first year here. The day he had his Big Sky Conference champion patch sewed on his jacket, he purposely had the seamstress leave room for three more of those patches. Harper doesnt expect to stop at just one. Because of Todd's great shooting ability and mental toughness, McCarthy has the luxury of being able to use Todd at either the big guard or small forward position and he fills the role of the swing man with on-cou-rt Alaska-Fairbank- 6-- s. 195-pou- well-organiz- eptness. He is seeing plenty of learning time behind Weber State great, Bruce Collins, but is expected to move into that big guard position the day Hi-- graduates. Exciting High School Days Harper played under coach Bart Hare at San Diegos Santana High where he earned All Conference honors three straight years. IDs senior season, Santana won the San Diego area championship. Harpers contribution was significant averaging 23.8 points a e 53 print outburst. game including a In his three years Todd accumulated 1,612 points establishing a new league career scoring mark formerly held by NBA greet Bill Walton. For his efforts, be was named the CIF Player e Year in San Diego. While participating in a BCI Tournament between his sophomore and junior seasons in Phoenix, Arizona, Todd first became familiar with Weber State as coaches looked at Ms play there. 1 had never even heard of Weber State while Bring in Salt Lake my first nine years, said Todd, But I love it here. Flrfiing and hurting are big with me and so is siding. All that had a lot to do with my coming beret' With San Diego, Stanford and Washington State, after Harpers services following high school graduation, Weber State fans have to thank Todds coach, Hare and Dick Hunsaker, a present Wildcat assistant for their efforts in getting Todd to Ogden. Hare Influenced the high school star' to try out C -- one-gam- of-tb- McCarthy's game philosophy over Sen Diego, and with WiiMfc bitag a eourin to Todd, that dkta't hurt matters. Con Ploy Better Of Weber SUtos first three years, Todd felt that the University of Utah fielded the best overall team, canfprUHy with the fikas of two didates in Danny Vranao and Scott Chambers. Against Utah State the first game, the Aggies simply played to thstr potential while we wore mediocre. I expect a lot better game tMs Thursday at ho said. 11 V $ "A '4? t TOCO HACKS is seeing more and more action those days, perhaps a preparation for bigger and bettor things to come. This shot was taken lost year in Big Sky Conference action ot the Doe Events Can- - |