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Show y "njrygr lies Someone 'rgBrrr'iiirViri The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, March to Look Up To i ,r 5. 1978 It 3 - Binghams Roberts: True Tall Tale . By Roger Graves Tribune Sports Writer It is 7 oclock on a Friday night at Bingham High School. The Eldon Roberts family has the gymnasium surrounded. Dorothy Roberts, parent and first-clas- s fan, is scurrying about peddling game programs. Eldon Roberts, proud father and Booster Club piesident, slips into a Bingham tunes his trombone, journeys back to those good ol days, and joins the student pep band. Tom Roberts, a 6. foot-sophomore, pauses in the locker room to admire his varsity uniform. But it is Fred Roberts, a basketball showman, who the college scouts filing into the gy m inquire about. It is Fred Roberts who the 3,000-plu- s fans have come to see mainly because Roberts is a tall tale that is true. Adds New Dimension When Fred parked his size 16 shirt sleeves sneakers, and 40 inseam slacks at Bingham High, things were bound to change. Roberts instantly added a new dimension (or two) to an already tradition-ric- h program. He climbed the ladder quickly. As a sophomore, Roberts and still growing) (then compiled a 12.2 scoring average and begin to show glimpses of stardom. The flashes of brilliance came in closer segments during his junior season. Fred intimidated the opposition for 21.4 points per game and 13 rebounds. He was now and, you guessed it, still growing. I remember I was about 3 te 42-in- 6-- 2 his future became blurry. Literally blurry. "I woke up one morning and one side of my left eye was dark, it was black, Roberts it and I scratched recalls. rubbed it, but nothing happened. 1 told everyone on the baseball team I had glaucoma, and to throw the ball back easy. I couldnt hit a baseball and my depth perception was terrible." in the ninth grade, chuckled Roberts. But by the time I began my sophomore year I was I havent stopped growing since. Ive grown about an inch and a half or two inches every year since. But Ive done a lot of running to keep my coordination in tune with my 6-- growth. When I was young I saw all those big guys playing basketball who couldnt move around," continued Roberts. They were just big and clumsy. They couldnt dribble or anything. Theyd just stand underneath the basket and w'ait for the ball. I didnt want to be like them. I used to watch Cornbread Maxwell (a guard center who played for and North Carolina-Charlotte- ), I knew thats the way I wanted to be. Versatile Player Roberts is, indeed, cut from the same piece of cloth as Cornbread. When confronted with a press, Bingham will often clear out and Roberts, who was suffering from a detached retina, entered the hospital for corrective il of 1977. He surgery in missed the last half of the baseball season, meaning Bingham was without one of its finest pitchers. The doctor thought the eye would be back to normal after mid-Apr- 6-- 6 But it wasnt. Its Roberts. been gradually getting better, and its almost back to 100 percent now. His first day back he missed three straight free throws remembers Bingham coach George Sluga. I said to Fred, now you know what its like to be human like the rest of us. full-cou- rt allow Roberts said about six months, to dribble through the pressure. He even goes between his legs on the dribble a la Maravich, for he is a stylish tower of power whose trademark is versatility. Roberts connected on 63.4 percent of his field goals as a junior, fired a 84.9 percent from the free throw line and powered Bingham to a 24-- 1 season. Oh, by the way, the Miners took state home the Class championship last year, Fred was named Utahs Most Valuable Player, and the college basketball scouts were licking Senior Season Once Roberts returned to basketball full time, his injured left eye quickly regained its accuracy. And so did Fred. His senior season has surpassed even his own expectations. In 12 Region Two games, Roberts has amassed 317 points for a 26.4 scoring average. He also has yanked down an average of 13.2 rebounds, blocked four shots and dished out four assists per outing. His next stop is the state tournament, where Bingham could become the first school in Utah history to win 3-- their lips. But just when Roberts seemed to reach his pinnacle. back to back state titles in ferent classifications. dif- That would be something if we could win the 4-- champion- last ship after winning the year," assured Roberts. The coaches are a little better, the players are better, and you face a tough game every week in the TTiose are the basic differences. A 4-- that he has collected points in 70 games while wearing a Bingham uniform, Roberts has become the fox in the annual college basketball hunt for gifted players. And he is no stranger to the college game. Freds older brother, a Glen, i starting forward at Brigham Young University, and the entire Roberts family can be seen cheering the Cougars to victory when theyre not doing the same at Bingham. Now 1,340 Binghams Fred Roberts, a young man when it comes to scrambling down-to-ear- New Mexico and Kansas lead the league in sending me recruiting letters, said Fred, who has already filled his share I like to read all of mailbags. the mail and see what each college has to offer. A lot of recruiters dont even know who I am. I just get on their lists and they start mailing me letters. I havent even heard of some of the colleges that have sent me letters. DinNP rlVI P D pre-cu- t cedar this unlua Hama 1900 (,B Contractors south stati World Motor Hotal) homes. k for loose basketballs, ends up on floor during a Region Two game against Orem. th License School Itt. 1 969 AIR. Conahan Director Pott or Pay Nothing" Im looking for a college where Ill fit in and feel comfortable with the coaches and continued Roberts. players, My mother would like me to hurry and commit myself so the recruiters wont call and come by any more, but Im not ready. 531-166- 6 O Application Processing O 10 Hr. Exam Court Modal Opan from 1 2 Noon to 6 p.m. Prlcas from $6,500 to $22,500 PHONE: ftOYD CLAWSON, 4S7-7S0- 1 T CEDAR 100 HOMES PIONEER 1900 SO. STATE ST., SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 14115 In Tho Parking Lot At ttio WorM Motor Hotol Visa or MasterCharge O No Turn Down Credit Policy PRE-CU- Will Fred follow in his brothers footsteps and make BYU his college camp? There is a little magnetism pulling me toward BYU because Glen is there, agreed Fred. But I try to put that out of my mind and give all the schools equal consideration. d Im trying to be about Hie situation. BYU might have been right for Glen, but that doesnt mean its right for me. Size Problem? Like most young men who just happen to be Roberts has lived through his share of occupational hazards. He is always stooping to enter automobiles and walk through doorways, is constantly being mistaken for a weather man (Hows the weather up there, Fred?), and finding a young lady tall enough to dance with at the junior prom is no easy task. But Roberts accepts these discomforts Finding pants might be the most difficult thing for me, laughed. Fred. Pants long enough to fit me are hard to find. I usually have to have them tailor made. You can buy some pants long, but Im so skinny they dont fit." 451 S. 3rd East, Suits 110, Sett Uka open-minde- 4 WHEELER TIRES and White Spoka Whaals SPECIAL and Chroma Spoke WHEELS 1 21 6.5 Tiros All (At shown) Waathar Oaad Traction 00 Cap not U indudad y. All Now 1.70x1 5 Custom Stock Groat for $l n 95 Compact 4x4 Gazing into the future, Roberts might consider professional basketball, since his unusual combination of 'inside-outsid- e marksmanship and pinpoint passing would make him a valuable commodity as a big man. But perhaps not. Maybe Ill gain 50 pounds and play professional football after I graduate from college, said Roberts. I guess Id have to go against Too Tall Jones. Tribune Staff PhotM by John Reynolds Excuse me, Im coming through! Binghams Fred Roberts fights from Orem Highs Nathan Hyde to move to basket. off hand-chec- k Heres 4-- A wktotrec G State Slate defending Class e 'ctukm Theres that Fred Roberts charm. Now do you know why people will sell programs or even play in the band to see this young man play basketball? state champion three in succession. state titlist Bingham will be seeking a Defending place in the record books. And basketball powers like Olympus, Roy and Brighton will be chasing their first state championships in history, when the 1978 state tournament begins Monday and Tuesday at the University of Utah. Heres a glance at the first round matchups: MONDAY: 2:30 p.m. Brighton vs. Clearfield. 4:10 p.m. Roy vs. West. 6:30 p.m. Highland vs. Hillcrest. 8:10 p.m. Bingham vs. Sky View. TUESDAY: 2:30 p.m. Orem vs. Skyline. 4:10 p.m. Weber vs. Jordan. 6:30 p.m. East vs. Layton. 8:10 p.m. Olympus vs. Kearns. Two-tim- 5 As Shown 10-- 1 Full 4-- 4-P- Polyester ly WHITE WALLS Skyline will be gunning for 3-- A 600x12 A78xl3 878x13 078x14 560x15 iD78x14 178x14 $8995 F78xl4 078x14 6.00x15 078x15 4-- A H78x14 H78xl5 L78xl5 j 2 95 10995 2 FIBERGLASS BELTED LEASE DIRECT FOR Any unevrolet model car or pickup truck No Security Deposit Low monthly rentals WHITEWALL TIRES Llmltad Supply QjQuEGBCK) THIS GOCOIBSQfl 90a AVAILABLE "C3D 33260033 313ilP' (U2EKI3E Immediate delivery Duajne Brown Chevrolet Sales and Leasing still growing unstoppable, hopes Fred Roberts, and still f title to lead Bingham to crown in 77. after taking 4-- A 3-- A I 730 WEST 2100 SO. PH.972-841- 1 Salt Lake City ; Utah 84119 Txocoaxn (Baas |