Before They Fathered Star Athletes . . .

As you can imagine, some of the players now starring for city leagues' teams are the sons of
guys who also starred. Since I'm ancient (smile), I wrote stories about them during their high
school careers.
We hope you enjoy this new feature (a takeoff of Before They Drew X's and O's).
Would you like to see a story about someone who starred in the Public, Catholic or Inter-Ac
leagues and now has a son doing likewise (assuming I did one on him)? Send me a note at
silaryt@phillynews.com.
Thanks,
Ted

This story concerns Dobbins point guard Doug Overton, our City
Player of the Year for the 1986-87 season. Doug's son, Miles, now stars
at St. Joseph's Prep under the guy who was Doug's coach at La Salle
University, William "Speedy" Morris.

A SPEEDY DECISION
OVERTON PICKS LA SALLE TO PLAY UNDER MORRIS

Dec 24, 1986

By TED SILARY, Daily News Sports Writer

A fellow recently called Speedy Morris in an attempt to turn on La Salle University's first-year basketball coach to a potential recruit.

The pitch began, "This kid can't play for Villanova, but I really feel . . . "

"I knew the guy had good intentions," Morris said, "but I had to stop him. I said, 'Don't bother to tell me anything about him. ' I mean, why would I want a guy who can't play at Villanova? If we're going to compete against the Villanovas - and the St. Joe's and Temples, too - I have to get the same kind of athletes and players that they do. "

Monday, Morris did exactly that when Doug Overton , a 6-3, 175-pound lead guard from Murrell Dobbins Tech, made an oral commitment to continue his career at La Salle. And yesterday, when Overton ticked off his reasons, he ranked the presence of Morris as a solid No. 1.

"Speedy's being there made the difference for me," Overton said. "I received some mail from La Salle (before Morris's appointment), and even two years ago, (assistant) Joe Mihalich said they'd be back to recruit me as a senior. But I can't say I had much interest in La Salle. My pop's house is only about five minutes from there, but I was never much of a La Salle fan. "

Overton originally intended to wait until after the season to tip his hand, but said that "La Salle kept ringing in my head. " He had made official visits in the fall to Rutgers and Southern Cal, as well as an unofficial one to Villanova.

The Wildcats, in all honesty, considered Overton a peripheral recruit. Fellow Big East members Boston College and Connecticut had come hot and heavy, however, along with Rutgers, Northeastern and Loyola Marymount, where former Dobbins stars Greg "Bo" Kimble and Eric "Hank" Gathers are sitting out the season as transfers from Southern Cal.

Overton is averaging 11.5 points, 8.8 assists and 3 steals per game for the 7-1 Mustangs, who suffered their first loss last Sunday, against Oak Hill (Va.) Academy in the final of the Pepsi-Cola Tournament. A four-year varsity performer, he started at wing guard when Dobbins won its first-ever Public League basketball championship in 1985.

Do not be alarmed that Overton's current statistics fail to jump off the page. His game is one that is most appreciated by the true basketball connoisseur, one who feels that headiness and defensive tenacity are next to godliness.

"The way I like to describe Doug," said Dobbins coach Rich Yankowitz, who is in his 16th season, "is that he doesn't do anything great, but he does everything very well. Also, Doug and Horace Owens (a 1979 Dobbins player who later starred at Rhode Island) are the two nicest players, with talent, I've coached. "

Overton knows full well that going from "Yank" to Speedy is like switching from one fireball to another.

"I hear Speedy's a crazy coach, and I've seen him go crazy," Overton said, laughing. "Counting Yank and John Hardnett, my coach in the Sonny Hill League, I've been playing for crazy coaches a long time. Yank's been known to throw a few tantrums, even throw a few chairs. Whatever Speedy does won't affect me.

"What I like about him most is his honesty. When he came to see me play in the summertime, in the Greater Philadelphia League, he didn't just tell me, 'Oh, boy, you're a great player. ' Hey, I didn't want to hear that. I've only been a point guard for so long (two seasons). I know I'm lacking in certain areas, that there are things I have to work on. Speedy told me what I had to do to improve. When someone tells you that, you know they're sincere.

"Speedy came to a lot of our games. He said I was their No. 1 guard recruit. Any player would love to hear a coach say that. When I heard how much interest he had in me, that led me to have more interest in La Salle. "

Big 5 followers should find it intriguing that Morris has successfully recruited the 1986 City Player of the Year - Southern forward Lionel Simmons - and the fellow who stands a reasonably good chance of winning the award in 1987.

Yankowitz and Southern coach Mitch Schneider greatly admired Morris during his 14 seasons at Roman Catholic (1968 to '81). There is no doubting that Speedy, in large part, has pulled off these two coups because of his reputation.

And the question must be asked: Can other local stars be on their way to La Salle?

"Certainly, I don't think many coaches tell their kids where to go," Morris said, "but I'm sure some of them advise their kids. As I always say, except for getting married, picking a college is probably the most important decision a kid will ever make. At Roman, I never told a kid to go a certain school. But I sure said, 'Don't go there,' if I thought a place wasn't right for whatever reason.

"I have a lot of respect for Yank and Mitch, and I think the feeling is mutual. People know that I'm honest, that I look out for my kids, that I don't try to mislead anybody. When their kids said they were going to La Salle, I'm sure they could feel comfortable about that. "

Right about now, Overton's mother, Linda, is as relieved as she is comfortable. Ditto for Overton's father, Doug Sr.

"My pop lives around 20th and Stenton and my mom lives up in Cheltenham," Overton said. "I was getting phone calls at both places. I couldn't escape. Things were getting a little hectic.

"La Salle was such a definite to me, I said, 'Ah, why not do it now?' "