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Gus Gerard: 'I'd Really Love Playing Forward!'

Profile

By BILL BERNO

Gus Gerard is a big man in
many ways for the Cavalier
basketball program, but the
easy-going second-year man
isn't overwhelmed by the
pressures upon him.

When asked about the
'Basketball is my life'
philosophy, Gus smiled and
replied. "No, that's not my
total attitude. That's probably
the only reason I came to
college, because I got a
basketball scholarship. It's
something I look forward to,
but I like to have fun. No,
basketball isn't my life."

Gus has maintained his
relaxed attitude despite the
fact that he has flirted with the
pinnacle of the basketball
world ever since he played on
the ninth grade team.

At Laurel Highlands High
School in Uniontown, Pa., the
lanky leaper was an All-State
and All-American pick. He
played on the championship
team in the Dapper Dan
Roundball Classic, which
features the outstanding high
school players in the nation.

Considered one of the top
prospects in the East, Gus
received applications from
"over 150 schools. I didn't
send many in, except to ACC
schools. I was either going to
go here or to North Carolina."

A high school teammate of
Cav co-captain Jim Hobgood,
Gerard talked about making
the decision. "I liked Jim a lot. I
visited here, and through him I
got to meet the four seniors
(Scott McCandlish, Tim Rash,
Frank DeWitt, and Chip
Miller), and I liked them. I met
Coach Gibson at one of his
summer camps."

Gus is happy with his
choice. "I'm glad I came. It's
been about what I expected.
Jim told me a great deal about
it before I came."

The summer months can
help a player immensely, and
Gerard is a prime example.
"I've gone to camps every
summer since my sophomore
year. I like to go to camps, but
our high school has a
playground recreation program
and we get to be supervisors
there."

Does pro basketball have a
part in the future? "That's the
first thing I'd like to do. If I
can't make it here, then in
Europe."

In the immediate future, he
commented, "I want to get
into the Education School
because if I don't make it in
the pros, I'd like to coach. I'd
like to coach and teach."

Speaking unabashedly
about his uninspired classroom
work, Gus remarked, "Until I
get in the Education School, I
don't care too much about the
other stuff. And basketball
takes a lot of time."

Barry Parkhill has described
Gerard as a "white Julius
Erving," an opinion which has
earned Gus the nickname 'Dr.
G'. Jumping at the opportunity
to talk about Erving, Gus
bubbled, "He's definitely one
of my idols. He has fun out
there. He plays so loose. That's
the way I felt Saturday (when
he scored 20 points against
Wake Forest)."

Known for his jumping
ability, Dr. G talked about his
rebounding style. "We have to
make sure to box out. I try to
check my man for a second."
He added confidently, "If I'm
going against someone my size,
I can out-jump him."

Gus nearly hit the ceiling
when the idea of playing
forward in coming years was
mentioned. With a wide smile
and bright eyes, he said, "Oh,
yeah, I'd really love playing
forward."

CD/Dan Grogan

Super-Leaper Gus Gerard Helps Bring The Ball Upcourt

Sending a shudder through
opponents of the Cavs, Gus
had a distant gaze and a look
of joyful anticipation when he
gleefully blurted, "At forward.
I could do a lot more things
one-on-one and drive more
often."

Gus has an unusual attitude
about offense. "Playing offense
against a zone defense I like a
lot. I get to run around a lot
under the basket and get open
for passes. I like rebounding,
too."

Rebounding can get rough,
and the 6-7 center has picked
up his share of fouls playing
against taller men. When asked
where the referees drew the
line on fouls, Gus looked
bewildered and muttered, "I
don't know. I've had so many
weird ones called on me."

Gerard doesn't consider Mr.
Gibson a disciplinarian, saying,
"We have a lot of discipline,
but he does it in a certain way
that I've never seen anyone do
it. He doesn't yell a lot. He just
has a certain way. Some kind
of psychology. Sometimes he'll
just look at you. It's really
cool."

The biggest reward Gus gets
from basketball is a feeling of
pride. "That's a good feeling
walking out and being one of
five people representing the
University."

So far, Dr. G has been an
excellent representative.