December 26, 1998
Lonny Baxter wasn't used to all the microphones and note pads that appeared in his face after his perfect game in Maryland's 132-57 victory over North Texas Wednesday night. But after the freshman reserve forward made all 10 of his shots, hit each of his eight free throws and scored the most points (28) of any Maryland player this season, Baxter was bound to get some attention.
"I was out there just shooting," Baxter said nonchalantly. "It was fun. I just happened to play a lot tonight. I just made the most out of it."
Baxter's 10-for-10 effort broke the 8-for-8 record achieved seven times by six Terrapins, including Maryland Coach Gary Williams. Still, Baxter is smart enough to know things won't be this easy. His 19 years have shown him that.
Baxter had a long road to Maryland. He always was a talented basketball player, but the classroom proved to be a tougher challenge. He attended four schools, one a stringent military academy, before enrolling in Maryland.
"It wasn't easy," Baxter said as some of the microphones and tape recorders disappeared. "But I made it. I'm here."
Baxter grew up in Silver Spring and attended Springbrook High School as a freshman and sophomore, where he struggled academically. He moved to Rockville and played at Richard Montgomery High during his junior season, then transferred to and led Anacostia to the D.C. city championship at Cole Field House as a senior. Wednesday night's effort was reminiscent of the city championship game, when Baxter had 35 points and 12 rebounds.
"Lonny was great," Williams said. "He made the first [shot], and I think he got confidence in his shooting. Who knows two or three years down the road what Lonny's going to be like? He's a freshman, and it's just hard to say where his position will be as he gets stronger. In other words, Lonny's big, but he's not strong yet - as strong as he can be."
His strength is impressive, nonetheless. Last month, the 6-foot-8, 250-pound Baxter tore down a rim after a Maryland practice at Cole Field House. This from someone who wanted to be a guard in high school.
To be on the team at Richard Montgomery, players had to have at least a 2.0 grade point average. Although Baxter arrived in academic peril, former Richard Montgomery coach Lee Maust said Baxter earned a 2.5 grade point average by the time basketball season arrived.
"He's a good kid and his best basketball is in front of him," Maust said. "He got himself straight. Back then he had this infatuation with wanting to be an outside player, but he was 6-5 and we needed him inside. But there was no doubt the potential was there to be a very good player."
Even after his senior season at Anacostia, Baxter still had academic problems, so he enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy. "I went there to work on my grades," he said.
But Baxter hated the strict atmosphere at the Virginia prep school. He had to get up at 6 a.m. to do cleaning, and he spent more than an hour marching each day. But Hargrave was good for Baxter. His coach, Scott Shepherd, said Baxter made the dean's list every grading period.
While at Hargrave, Baxter played beside Korleone Young, who jumped directly to the NBA last spring.
"Korleone was the flash and emotional guy," Shepherd said. "Lonny just played. He was consistent and just there all the time. When Lonny came here, he was at least 30 pounds overweight. But he worked hard, and it's paid off for him. He just goes out and plays."
Arriving as part of a recruiting class with junior college star Steve Francis and McDonald's all-American Danny Miller, Baxter didn't get much attention. But that could change.
"Everybody always knew 'L' could play," said Francis, who grew up near Baxter in Takoma Park. "He's very versatile to be his size. [Wednesday] was the first time everybody saw him go through all his options. I've known Lonny for five years now, and he's been the same way. He's got three more years here, and y'all are going to see a lot of that over the next three years. I'm not playing about that."
By C. Jemal Horton
Washington Post Staff Writer
