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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Fast Break

The Spokesman-Review

BASKETBALL

Stuckey making strides in Detroit

Well before the NBA draft, the Detroit Pistons knew their man. And they thought some others might have figured it out, too.

But Rodney Stuckey was still available midway through the first round, and the Pistons jumped at the chance to add the high-scoring guard to their All-Star backcourt.

“That’s probably the worst kept secret, that that was the guy we wanted in the draft,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. “We thought maybe somebody else might go and grab him, and we were lucky that they didn’t. I think there will be some people that wish they had.”

The numbers don’t show that yet. Slowed by injuries, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged only 6.0 points in his first 10 NBA games, well off the 24.4 per game he scored in two years at Eastern Washington. The Pistons grabbed him with the pick they acquired from Orlando when they traded Darko Milicic, whom they took at No. 2 in 2003 ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

“He’s more advanced defensively right now than offensively. He’s better on offense, but defensively he’s getting two steals a game in 20 minutes,” Saunders said. “And he’s got great, great instincts for the ball. He’s a really good offensive rebounder for a guard. Like I said, it’s going to be a work in progress for him, but he’s doing a great job by now.”

Stuckey filled Detroit’s desire to get some athleticism in the backcourt to spell the veteran duo of Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton.

AWARDS

Donovan among NCAA honorees

The NCAA ads reminding everyone that college athletes turn pro in something other than sports seemingly are everywhere. Anne Donovan, coach of the 2008 USA women’s basketball team, said it’s a message all should preach.

“What I love about their messaging is it’s not about the Candace Parkers of the world,” Donovan said Sunday.

“It’s about the swimmer that doesn’t get the recognition or the wrestler who doesn’t get a full scholarship. It’s a considerable message the NCAA presents about what this is about. It’s one more opportunity you have as a young person and what you’re going to make of it.”

Donovan was among the former athletes being honored Sunday at the NCAA convention in Nashville, Tenn. Donovan was among seven being honored on the 25th anniversary of finishing their college eligibility, a group including broadcasters Robin Roberts, Bob Woodruff and Todd Blackledge of ABC and Dot Richardson.

BASKETBALL

These guys could really light it up

New Nets executive Kiki Vandeweghe, a great shooter in his time, listed his top shooters for the Newark Star Ledger. In no particular order he named Jerry West, Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Larry Bird, Dale Ellis and Jerry Lucas.