Eric Knox Overshadows Famous Brother Billy as Big-Time Cager at Oregon State

Those who follow basketball have never thought of Eric Knox as a Magic Johnson or Sidney Moncrief. In fact, coming out of St. Bernard High School, he was never considered to be in the class of older brother Billy, who forged something of a high school legend in the early 1980s.

But Wednesday night as Loyola lost at Oregon State, there was Eric Knox starting at guard, doing a little bit of everything--as he has in his career at Corvallis--to help the Beavers trip Loyola, 84-69.

While Billy went to the wrong school at the wrong time--St. Mary’s--and his legend died, Eric has fit right into Coach Ralph Miller’s program and has overcome several significant injuries to stay in the Beavers’ lineup most of his career.

There he was Wednesday against Loyola, nearly getting a Magic-style triple double--8 points, 9 rebounds, a career-high 10 assists--coming up with several big plays, even covering former high school teammate Corey Gaines briefly. For the season Knox is averaging about 13 points in Miller’s deliberate offense.

Afterward, Knox grinned and said of his game: “I didn’t think I shot as well as I have, so I went to my next best assets--rebounding and assists. Corey didn’t get 20 like he said he would over the summer (Gaines scored 16) and you can quote me. I still think they’ve got a great team. Come January I’d love to see Loyola Marymount. I’d buy a ticket.”

Knox didn’t smile much last year when he averaged 11 points but shot only 43% coming off knee surgery and a redshirt year. He seemed to be headed in the direction his brother took--the school of hard Knox.

“It’s been the grace of God I’ve been able to continue,” Knox said. “I had two knee surgeries and a miserable season last year. But everything is going right this year. All the glory goes to Jesus. It seems like if I’m not leading the team in scoring, I’m getting rebounds or assists.”

Knox, a fourth-year junior, is a major in speech communications. He was in a study hall hitting the books after Wednesday’s game. “I’ll have my degree the spring after next and I’ll have a good career to look back on,” he said.

Billy Knox, one of the most powerful players ever to come out of the South Bay--a high school player people would pay to see after he shattered several backboards dunking--went to St. Mary’s, was played out of position and finished his college career in the coach’s doghouse, rarely playing.

“I always was in Billy’s footsteps,” Eric said. “In my eyes he was the greatest athlete that ever walked the Earth. Everything just seemed to crash around him. It hurt me to see him not play. That desire I take out on the court with me I get from him. I learn from him.

“I was just fortunate to come to the right program. I came to Oregon State, they needed guards and Coach Miller stuck with me. And I played some terrible, terrible games. But he kept that confidence in me.”

The Mission Conference has suddenly taken on the look of a community college football giant with the addition of the five remaining South Coast Conference teams, including El Camino.

The newly formed Mission Conference, which will play only football, increased to 11 teams when Golden West and Fullerton quit the South Coast for the Mission. Last weekend the South Coast Conference teams--who faced having only a four-game league schedule--were added.

With 16 teams, Mission is now the biggest conference in the state, meaning scheduling will be complicated. School athletic directors are working out details but the most popular plan seems to be three divisions with five, five and six teams. Five Orange County teams could compose one division, and five San Diego County teams would make up another.

In that format, teams would play nine conference games and one non-conference. Orange Coast College Athletic Director Dick Tucker, who is in charge of the football conference, said he hopes to have the format and scheduling done “by the end of the year.”

El Camino College’s 11-0 season and mythical national football championship is paying off in honors for many of the Warrior players. Five have received Community College All-American honors from the J. C. Grid Wire, a national publication.

El Camino quarterback Dan Speltz was named to the first team, linebacker Ken Sale to the second and receiver Dwight Pickens, defensive back Billy Hughley and linebacker Kaiser Noa received honorable mention.

Speltz, who passed for 2,359 yards and 25 touchdowns while setting a school record in completion percentage, 58%, was also named South Coast Conference offensive player of the year. Six of his teammates join him on the all-conference offense: Pickens, tight end Keith Roberson and tackle Tau Itula were named to the first-team offense. Center Pat Hunt, fullback Hector Murillo and guard Pat Morris received honorable mention on offense.

The all-conference defense includes Sale and Noa at linebacker, Hughley in the backfield and lineman Don Humphrey on the first team. Defensive back Kevin Harris and lineman Mark Van Buren were named to the second team. Linemen Darrin Madison and Tui Suiaunoa received honorable mention.

The honors are also rolling in for El Camino soccer players. Six from the men’s state championship team have been named all-South Coast Conference: sophomores Paul Soufl and Gerardo Yepez and freshman Felix Guillen received first-team honors. Sophomore goalie Mike Littman, sophomore Julio Villacourta and freshman Mike Sharp were named to the second team.

Six El Camino women were also selected: freshmen Karen Clancy and Linda Dorn and sophomore Conni Cowman are on the first team. Sophomores Teri Benton, Tricia Bennett and Diana Pabon are on the second team.

Roster changes: Freshman Devon Akita has joined the Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s basketball team after playing for the volleyball team. She’ll play guard and forward. However, senior forward Debra McGee, expected to be one of the Lady Toros’ mainstays, is off the roster after it was determined she had used up her athletic eligibility. The team’s top recruit, forward Demetra Johnson out of Washington High, is recovering from knee surgery. It is hoped she will be ready for the Lady Toros’ home opener Saturday against Chico State.

College Notes:

Cal State Dominguez Hills guard Leonard Eaton, the Toros’ instant offense off the bench, scored 18 points against Cal State Sacramento, all on three-pointers. He shot 6-for-9. . . . Another South Bay player making an impact at Oregon State is sophomore forward Earl Martin, who jumped center against Loyola. He’s averaging 12 points. . . . The All-Western Football Conference team had several South Bay natives, led by first-team center Brian Clark of Cal State Northridge (St. Bernard High School).