Step Down Proved the Right Step for Winbush, No. 7 Azusa Pacific

A step down was a big step for Ronnie Winbush--and a step up for the Azusa Pacific men’s basketball program.

Winbush isn’t the only reason for Azusa Pacific’s getting off to the best start in school history with a 17-2 record, but he is a major one.

A swingman, Winbush is averaging 18.4 points and nearly seven rebounds after transferring from Cal State Long Beach. And Coach Bill Odell is happy about that, because his team might have been the best in the Golden State Athletic Conference anyway.

The results have been noticed, too. The Cougars are ranked seventh nationally. An NAIA District 3 championship is not an unreasonable expectation, nor is a trip to the national tournament.

But Winbush didn’t expect anything. He has never done things the expected way.

At Crenshaw High, Winbush played little varsity ball. He gained notoriety at basketball camps for his athletic skills and starred on the junior varsity. Ankle injuries kept him on the sideline for most of his varsity career, but because of his good reputation, he signed a letter of intent with Long Beach before he ever played a varsity game.

At Long Beach, though, Winbush had to sit out his first season because of Proposition 48. When he was eligible, he was stuck behind Long Beach’s star, Lucious Harris, and playing time was scarce.

“Have you ever seen Harris play? He is really good,” Winbush said. “So I understood. I think the coach had me in his plans. But I was playing behind Harris. That’s just a bad situation.”

His interest waned, his academics suffered and he learned he would be ineligible for part of his sophomore season.

So he decided to look elsewhere.

One day, Winbush went along with roommate Frankie Edwards to work out at Edwards’ alma mater, Millikan High. The coach at Millikan then was Bill Odell, who often maintained supportive relationships with his players after they were out of school.

Winbush was impressed with Edwards’ respect for his former coach.

Then, in one of the neat little twists of fate, Odell was hired by Azusa Pacific last season.

Suddenly, Winbush didn’t want to look any further.

He went to Compton College to bring his academics back up to par, then transferred to Azusa Pacific this year.

It might have been a step down from Division I, but so far it has been a step in the right direction.

“I thought coming in that I might dominate, but it’s not like that,” Winbush said. “They play hard at the NAIA level. The difference is that in Division I, a front line will be 6-8, 6-10, 6-9, and a bunch of shooters. Here you have more slashers.”

Which is perfectly suited to Winbush’s style on the wing. Winbush, who is a lithe 6-8, can shoot from the outside or take smaller players inside.

Although it has not been as easy as he had thought it might be, there are some advantages.

“It’s easier for me to defend players because players are smaller and not as quick,” Winbush said. “Coach Odell lets you play. He really lets you know if you make a mistake. But he doesn’t take you out because of it.”

Despite the 49ers’ success this season, Winbush says he doesn’t miss Long Beach.

“I love it here,” he said of Azusa Pacific. “Last year I was at a lot of games and saw that it’s a totally different situation. It’s fun. I’ve never really played in the flow of games before.

“Part of it is playing with Earic (Peters). I love playing with Earic. He’s not a genuine point guard, but he plays so hard he gets the job done. He makes the right decisions.”

Peters, who returns as an All-GSAC performer, is averaging 17 points.

“I think our record is better than I anticipated,” Odell said. “I knew Ronnie would step right in and play. He’s been a great player for us.”

Phil Sanson, the Master’s College senior forward who suffered a crushed larynx during a game three weeks ago, has returned to his parents’ home in Girard, Ill., for three weeks.

The injury occurred when Sanson ran into the bleachers after a loose ball during a game at Dominican College in San Rafael.

Sanson, who had to have a tracheotomy so he could breath, is still enrolled and took his assignments with him.

Sanson’s doctors say the prognosis is good, according to Mel Hankinson, Master’s coach and athletic director. Sanson is expected to undergo reconstructive surgery to repair part of his larynx.

Herbert Dedo at the UC Medical Center in San Francisco is guardedly optimistic that Sanson will eventually be able to speak and breath normally.

The team has dedicated the rest of the season to Sanson and each player wears a blue and white patch with Sanson’s No. 34 on it.

College Division Notes

Cal Poly Pomona (13-1) is ranked No. 9 in the Division II women’s basketball poll. . . . Those trying to contact Jim Farmer, who is directing the American Football Tour, should call (818) 585-7789 or (714) 733-0558. One of the numbers was incorrectly listed in last Tuesday’s editions. . . . Erica Scholl’s 30 rebounds for UC San Diego against Southern California College in December remains the top single-game women’s performance in the nation. . . . UC Riverside’s Charles Purdom scored 28 points against Cal State Los Angeles and 19 against Cal Poly Pomona to keep the Highlanders one game behind Cal State Bakersfield in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn.