Two new arrivals to add big boost to ODU basketball

NORFOLK

Twenty-one months and 21 pounds ago, Richard Ross last played in a basketball game with officials, a paid crowd and all the other trappings that separate pickup, practice and summer-league ball from the real thing.

"Regional championship, senior year," Ross said. "We lost in overtime at the buzzer."

Donte Hill was a Clemson freshman the last time he suited up. The Tigers fell to Missouri in the first round of the 2010 NCAA tournament.

It's little wonder, then, that as soon as ODU's game at Fairfield ended last Friday night, Ross and Hill, who did not make the trip, quickly connected over the phone.

"We both said, 'It's time to go,' " Hill said.

At long last. Nearly two years after they last played, Ross and Hill finally will be in uniform this evening when ODU visits Central Florida.

They became eligible this week, at the conclusion of the fall semester. Their addition gives the Monarchs (5-4) a full complement of players for the first time this season.

Their presence also potentially adds a double shot of energy and athleticism to a team still struggling to find its footing. Nine games in, the Monarchs remain very much a work in progress, with roles and rotations still being sorted out. That spells opportunity for the team's newest additions, who will mix in immediately, coach Blaine Taylor said.

"I don't expect them to be spit and polished, but I expect them to be ready to run around and try," he said. "There's no reason to believe they can't make some good plays and fit in."

Joining a team at midseason is a tricky maneuver, sort of like jumping into a moving vehicle. It's not as if Ross and Hill aren't familiar with the system, though. Ross has practiced for three semesters, Hill for two.

They know practice. Do they ever know practice.

"When you're not playing, practice is your game," Ross said.

Practice has been his game for longer than planned. After redshirting last year, Ross was expected to be available at the start of the season. He failed to qualify academically, however, and had to sit an extra semester.

"I couldn't blame anyone but myself," he said. "I wasn't angry. I figured, 'Hey, I've got to get through it and try to get better every day at practice while I'm going through it.' "

Ross learned an off-court lesson in time management, he said. On the floor, he has made gains as well. Arguably the team's best pure athlete, he has a better feel for how he can channel that talent.

"When I got here, I was kind of antsy, just trying to do everything too fast," he said.

The game has slowed down for him, at least in practice. Games are another matter, but at 6-foot-6, and a weight-room-built 218 pounds, Ross has the physical tools to contribute right away on the offensive glass and around the rim.

"He brings excitement," teammate Dimitri Batten said.

Ross has added 21 pounds since coming to ODU, but remains out front in end-of-practice wind sprints. A former track star, conditioning never has been a problem for him. He's run-all-day tireless. His soaring blocks and dunks have been the stuff of practice lore.

"I just can't wait to get on the floor," he said. "Anything we need, I'll do it."

Hill has been another workout warrior and is among the team's strongest players at 6-4 and 205 pounds. He has dropped five pounds since transferring from Clemson, and that has paid off in added quickness, he said.

A two-time All-Tidewater pick from Norfolk Collegiate, Hill appeared in 23 games as a freshman at Clemson in 2009-10. He left the team prior to the start of last season, but finished the semester. He came to ODU last December.

Like Ross, Hill has gone three semesters without playing. The long wait has been worth it, he said.

"I just feel very comfortable here," he said. "I think that's the biggest thing I got out of the move."

At 21, Hill said he feels like a veteran, even though he has logged just 117 minutes of college action. He points out that he could be a senior. He reclassified at Norfolk Collegiate, gaining an extra year. He also sat out a year as a transfer.

He'll have 2-1/2 years of eligibility at ODU, plenty of time to make a mark.

Those contributions could come in any number of areas. Hill's versatile enough to play three positions. A natural wing guard, he handles the ball well enough to play the point and is strong enough to swing to small forward. In practice, he has established himself as a tenacious defender and rebounder, with solid mid-range and off-the-dribble games and an ability to knock down the occasional 3-pointer.

Like Ross, in the short term, Hill hopes to bring a shot of adrenaline off the bench with "effort-chart" plays such as offensive rebounds, deflections and defensive stops.

"I just want to come out and play with energy," Hill said. "I think eventually I'll find my place on the team." 

Ed Miller, (757) 446-2372 ed.miller@pilotonline.com