University's Palmer Isn't a Tall Tale

University’s Palmer Isn’t a Tall Tale

By MIKE TERRY

Jan. 23, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

IRVINE — Whatever measuring stick you apply to the basketball skills of University guard Eric Palmer, it has to be a large one.

Despite his relatively small stature, the 5-foot-7 junior is having one of the best all-around seasons of any player in the county.

Before Wednesday’s games, Palmer was second in the county in scoring (23.6-point average) and first in assists (169 for a 9.9 average). Last season, he led the county in assists with 258.

Palmer also is 12th in free-throw percentage (.774) and has attempted more free throws (177) and made more (137) than any other county player.

“I can’t believe there is somebody else who does more for a team individually as he does for us,” University Coach Mike Dineen said. “If we need a score, he does that. If we need the pass, he’ll pass. He’s gotten to the point where he knows what is needed for us to be competitive.”

Palmer is the unquestioned leader of the Trojans (12-6), who are off to a 3-0 start in the Pacific Coast League and tied for first place with Estancia.

“I do like to be the leader out there, get the guys pumped up,” Palmer said. “They do listen to me. Sometimes it’s harder for them since I’m smaller, but they usually listen to me. They joke that if they don’t listen, I won’t pass the ball.”

Although Palmer, 16, is scoring at an impressive rate, his main value to his team is his passing. He has been the Trojans’ starting point guard since his freshman year, and has 607 assists in 67 games. At his current pace, he could be the county’s all-time leader by the time he graduates.

The county’s career assist leader is Jim Harris, who had 804 for Ocean View from 1990-93. He is third in the Southern Section behind Jacque Vaughn (Pasadena Muir, 1990-93) with 1,136, and Billy Walker (Riverside North, 1981-84) with 827.

University’s up-and-down style of play has definitely helped Palmer’s stat totals.

Coach Ken Goldstone, whose Aliso Niguel squad plays Friday at University, said he is impressed with Palmer’s play.

“He is a good little player who runs the show and is an extension of his coach,” Goldstone said. “In order to play against them you have to contain him, and make him do things he is not used to. But he is quick and pushes the ball real hard. He is the focal point of everything they do.”

Irvine Coach Steve Keith goes a step further.

“Playing them is like playing a game and a half,” said Keith, whose team has split two nonleague games this season with University. “You get so many more trips down the floor in their system, and they don’t do much half-court play. All of our school offensive records are set against University because we get so many opportunities.

Added Keith: “Eric is a product of a system that magnifies stats. But Eric would be a very good player in any system or tempo. I think his size is an advantage because basketball has returned to the smaller point guard. Dribble penetration is a huge part of offensive strategy these days and little guys break defenses down. That is what he does best.”

Palmer also has a strong will to win. In six of its victories this season, University has overcome deficits of 10 points or more to win. Much of the credit goes to Palmer, who keeps his teammates from panic or resignation.

“A lot of young teams fall behind and kind of bag it from there,” Palmer said. “But we’ve been able to work together, and our press has gotten us back into games. I think Coach Dineen had a good word for it. We have ‘spurtability.’ We can run off points pretty quick.

“We’re also well-conditioned. A couple of games this year, I had [opponents] turn to me and say, ‘Don’t you guys ever give up?’ ”

Though he also enjoys baseball (he plays shortstop and second base for University) and soccer, Palmer’s love of basketball runs deep. He began playing the game at age 5, and he’s never had delusions about growing up to be anything but a guard.

“My parents are short,” said Palmer, “and so are my two older brothers and older sister. So I kinda knew.”

Palmer hopes he may wind up playing for a Division I school. But he said no matter what happens, he wouldn’t change a thing about himself.

“I like where I am right now,” he said.