By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Says Leonard Stokes is likely to finish in the top 20 on the school's all-time scoring list - if not higher. The Enquirer/Brandi Stafford

F O U R - S U R E S

Four-year players recruited by Bob Huggins: Steve Logan (1999-2002) Kenyon Martin (1997-2000+) Ryan Fletcher (1996-2000++) Melvin Levett (1996-99+++) Bobby Brannen (1995-98) Damon Flint (1994-97) Darnell Burton (1994-97) Keith Gregor (1993-96) Curtis Bostic (1991-95++++) Tarrice Gibson (1990-93) + Joined Jan. of freshman year; ++ Redshirted `96-97; +++ Joined Dec. of freshman year; ++++ Redshirted 1991-92 Source: UC sports information office

B Y   T H E   N U M B E R S

6 - Bob Huggins' ranking among Division I head coaches by Clark Francis of Hoop Scoop. Ahead of Huggins: Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Rick Pitino (Louisville), Bob Knight (Texas Tech), Lute Olson (Arizona) and Roy Williams (Kansas). .744 - Huggins' career winning percentage, second among active coaches behind Williams (.807). 7 - Consecutive seasons with at least 25 victories. 11: Consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. 6 feet 10 - Derek Hollman's listed height in the 2001-02 media guide. 6 feet 8 - Hollman's listed height in the 2002-03 media guide.

Leonard Stokes wasn't even a Bearcat yet, and he started to get defensive. During his recruiting process, several college coaches told him it would be a mistake to sign with the University of Cincinnati.

"You'll never play."

"They don't graduate players."

"You've got to be a thug to play there."

"It just made me want to go there so I could prove to them they were wrong," Stokes said. "It was a motivating factor."

He is a senior now and enjoying the last laugh.

The 6-foot-6 Stokes has appeared in 100 games, 35 off Steve Logan's school record, and started 49 times. Stokes is likely to finish in the top 20 on the school's all-time scoring list - if not higher.

He earned his undergraduate degree in social sciences in three years and is taking classes toward a degree in education.

He is anything but a "thug." Stokes stays with students visiting practice to talk and sign autographs longer than any other player. He gives an old pair of shoes away to a fan in a wheelchair attending a game.

"He's a wonderful guy to be around," coach Bob Huggins said. "He's special."

Huggins is beginning his 14th year with the Bearcats, and Stokes will be the ninth high school player recruited by Huggins to come in and play four full seasons (Kenyon Martin and Melvin Levett joined the team in January and December of their freshman years).

After playing a modest role as a freshman (2.2 points, 7.1 minutes a game), Stokes has been a major contributor the past two seasons. He will be one of UC's primary offensive options this season, as well as its best perimeter defender.

"If I've got to score 30, get 10 rebounds, get 10 assists, whatever it takes to win," Stokes said. "I put the burden on my shoulders. I've got to come out and play every game."

Stokes has matured physically and grown as a person during his years at UC.

He weighed 179 pounds in the fall of 1999 and "couldn't bench-press the bar," as Huggins likes to say. Now he weighs 201 and benches 250.

He was quiet as a freshman, didn't say much on the court. Now, he's trying to be a leader, helping the new players. Stokes studied Martin and Logan over the past three years and watched how they handled leadership roles.

"He's not Lo," Huggins said. "Lo's kind of always had that chip because of his stature. But Lenny's trying hard, and the guys are responding to him.

"He's so much more confident. He plays with a lot more confidence. He carries himself with a lot more confidence. He's a college graduate; he's ready to face the world."

First, he has to face Dayton and Xavier and Oregon and Marquette and Louisville and Memphis.

Stokes' goal for the season will be not to score 36 one night (as he did against DePaul last Jan. 16), then score nine a week later (as he did at Saint Louis).

He scored in double figures 22 times and in single digits 13 games last season and capped off his junior year with 39 points and 10 rebounds against UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.

"He knows he's got to be more consistent," Huggins said. "We'd rather get 15 a night from him than 36 one night and three another night. If he can bring that to us, we'll have a whole lot better chance of being successful.

"He's a very intelligent guy. He's just got to understand, if you try to do too much, it hurts us. He's never going to try to hurt us, that's for sure."

Huggins knew Stokes wasn't physically ready to play for the Bearcats coming out of Turner Carroll High School in Buffalo, where he was named Mr. Basketball in New York, beating out former Bearcat Kenny Satterfield. But Huggins liked Stokes' potential, thought he'd work hard to improve, and enjoyed him as a person. Stokes also had a nice mid-range game, pulling up to shoot jumpers off the dribble.

"He was just skinny," Huggins said. "He was really, really skinny."

Turner Carroll coach Fajri Ansari uses Stokes as an example for parents and students. He was talking about him recently when speaking to parents about competition and sports.

"He has to be one of my top models overall as a person, as a student, as a team player," Ansari said. "Leonard is an example of all the right things. He has, to me, gone well beyond what is typical of athletes.

"I was also questioned when Leonard chose Cincinnati, was that going to be the environment for him? I was getting bombarded. But I never doubted it. He's done some unprecedented things there."

And his senior year is just beginning.

E-mail mperry@enquirer.com

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