By Jim Edgar
Standard Sports Writer
  Two Years ago, Montana Tech ’s premier basketball forward Sherman Vernon had a choice to play basketball at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa., home of Joe Namath. A couple of Division II colleges in the state of California or be a walk on with the UNLV Rebels of Las Vegas, NV. with well renowned coach Jerry Tarkanian. In addition to coming to Montana and play for Rick Dessing’s Tech Orediggers. 

  “I didn’t want to be that far from home, and I wanted to play right away as opposed to waiting at UNLV” said Vernon who is from Lompoc, CA., “so I talked it over with my parents as to which school I should attend. My father knew a little more about Montana than any of the other choices due to his youngest brother Mike Vernon playing at the University of Montana in the “70’s and thought Montana would be far enough from home but closer than Beaver Falls Pa.

  Vernon, who was a prep star in both football and basketball in high school, spent his first two years of college at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA where he earned Western States All Conference recognition, which is made of Southern California junior colleges.

WHEN ASKED how he heard about Montana Tech, Vernon noted Orediggers coach Rick Dessing had sent a recruiting questionnaire to Allan Hancock coach Bobby White for likely prospects and he was recommended. “I talked to the coaches at the schools in CA, the coach at Geneva College, in addition to corresponding with Coach Jerry Tarkanian through Coach Paul Howard, women’s’ basketball coach at Allan Hancock College, and Coach Rick Dessing of Tech. “Coach Dessing offered me more of an opportunity to play the way I could benefit the team and me while getting a high-quality education, so I picked Montana Tech.”

  A provident choice it was for the Orediggers, too, as Vernon lead the Orediggers in winning the Frontier Conference championship, capture the crown in the conference playoffs and advance to the NAIA District 12 championship game before the season ended in Huron, South Dakota, with a 77-64 loss to the Tribe. Vernon was a member of a team that turned their record around too, going 12-16 in ’86-’87 then 20-12 in ’87-’88.

  “For 30 Minutes we played with them point for point,” Vernon expressed. “Then in three trips on offense we missed shots and they went down and scored and soon it was over. The Orediggers held a half time lead of 30-27 before falling by the wayside.

  Vernon scored 20 points for the final game of his college career, slightly abve his average of 19.6 points per game average. Vernon capped his two-year career at Montana Tech by being named Frontier Conference player of the year and first team all-conference, in addition to first team NAIA all- district 12, and NAIA all- american.
  
  While averaging a highly creditable 19.6 points per game he also averaged 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assist.
  “This year I was tasked by Coach Dessing to be more aggressive as a scorer than last year”, explaining why his assist average dropped form 4.2 the previous season. Vernon scored a total 972 pts, retrieved 315 rebounds and dishes 191 assist in two seasons of competition for the Orediggers. This season was high in production compared to his previous season where he averaged 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. 
  
  Prior to his senior season Vernon spent the summer working at his home town Boys club helping, supporting, and coaching young students and athletes. Vernon expressed, “I got a chance to practice shooting some three -point shots without having defenders climb all over me and it proved to be of benefit this season. In his junior season he went 1-11 beyond the three- point stripe. This season he shot 32 – 72.
  
  Assessing his final year of college basketball, Vernon remarked,” We into the season with a goal of winning every game we played, and even though we lost some, we didn’t dwell on it, but went right back out with the intention of doing better.”
  
  The Orediggers started off pretty good with a 3-1 record, then hit a rough patch and had a record of 3-6 through their first nine games. “Things turned around when we beat Eastern Montana on Dec 14th,” Vernon pointed out. “We lost to them in Billings and the game here at home was our chance to get back on the winning track. It definitely was a confidence builder, the Orediggers beat University of Lethbridge the next night and won eight straight in conference play before going to Alaska to play Alaska Pacific and losing two games, at this time their record was 13-8. 

  When the Orediggers returned from Alaska they clinched the Frontier Conference regular season and tournament championships and had a record of 20-11. Vernon credits much of his attitude to his parents, family, and his pastor Floyd Wilson of Truvine Baptist Church in Lompoc, CA. 

  When at home I spend time with the pastor and other church members playing basketball and supporting church programs. “My mother and father have always supported me in the things I do.
 
  Whenever I have a problem, I can turn to them for support. Their support, direction, and guidance have been a driving force for me. I honestly believe that the Lord works through them to deal with me. 

  Off the court he is one of the most pleasant, engaging persons to ever sit down and talk with. However, put a basketball in his hands and he is trouble with a capitol “T” for the opposing team. Fans have seen Vernon with a white arm band around his left bicep during game and have wondered about it. “I started wearing the arm band during my second year of junior college basketball, whenever I start feeling down about my performance, I’d look at it and it reminds of the band and support of my parents and the Lord and it gives me a mental lift. 
  
  Only once in the last two years of Vernons play with the Orediggers has he been asked, by referees at the request of the opposing coach, to take the band off. “I guess the opposing coach thought he could rattle me or get me upset by making that request,” remarked Vernon jokingly. If so, it backfired, because Vernon had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assist in that game. 
  
  Now that his college playing career is over, he plans on completing his degree in Organizational Management and preparing for professional basketball play overseas. 

Know what he means?
Success for Montana Tech

HEY VERN !
Staff Photo
The Montana Standard, Butte, Friday, April 8, 1988 ---7
Sherman Vernon pours two through the hoop.