Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Belton's transfer pays off
Ex-Salem star Kenny Belton commits to Maryland, a move his father says was aided by the move to Greensboro.
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Kenny Belton made headlines with one move last summer. Tuesday, the former Salem High School basketball star made another.
Belton, who transferred from Salem to Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley High after his sophomore season, has made an oral commitment to play for Maryland.
Belton, a 6-foot-7 forward, was offered a scholarship three weeks ago by Maryland's coaching staff, according to his father, Ken Belton Sr. The elder Belton said his son decided to commit to the Terrapins rather than wait for possible offers from other Division I schools that have shown interest.
"Certainly he had goals," Belton Sr. said. "Number 1, he wanted to play in the ACC. Number 2 was, 'Can I play there.' Number 3 was is this a place where he can develop himself to the fullest."
Belton helped Salem to the Group AA semifinals in 2003-04 as a freshman and was a part-time starter for the Spartans last year. Belton was named the Timesland Sizzlin' Sophomore of the Year in 2004-05 after averaging 14.3 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 52.2 percent from the field.
But Belton transferred in August to Dudley, a perennial North Carolina powerhouse that has produced a number of Division I players. Current Dudley senior William Graves, a 6-6 forward, has signed with North Carolina.
The elder Belton said his son's transfer was critical in receiving the offer from Maryland. Belton said his son will play at Dudley next year as a senior.
"I believe the move was the integral part of this," he said. "It provided him a positive environment to get the most out of his abilities and skills. Maryland has been in pursuit since he's been down in Greensboro. They had seen Kenny play briefly in an AAU tournament in Dallas and at the Peach Jam in Augusta, Ga."
Maryland recruited Belton as a power forward or a small forward, his father said.
"They were impressed with his physical size, his strength and his rebounding, both offensively and defensively," Belton Sr. said.
