November 15, 2000|By Paul McMullen
When Towson reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in 1990, it was with players who had started their college careers elsewhere. As the Tigers try to build a larger profile in the America East conference, they will rely on a transfer for perimeter scoring and use two freshmen who thought they would be playing in major conferences.
Tamir Goodman, a guard, committed to Maryland, but turned down a scholarship from the Terps after their interest in him wavered. Marijan Spalevic, a 6-foot-7 wing from Belgrade, Yugoslavia, was headed to Mississippi State until he learned that Southeastern Conference school didn't have a scholarship for him after all.
Mohammed Fofana, a 6-8 freshman, didn't consider Towson one of his five choices until Delaware signed someone else and stopped recruiting him.
The Tigers' most explosive player could be Sam Sutton, a junior wing who sat out last season after transferring from St. Francis of Pennsylvania. He led the Red Flash in scoring two years ago with a 13.5 average, and will be one of Towson's first offensive options.
Towson won the East Coast Conference title in 1990 starting five Baltimoreans, three of whom had transferred in the previous season. Guard Kurk Lee had begun his college career at Western Kentucky, undersized forward Kennell Jones had started his at Old Dominion and forward Kelly Williamson had first gone to Xavier.
The Tigers lost to No. 1 Oklahoma, 77-68, in the NCAA tournament as they closed to within a basket in the closing minutes.
