Larry Stewart

The chances are good that a free agent will win a spot on an NBA roster, but history gives the 10 contenders competing at the Washington Bullets' minicamp starting Wednesday at Bowie State more hope than usual.The past three years, four free agents -- guards Larry Robinson, Haywoode Workman and Doug Overton and forward Larry Stewart -- impressed coach Wes Unseld enough in training camp to open the regular season with the Bullets.Stewart, Overton and two other veterans who were drafted last season -- forward Don MacLean and guard Brent Price -- will participate in the four-day camp, leading to a round-robin exhibition series against five Eastern Conference rivals at the New York Knicks' training complex in Purchase, N.Y., July 16-25.

BOWIE -- General manager John Nash and coach Wes Unseld have given free-agent forward Larry Stewart a vote of confidence, but the former Coppin State star will not feel secure about clinching a job with the Washington Bullets until he is flying to Indianapolis for the team's season opener against the Pacers on Nov. 1."I'm not taking anything for granted," said Stewart, who has averaged 15.2 points and 6.7 rebounds through the first six exhibition games. "No one has told me anything yet about making the team.

LANDOVER -- Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld, savoring his first home victory since Nov. 2, had kind words for almost all his players last night, but singled out rookie forward Larry Stewart of Coppin State for special praise in whipping the Atlanta Hawks, 126-115.Point guard Michael Adams, returning from a one-game absence with a sprained shooting hand, scored a game-high 30 points and added eight assists. Center Pervis Ellison contributed 24 points and nine rebounds. Forward Harvey Grant ended a shooting slump with 19 points, and A.J. English came off the bench to score a season-high 25 points.

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Washington Bullets dropped a 101-74 decision to the Utah Jazz last night to finish a four-game western road trip with three straight losses.Harvey Grant led the Bullets with 22 points and five rebounds, and teammate Larry Stewart scored 16. Starters Greg Foster and Stewart each added 10 rebounds.The Bullets, bothered by injuries -- center Pervis Ellison sat the game out with a sore knee -- were outplayed by the Jazz, which was led by 22 points by Jeff Malone and another 20 by Karl Malone.

The best-case scenario for Coppin State basketball this winter was a shift from power forward to small forward for Larry Stewart. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound senior emerged as an NBA prospect last year, and coach Fang Mitchell wanted to let scouts see what Stewart could do farther from the basket.The grand experiment lasted all of one game. Injuries elsewhere had something to do with it, but the overriding factor was less complex: Stewart is just too effective inside, pounding the boards, blocking shots and powering his way past defenders.

EMMITSBURG -- When Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld says run, Larry Stewart runs. When Unseld says jump, Stewart jumps and when Unseld says shoot, Stewart doesn't waste any time.In fact, he does everything the coach asks except talk. Not that Unseld minds."He's quiet," Unseld said of the former Coppin State star forward. "I like that. He doesn't say anything. And I like that, too."Larry Stewart is the Bullets' quiet man, and with few words he is impressing the coaching staff with his ability to listen and perform.

The Washington Bullets' practice at Bowie State yesterday was nearly over when coach Jim Lynam blew the whistle, interrupting the scrimmage.Lynam knelt on one knee and looked up at his No. 1 draft choice, Juwan Howard."

BOWIE -- Coppin State coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell's deep voice seemed to rise an octave when asked about one of his former players, forward Larry Stewart."

Coppin State's outside and inside combination of guard Reggie Isaac and forward Larry Stewart combined for 40 points, as the Eagles overcame a slow start to beat the College of Charleston, 78-60, last night at the Coppin Center.Isaac scored 13 of his 21 in the second half, as Coppin (2-4) shook off a poor shooting first half, during which the team shot just 39.1 percent from the field. Stewart also scored 13 of his 19 in the second half and grabbed a Cougars (4-4). Guard Mike Beckett led Charleston, who lost at Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday night, with 16 points.

The growing suspicion that star forward Bernard King would miss the entire 1991-92 season following summer knee surgery became more of a reality yesterday after Washington Bullets general manager John Nash received a medical update from King's surgeon, Norman Scott of New York.In a brief statement issued before leaving on a college scouting trip, Nash said: "King will definitely be out until March 15 and probably for the remainder of the season. Progress with the rehabilitation of his right knee has been slow."