New Virginia State recruit Ricardo Lipscomb defends former VUU player Quincy Smith in the Tri-City Summer League. Lipscomb earned newcomer of the year.
by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
When
Ricardo Lipscomb left Matoaca he was known as a bull's-eye sharpshooter from deep.
Nearly a couple of years later, Lipscomb still shoots the lights out of a gymnasium, but the six-footer has developed into the consummate point guard.
Lipscomb had two successful stints at Harford Community College in Maryland, leading his level in assists at 12.3 per game. He added 13 points per contest as well.
His play helped him come back home, as Lipscomb will play for Virginia State, a Division II and CIAA member. So what helped his evolution?
"When I first got there, our two-guard was our main scorer," Lipscomb said. "It was either pass or be on the bench. I had to be a pass-first point guard."
His freshman numbers were more than respectable, averaging 13 points and six assists per game before his passing prowess doubled in his sophomore season.
"I went from a scoring point guard to a true point guard," Lipscomb said.
And Lipscomb grew from a regular high-school kid to a college adult. No student-athlete wants to go to junior-college, but the route helped Lipscomb.
"It really helped me grow as a person," the 20-year-old said. "You never know what your character is until you get away from home."
Now the
Tri-City Summer League newcomer of the year is back home, getting ready to run the show for the Trojans.