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Former Pack star Daniels signs to play with ECSU
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
When he was at Washington High School, Calvin Daniels was the king at scoring in transition. The high-flying hoops star has once again scored with his latest move. The Pam Pack’s all-time leading scorer has crossed over from Louisburg College to Elizabeth City State University.
The Vikings offered Daniels a full scholarship to play basketball, as well as an opportunity to play football.
“I am very excited to be going to Elizabeth City,” Daniels said. “I think we have a good chance to win a CIAA championship.”
Daniels wrapped up his freshman year with Louisburg scoring 12 points per game, and said he was drawn to ECSU by Vikings’ coach, and Plymouth High School alum, Shawn Walker.
“It was a tough decision to leave Louisburg,” Daniels said. “But I liked Elizabeth City because Coach always has shown an interest in me. He is enthusiastic about basketball and he is a no-nonsense guy.”
Daniels, who plans to major in liberal arts before heading into business courses, also said he plans to try out for the football team.
“I would like to try out for the team as a walk-on,” Daniels said. “If coach Walker doesn’t have a problem with it, I would like to try out for the football team.”
Walker said he would not stand in his way.
“I was a two-sport star myself,” Walker said. “I would never stand in the way of a kid doing something that made him happy.”
Daniels will be joining fellow area two-sport star Angelo Sharpless, a Plymouth High School standout, on the Vikings’ roster.
For years the two were the best ballers in town, and now the duo will be joined together on the same team.
Daniels said he was excited to have a familiar face on the squad.
“Yeah, it’s cool to have somebody from around the area on the team,” Daniels said. “It makes it a lot more comfortable.”
The two create a talented log jam at the shooting guard and small forward positions, as they join up with NCCSIA all-state selection Anthony Hilliard, who is also a swingman.
Walker said the overflow of talent at the same position is a problem most coaches would kill for, and that he will find a way to work things out.
“We have three extremely talented guys who can do a lot of things,” Walker said. “Calvin is 6-3, 210 pounds and can flat-out score ... We might have to red-shirt Angelo this year, but down the road we would have two talented basketball players that could help this team win a lot of games.”
Coming off the bench for Louisburg, Daniels averaged 12 points per game. However, Walker said Daniels’ ability to score is uncanny.
“When we signed Calvin, it was a big-time steal,” Walker said. “His father (Calvin) is an ECSU alum, and we are very fortunate to have him ... Calvin is a major scorer; he is big and athletic. He could be a scorer in the ACC. We really think he is a jewel.”
Walker recruited Daniels out of high school, but was not bothered by Daniels’ decision to go to Louisburg.
“We recruited Calvin, but he went on to Louisburg,” Walker said. “We told him if he ever wanted to come back to let us know.”
And that’s exactly what he did.
“One day he just called us and said that he wanted to come to ECSU,” Walker said. “It was a great phone call.”
The Vikings offered Daniels a full scholarship to play basketball, as well as an opportunity to play football.
“I am very excited to be going to Elizabeth City,” Daniels said. “I think we have a good chance to win a CIAA championship.”
Daniels wrapped up his freshman year with Louisburg scoring 12 points per game, and said he was drawn to ECSU by Vikings’ coach, and Plymouth High School alum, Shawn Walker.
“It was a tough decision to leave Louisburg,” Daniels said. “But I liked Elizabeth City because Coach always has shown an interest in me. He is enthusiastic about basketball and he is a no-nonsense guy.”
Daniels, who plans to major in liberal arts before heading into business courses, also said he plans to try out for the football team.
“I would like to try out for the team as a walk-on,” Daniels said. “If coach Walker doesn’t have a problem with it, I would like to try out for the football team.”
Walker said he would not stand in his way.
“I was a two-sport star myself,” Walker said. “I would never stand in the way of a kid doing something that made him happy.”
Daniels will be joining fellow area two-sport star Angelo Sharpless, a Plymouth High School standout, on the Vikings’ roster.
For years the two were the best ballers in town, and now the duo will be joined together on the same team.
Daniels said he was excited to have a familiar face on the squad.
“Yeah, it’s cool to have somebody from around the area on the team,” Daniels said. “It makes it a lot more comfortable.”
The two create a talented log jam at the shooting guard and small forward positions, as they join up with NCCSIA all-state selection Anthony Hilliard, who is also a swingman.
Walker said the overflow of talent at the same position is a problem most coaches would kill for, and that he will find a way to work things out.
“We have three extremely talented guys who can do a lot of things,” Walker said. “Calvin is 6-3, 210 pounds and can flat-out score ... We might have to red-shirt Angelo this year, but down the road we would have two talented basketball players that could help this team win a lot of games.”
Coming off the bench for Louisburg, Daniels averaged 12 points per game. However, Walker said Daniels’ ability to score is uncanny.
“When we signed Calvin, it was a big-time steal,” Walker said. “His father (Calvin) is an ECSU alum, and we are very fortunate to have him ... Calvin is a major scorer; he is big and athletic. He could be a scorer in the ACC. We really think he is a jewel.”
Walker recruited Daniels out of high school, but was not bothered by Daniels’ decision to go to Louisburg.
“We recruited Calvin, but he went on to Louisburg,” Walker said. “We told him if he ever wanted to come back to let us know.”
And that’s exactly what he did.
“One day he just called us and said that he wanted to come to ECSU,” Walker said. “It was a great phone call.”
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