University of North Carolina Athletics
Larkins a Quick Study in Post for Tar Heels
January 20, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2005
By AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Freshman Erlana Larkins figured she'd be just another body on a talented and deep North Carolina roster.
She's done anything but fade into the background.
The 6-foot-2 forward is leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in field-goal percentage, and is among the league leaders in several other offensive categories. Her steady presence in the post is a big reason why the No. 9 Tar Heels are among this season's elite teams.
"When I came in, I didn't try to shoot the ball every time I touched it or block every shot or gamble to steal every pass," Larkins said. "I just kind of move with the flow."
Heading into Thursday's game at Florida State, Larkins ranks second on the team in scoring (15.6 points) and first in rebounding (6.7). She ranks in the league's top 15 in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.
Perhaps most impressive is her shooting touch. She's hitting an ACC-best 66.7 percent from the floor, and has made 83 percent of her free-throw attempts, good for third in the conference.
Larkins was a McDonald's All-American as a high school senior, so she's accustomed to putting up big numbers. But she bashfully downplays the notion that she's making any kind of special contribution to the Tar Heels (14-2, 2-1 ACC).
"I didn't go out trying to be the star of the Carolina team," she said. "I don't even consider myself a star. I'm just blending in, I guess."
Larkins says her good shot selection is a result of her teammates' strong perimeter shooting, which gives her room to move inside and create open shots.
While those things are true, the fact that an 18-year-old says them with the conviction of a senior illustrates her maturity.
As North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell puts it: "She just doesn't play like a freshman."
"She's so strong and powerful," said Maryland coach Brenda Frese, whose team is one of only two this season to hold Larkins under 50-percent shooting in a game. "She's just so versatile. She's very difficult to defend down low."
Larkins learned the game from her 6-4 father, Earl Larkins. The former high school forward recalls coming home from work to find his 7-year-old daughter dribbling a basketball in the driveway of their Florida home, waiting for her next lesson.
He taught her to dribble with either hand and to defend him in the post.
Now she puts those skills to use as she slides through the paint, ready to score the moment a pass arrives. In her first college game, she showed she was ready to play at this level, scoring 16 points in 17 minutes against Elon.
She moved into the starting lineup after just eight games, and had a career-high 23 points in a 77-75 win at North Carolina State on Friday.
For her teammates, Larkins is the perfect security blanket.
"I love it," said Ivory Latta, the Tar Heels' 5-6 point guard. "My job can't get any easier with a great post player like her. It's hard to explain her game. She can do so much."
Now Larkins has to maintain what only two months ago would have been considered a surprisingly high level of play for a rookie. Not that she sounds concerned.
"I don't care if I score two points," Larkins said. "I just want to win."
