SchoolDay: Two giant leaps
Duncanville pair's jump from middle school to varsity requires more than talent
11:33 PM CST on Wednesday, February 1, 2006
By RANDY JENNINGS / The Dallas Morning News
DUNCANVILLE – Before Duncanville freshmen Shawn Williams and Roger Franklin were teammates, they were rivals.
As fifth-graders, they clashed on AAU teams. "I didn't like him," Williams said flatly.
Franklin said the feeling was mutual. His dislike was built more on the outcome of those games. Williams' teams won all
12. "He had superstars on his team," Franklin said. Even when they became seventh-grade teammates at Byrd Middle
School, it took about two months for the ice to melt. "I felt like he was trying to take my spot," Williams said. "But I finally
realized what kind of a person he was." Now, they are best friends. They go to the movies and mall together when they
aren't helping Duncanville (21-6, 8-1) challenge DeSoto for the District 7-5A title. The two still compete. That shows in
epic PlayStation battles or in shooting contests after practice. But they don't guard each other.
They're like brothers, Williams said. "We can talk about each other," he said, "but no one else can."
It turns out they have a lot in common. They were born in the same Oklahoma City hospital about 70 days apart, with the
same doctor performing the delivery. Both of their mothers played basketball. They agree the best thing about playing
varsity basketball as freshmen is the attention it draws from girls. Until their arrival, Duncanville coach Phil McNeely had
started only one freshman in 21 seasons. "Both are smart on the court way above their years," McNeely said. "They are
very competitive. Shawn is more laid-back, and Roger is more emotional." The coach said he knew they had a chance to
be varsity players when he watched them in the seventh grade. That opinion was reinforced when he saw them play last
summer against older players. But making the varsity jump requires more than just basketball talent.
"They had to be mature enough to be accepted by the rest of the team," McNeely said. "These guys spend a lot more
time together than just the 64 minutes of games each week." Roger Franklin (left) and Shawn Williams are a rarity for
Duncanville. They're starting on the varsity as freshmen. Williams said being accepted by teammates was one thing. But
opponents' respect for freshmen is harder to earn. "They look down on us. We have to prove ourselves every night," he
said. But they don't have to prove anything to their coach. "I stopped thinking of them as freshmen a long time ago,"
McNeely said.
E-mail rjennings@dallasnews.com
DUNCANVILLE'S FANTASTIC FRESHMEN
Roger Franklin (left) and Shawn Williams (right) play a game of horse after practice.
Shawn Williams Category Roger Franklin
6-6, 185 Height, weight 6-5, 195
Reggie Miller Favorite player Tracy McGrady
English Favorite school subject Geography
Hot Boy Shawn Nickname Big Rog
11.6, 6.5 Points, rebounds per game 7.6, 4.4
Franklin on Williams: "He's too quick for forward and too big for guard. He can shoot, dribble and see the floor."
Williams on Franklin: "He's a power player. He's Tim Duncan with a Ben Wallace attitude."
Duncanville pair's jump from middle school to varsity requires more than talent
11:33 PM CST on Wednesday, February 1, 2006
By RANDY JENNINGS / The Dallas Morning News
DUNCANVILLE – Before Duncanville freshmen Shawn Williams and Roger Franklin were teammates, they were rivals.
As fifth-graders, they clashed on AAU teams. "I didn't like him," Williams said flatly.
Franklin said the feeling was mutual. His dislike was built more on the outcome of those games. Williams' teams won all
12. "He had superstars on his team," Franklin said. Even when they became seventh-grade teammates at Byrd Middle
School, it took about two months for the ice to melt. "I felt like he was trying to take my spot," Williams said. "But I finally
realized what kind of a person he was." Now, they are best friends. They go to the movies and mall together when they
aren't helping Duncanville (21-6, 8-1) challenge DeSoto for the District 7-5A title. The two still compete. That shows in
epic PlayStation battles or in shooting contests after practice. But they don't guard each other.
They're like brothers, Williams said. "We can talk about each other," he said, "but no one else can."
It turns out they have a lot in common. They were born in the same Oklahoma City hospital about 70 days apart, with the
same doctor performing the delivery. Both of their mothers played basketball. They agree the best thing about playing
varsity basketball as freshmen is the attention it draws from girls. Until their arrival, Duncanville coach Phil McNeely had
started only one freshman in 21 seasons. "Both are smart on the court way above their years," McNeely said. "They are
very competitive. Shawn is more laid-back, and Roger is more emotional." The coach said he knew they had a chance to
be varsity players when he watched them in the seventh grade. That opinion was reinforced when he saw them play last
summer against older players. But making the varsity jump requires more than just basketball talent.
"They had to be mature enough to be accepted by the rest of the team," McNeely said. "These guys spend a lot more
time together than just the 64 minutes of games each week." Roger Franklin (left) and Shawn Williams are a rarity for
Duncanville. They're starting on the varsity as freshmen. Williams said being accepted by teammates was one thing. But
opponents' respect for freshmen is harder to earn. "They look down on us. We have to prove ourselves every night," he
said. But they don't have to prove anything to their coach. "I stopped thinking of them as freshmen a long time ago,"
McNeely said.
E-mail rjennings@dallasnews.com
DUNCANVILLE'S FANTASTIC FRESHMEN
Roger Franklin (left) and Shawn Williams (right) play a game of horse after practice.
Shawn Williams Category Roger Franklin
6-6, 185 Height, weight 6-5, 195
Reggie Miller Favorite player Tracy McGrady
English Favorite school subject Geography
Hot Boy Shawn Nickname Big Rog
11.6, 6.5 Points, rebounds per game 7.6, 4.4
Franklin on Williams: "He's too quick for forward and too big for guard. He can shoot, dribble and see the floor."
Williams on Franklin: "He's a power player. He's Tim Duncan with a Ben Wallace attitude."
