By MIKE POTTER wmp@herald-sun.com; 419-6604
             The Herald-Sun
             Friday, February 08, 2002
             Final Edition
             Sports Section
             Page B3

             Dekendric Perry never figured he'd be playing for his old high school coach again
             when he signed to play basketball with N.C. Central. But when Phil Spence became
             the Eagles' head coach before the 2000-01 season, the young big man and the
             older big man were together again. Just like back at East Wake High.

             "It's a good thing I liked playing for him before," said the 6-9, 200-pound Perry, who
             as a fifth-year senior runs the floor with as much agility as any post player in the
             CIAA. "When he came here after Coach [Greg] Jackson left, I knew I could tell the
             guys what to expect.

             "I've only been playing basketball for nine years, and he's been my coach for six of
             them. Now I know him like the back of my own hand. His motivational tactics,
             everything. The most important thing he has taught me is how to keep fighting and
             be strong no matter what. It's a tough world out there, and not everybody is
             always going to be your friend. Other people may let you down sometimes. But you
             always have the power to go 100 percent."

             Both Spence and Perry got some tough tests earlier this season, Spence off the
             court and Perry on it.

             Perry and flashy swingman Shawn Ray were the Eagles' co-captains when the
             season started, particularly since they were the only upperclassmen who were back
             from last season's team. And then Perry quickly became the only captain on the
             court - he was already the only true big man, since center Boswell King didn't
             become eligible until second semester - when Ray broke his left hand in a freak
             accident during warm-ups before the Eagles' season opener with Clark-Atlanta.

             And although they were competitive, the Eagles went 1-9 during Ray's absence. And
             during that stretch was when Spence was felled by his mild but near-fatal stroke
             early on the morning of Dec. 6.

             "The way Coach has come through has been a great example for the team, about
             being strong no matter what," said Perry said. "I'm just glad he's still around."

             Spence said he almost won't know what to do when Perry's NCCU career ends in a
             few weeks.

             "I've had six years with him, and he's doing a very good job for us now," Spence
             said of Perry. "He always gives a great effort. Right now I like his blocked shots first,
             rebounding second and scoring third.

             "He can run real well, he has good hands and he's a good athlete. But the best
             thing about him is that he's a fine young man from a good family. That makes him
             very coachable, and I expect him to do well in life."

             Basketball didn't always come easy to the son of Rudolph - an NCCU alumnus - and
             Faith Perry.

             He didn't make the East Wake Middle School team as a seventh-grader but made
             the cut the next year, although he admits he had a hard time catching the ball and
             doing anything with it.

             After one year on the JV at East Wake High, Spence called him up to the varsity.
             Perry was named a Street & Smith High School All-American, played for two
             conference championship teams, lettered two seasons in track and one in football.
             And he also earned a National Achievement Merit Award.

             But during his senior year he applied to UNC and was accepted without any
             considerations from the basketball office, so he had a choice of cheering on the Tar
             Heels from the stands or taking a basketball scholarship from East Carolina or the
             College of Charleston or Charleston Southern. Then Jackson came to check and see
             if he had indeed signed a Division I letter of intent, and Perry hadn't. So the former
             NCCU coach made a promise to Perry's parents.

             "He told them if I came to Central he'd look after me," Perry said. "He said we'd all
             go to church together and go to class and be like a family."

             Perry had to scrap for playing time over his first two seasons around a redshirt year,
             scoring just 38 points with 42 rebounds although he started 17 games. But last
             season he really became an integral part of the rotation, averaging 6.0 points and
             5.5 rebounds along with 44 blocks.

             This season he has averaged 10.7 points and 6.3 rebounds and has 24 blocks.

             Perry said he'd love a chance to get paid to play basketball if it falls into his lap, but
             he doesn't have NBA stars in his eyes. He'd like a longer career in the sports field.
             The big man wants to be an agent.

             "My favorite movie is Jerry Maguire and my favorite TV show is Arliss," he said. "I'd
             like to start right away, although I know I'm going to have to go to law school first
             so I understand contract law. But I'm definitely interested in that as a career."