Date Posted: 2/13/2008

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Some people just don’t know how to take no for an answer.

Campbell basketball coach Robbie Laing is thankful that Preston Dodson is among them.

Laing did everything he could to dissuade Dodson, a three-sport star from tiny Camden County High, from coming to Buies Creek and joining the Camels last fall.

He told him he was too small. He told him that he didn’t have a scholarship to give him. A member of his staff even tried to steer the undersized freshman forward to another school.

But Dodson didn’t listen to any of that.

Convinced he was a Division I player with the ability to make an impact at Campbell, Dodson enrolled anyway.

He then succeeded in proving everyone, including his coach wrong by rapidly developing into a starter and the Camels’ most reliable big man.

“I guess you’d have to say that Preston has been our most pleasant surprise this season, but in retrospect, maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised,” Laing said of his 6-foot-5, 210-pound walkon.

“We knew he had some ability from the first time we saw him. We just had doubts about whether he could compete at this level because of his size. I guess maybe we should have given a little more consideration to size of his heart.”

The son of an active-duty Navy Seal, Dodson is averaging 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

Since moving into the starting lineup on Jan. 24 against Florida Gulf Goast, his production has improved to 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds — despite giving up considerable height and weight advantages to nearly everyone he faces.

“I’m used to going up against bigger guys,” Dodson said. “Most of the time, instincts and toughness are more important than how tall you are.”

He proved that recently in a game against Stetson, when he blocked a shot against the Hatters’ 6-9, 250-pound Tim Lang while neutralizing the senior from Australia to a statistical standoff.

By Brett Friedlander
Staff writer

Related Links:
 • Full Article at Fayetteville Observer