Catawba: The dunker, Donald Rutherford

Catawba College's Donald Rutherford (32) underpressure by Brevard's Donald Hudson (45) and Jonathan Whitson (30). Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

By Ronnie Gallagher

rgallagher@salisburypost.com

The first time Catawba fans saw Donald Rutherford score, it was a dunk.

Four years later, he is still throwing down some monster slams.

Hard to believe this high-flying, 6-foot-7, 205-pound stud was once considered a runt who was cut from his high school team.

But it's true.

Basketball didn't seem to be in Rutherford's future when he attended Freedom High School in Morganton. He was 5-9 and skinny. He played a a freshman, but not the next two seasons.

The first game he played as a senior, he poured in 26.

What happened?

"I went to (sleep) one summer and woke up longer than my bed," Rutherford grinned. "I grew out of all of my clothes. I had to redo my whole wardrobe."

It was as if someone had rubbed a magic lamp. Rutherford was suddenly an all-conference player as a senior in 2005, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds. He was team captain.

"People were like, 'Where's this guy been?' " Rutherford laughs now.

His big break was playing on an AAU team coached by former Catawba coach Sam Moir, whose grandson was also on the team.

Catawba coach Jim Baker was recruiting the grandson when Moir told him to take a look at Rutherford.

Once on campus, things got interesting.

"Donald may have weighed 160," marveled Baker. "He could hardly bench the bar."

Rutherford was also aloof. He was shy and homesick. He would go home and forget what time practice was.

"We couldn't find him half the time," Baker said. "He was overwhelmed."

Rutherford redshirted, but Baker said, "I was getting near my limit."

Baker went to trainer Bob Casmus about Rutherford's migraines. Medicine was tweaked, and again, he became a new man.

"All of a sudden," Baker said, "he started working, biting in the weight room and making 3.0 in the classroom."

By Rutherford's junior year, double-doubles were commonplace — as was his crowd-pleasing dunks.

Rutherford says he doesn't hear the cheers in the bleachers.

"I hear my mom," he smiled. "She's the only one I hear."

Gail has to be a proud mother. She watched her shy kid gain some confidence and he is now one of the SAC's most powerful players, averaging 15.6 points and seven rebounds. He shoots 57 percent from the field.

It has been two incredible turnarounds — in high school and college.

"Now, Donald is like that old dog who sits on your porch," Baker said. "He's as loyal and faithful as they come."