Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 21, 1991 TAG: 9104210128
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: WAYNESBORO LENGTH: Medium
What he did not envision was his choice of Virginia.
"Home is where the heart is," Alexander said Saturday after paying tribute to a long list of relatives and friends. "That's [home] where my mom is. So, I'd like to announce today that for the next four years I'll be a Wahoo."
Alexander's announcement was greeted by a 40-second ovation from a crowd of 250 at the Waynesboro YMCA, many of whom were wearing UVa paraphernalia in anticipation of the event.
"Did all you all know something or were you trying to convince me?" Alexander asked. "I see Virginia sweatshirts all over the place."
Alexander, a 6-foot-1 point guard, made the McDonald's and Parade All-American first teams and was voted Mr. Basketball in Virginia by the Roanoke Times & World-News.
Although he spent his senior year playing for coach Steve Smith at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Alexander's home is in Waynesboro, 28 miles from the UVa campus.
"Coach Smith has been telling me, `If you're going to sign with Michigan, let me know so I can get out of town,' " said Alexander, who said he did not make up his mind until Thursday.
Alexander's mother, Bonita Wallace, said the news conference would have been held at Oak Hill, more than three hours to the southwest, if she had known her son was not going to Virginia.
"I would not have brought it here," she said. "He didn't tell me where he was going [until Friday], but I know my son. He wanted an exciting press conference and that's what he got."
It was only UVa and Michigan at the end. Alexander also had visited Arizona, but the Wildcats recently took themselves out of the running when they signed Damon Stoudamire, one of the top point guards on the West Coast.
"I talked to them before they did it," Alexander said. "They gave me my chance [to sign before Stoudamire], but Michigan came on strong over the last month and they were really ahead of Arizona."
Alexander's original favorite was Georgia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets took another point guard, Travis Best, when Alexander indicated he would not sign until the spring.
"I liked Georgia Tech, but now I realize where I wanted to be," said Alexander, who admitted the opportunity to play in the ACC was a big influence. "I was never a Virginia fan when I was growing up, but I am now. I wasn't an Oak Hill fan when I was at Flint Hill last year, but when I put on the uniform, it didn't take long."
Alexander averaged 15.9 points and 9.4 assists this past season for Oak Hill, which finished 27-1 and was ranked No. 3 in the country by USA Today. Alexander was injured and did not play in Oak Hill's only loss.
"He really brings the total package," said Virginia coach Jeff Jones, who, according to NCAA rules, was not allowed to attend the news conference. "He is very talented and knows how to lead a team. I look for Cory to contribute right away."
The opportunity to start as a freshman was the main selling point for Alexander, rated the No. 1 point guard in the country by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. John Crotty, UVa's starting point guard for three seasons, is a senior.
"I have confidence in my ability," Alexander said. "I think I'll do everything I have to in order to win the spot. Coach Jones will probably feel more heat than I will if I don't start."
Smith, contacted at the Derby Classic in Louisville, Ky., said he would not encourage most players to hold out as long as Alexander before making an announcement.
"I can usually alter the course of recruiting as far as speeding it up or slowing it down," the Oak Hill coach said, "but Cory is Cory. He's never been a problem, though. He comes in with all this glamour about him, but he doesn't walk around with his head in the air."
Alexander is the second Oak Hill player to sign with Virginia this year, joining his 6-8 roommate, Thomas "Junior" Burrough. Alexander, Burrough and 6-8 Yuri Barnes are ranked among the top 30 prospects in the country, and 6-9 Chris Alexander and 6-5 Jason Williford are in the top 100.
Gibbons said he ranks UVa's class third behind Michigan and Kansas.
"I'll give you Michigan," Cory Alexander said, "but I think we're second."
It was the first time UVa had signed the state's top-ranked prospect since Harrisonburg's Ralph Sampson in 1979, and the Cavaliers had not landed a first-team Parade All-American since Tom Sheehey since 1983. What's more, Alexander will be the first Waynesboro product to play basketball for Virginia since the mid-1950s.
"A lot of people around here weren't Virginia fans till Ralph Sampson went there," Alexander's mother said. "They will be now. That's guaranteed. I'm proud to see Cory going to the college of his choice, and this is his choice."
by CNB