Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 12, 1993 TAG: 9307120071
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Staples, the leading scorer for Roanoke's Patrick Henry High School when it won the Group AAA state championship in 1992, spent the 1992-93 season at St. John's at Prospect Hall in Frederick, Md.
Staples is the second prominent St. John's player to transfer to Oak Hill since the end of the season, joining backcourt partner Tarik Turner, whose father expressed concern about the living conditions at St. John's.
"It was a factor in my decision," said Staples, who, like Turner, lived at the home of St. John's coach Stu Vetter. "I'm not going into detail, but it's a much better situation at Oak Hill."
Staples and Turner join two starters and 7-foot Mark Blount, a top frontcourt reserve, from an Oak Hill team that finished 36-0 and was ranked anywhere from No. 1 to No. 3 in the country last season. St. John's, ranked No. 6, suffered its only two losses to Oak Hill.
"They were our top rival [on the court]," Staples said. "We were friends off the court, though. I have high hopes for next year's team."
Staples returned Sunday from the Nike camp in Indianapolis, where 131 of the nation's top prospects were assembled. He was one of 20 players selected to play in the all-star game.
"I didn't see anybody shoot it any better than Curtis for the duration of the camp," Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said. "His consistency stood out. I think he really helped himself."
Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons earlier had rated Staples third among the nation's shooting guards; however, the No. 1 player on that list, Miles Simon from Santa Ana, Calif., was an alternate for the Nike all-star game.
Staples scored 20 points for the victorious White team in the all-star game, in which he was paired with Allen Iverson from Group AAA champion Bethel High School of Hampton. In earlier competition, Staples' camp team took the gold medal with a 12-1 record.
"I shot well and played good defense," said Staples, who said he was measured at 6 feet 2 1/2 inches, taller than some publications have listed him, "but most of the compliments I got from the coaches were about my hustle."
Rumors of Staples' move to Oak Hill intensified with the announcement of Turner's transfer, "but that's not the main reason I'm going," Staples said. "He's my best friend, though, and we look forward to being together on the court."
Staples said he considered Oak Hill after his sophomore year at Patrick Henry, but he took a visit to Harker Prep in Potomac, Md., where Vetter previously coached, and made the decision to go with Vetter if he went anywhere.
"Harker folded, but by that point I was pretty much committed to Coach Vetter," Staples said. "It never even got as far as me visiting Oak Hill."
Staples said he felt some relief at having his school situation resolved, "but I've tried not to think about it a lot."
"My parents have handled the whole situation," he said. "I could have played pretty much anywhere."
Distractions have not been evident in Staples' play at Nike and at the Five-Star Camp at Hampden-Sydney College, where he was named the all-star game MVP. He leaves Saturday for the AAU 17-and-under national tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Staples' teammates on the AAU team include Derrick Hines and Jemare Crump from William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Shannon Taylor from Patrick Henry and Mark Byington from Salem.
by CNB