THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997             TAG: 9701090507
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: OVERLAND PARK, KAN.               LENGTH:   27 lines

BLACK ATHLETES' COLLEGE STATS UP IN NCAA STUDY

The number of black athletes enrolling in Division I schools that grant scholarships is on the rebound after falling off when Proposition 48 was adopted 10 years ago, the NCAA said Wednesday.

The first long-term study of the academic standards rule's impact was released on the same day the NCAA was hit with a federal lawsuit alleging discrimination against black athletes from the use of SAT scores to determine freshman eligibility.

The NCAA said blacks made up 27.3 percent of all student-athletes entering the schools in 1985, falling to 23.6 percent in 1986. By 1989, it had recovered somewhat, to 25 percent.

The study also showed a rise in graduation rates among black male student-athletes - from 34 percent of the freshman class of 1985, the last year before Proposition 48, to 41 percent of 1986 freshmen, and 43 percent of 1989 freshmen.

KEYWORDS: NCAA BLACK ATHLETES STUDY LAWSUIT

DISCRIMINATION ELIGIBILITY