Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990 TAG: 9003112564
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Bob Teitlebaum
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
"It's been a good year and we had a lot of fun," said Al Copenhaver, the Maroons' coach. "I hate to lose Jamie Lee. He's phenomenal."
Lee rewrote the basketball record book at Wythe. He scored 1,533 points in his career, and led the New River District in scoring, rebounds, assists and free-throw shooting percentage as a senior.
At 6-foot-4, Lee played guard and proved he could shoot with the best of them. Yet, you can count on the fingers of one hand the Division I schools seeking to sign him to a letter-of-intent.
In Lee's case, grades are no problem. The knock on him is that he may be a step slow to play guard or a couple of inches short to be a forward.
Yet, Blacksburg's Jay Purcell was signed by Virginia Tech during the November recruiting period. Statistically, Purcell didn't have the success of Lee, but starting last season, everyone heard that Purcell was a Division I prospect at guard.
Lee is considering VMI and Marshall for basketball, or James Madison for baseball with the promise of basketball aid if coach Lefty Driesell finds an opening in his full drawer of recruited talent. Lee is a shortstop-pitcher and says he likes basketball and baseball equally.
Radford University also is back in the chase for Lee after trying desperately to sign him early and then, according to Copenhaver, cooling on the Wythe star.
"Other than that, there's just a bunch of small schools," said Lee.
"With his accomplishments," said Copenhaver, "I'm surprised [he hasn't had more offers].
"Who gets recruited heavily around the area other than someone at Patrick Henry when they won the state? No one. They're after the 6-9 or 6-10 guy."
If Copenhaver is disappointed, Lee is not. He is ecstatic about the prospect of choosing from among VMI, Marshall and Radford in basketball and JMU in baseball.
It might seem that VMI and Marshall, the two leading schools for Lee's services, are not a good fit, but he disagrees.
"I'm very interested in VMI, and I plan to make an official visit; the same with Marshall. The Rat Line [for first-year students at VMI] is tough. You just have to look at the aspect of a strong academic program and that it's great to graduate from VMI," said Lee.
"I'm not surprised I haven't been recruited more. It's tough to get a Division I scholarship. I feel fortunate to get a couple of Division I schools to consider me."
There is the natural disappointment that Wythe lost its first-round Group AA tournament game here against Martinsville 78-60. But Lee even shakes that off.
"I was pleased with the year I had," he said. "I was happy to be here. You know this is the first team I've played on in four years that made it out of the district. I thought our team did a good job."
Spoken like a true guard who served as a leader for four years at Wythe.
\ Though the basketball opening at Jefferson Forest has yet to be advertised, several sources inside and outside the Seminole District say school officials already have a good idea who will be the Cavaliers' next coach.
According to the sources, who would speak only anonymously, Jim Hawley, who coached at Group AAA Heritage until three years ago, will come out of retirement to replace Ray Davidson.
Jefferson Forest principal James Peak would not comment except to say he didn't expect to have a new coach until April, when he finds out what teaching openings are available at the school.
Hawley still lives in Campbell County, but his home is just over the Bedford County line and very close to Jefferson Forest.
Lexington football coach Chuck Marrs says All-Group A defensive back Anthony Merchant will attend Fork Union Military Academy in the fall, with the intention of earning a football scholarship to Virginia Tech.
Merchant has given talks to student groups in recent months about how he didn't put forth an effort in school until it was too late to qualify under Proposition 48 guidelines for freshman eligibility.
by CNB