Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 7, 1991 TAG: 9102070208
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Doug Doughty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"People ask if he's in the same league as [Aaron] Sparrow," said Reamon, speaking of the Parade All-America quarterback who signed with Virginia. "I'd like to turn that around and ask, `Is Sparrow in the same league as Fred Lassiter?' "
Some services have listed Lassiter as an "athlete" capable of playing one of several positions, but Reamon would not allow schools to recruit Lassiter who didn't project him as a quarterback.
"Tech was in there from the start, but [the Hokies] had to convince Fred and me that they would use him as a quarterback," Reamon said. "You don't have a quarterback outside of [Will] Furrer who can touch Fred Lassiter."
Obviously, Reamon has not seen Maurice DeShazo, the Bassett High quarterback who was rated one of the top five prospects in the state before signing with Tech in 1989.
"I see Furrer leaving [after the 1991 season], Lassiter red-shirting and then dealing one-on-one with DeShazo," Reamon said. "I understand people have a lot of respect for DeShazo, but he's not Fred Lassiter as far as throwing the football."
Neither is Sparrow, Reamon said.
"Every coach in America who came into Portsmouth said there's no difference," Reamon said. "The only difference is Fred Lassiter will be the more successful college passer. People see [Sparrow's] stats and the 80-yard bombs, but Lassiter has been exposed to more of a college scheme."
Reamon credited Tech assistant Keith Jones for recruiting Lassiter - "If it wasn't for Keith Jones, he wouldn't be there," Reamon said - and said the intention all along was for Lassiter and his older brother, Kwamie, to attend the same school.
Kwamie Lassiter was a second-team junior-college All-American at Butler (Kan.) Community College and "will make pro football," Reamon said.
\ Symmion Willis, a little-known quarterback from Mays High in Atlanta, became the 21st player to commit to UVa before signing with the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Willis (6 feet 4 1/2, 195 pounds) was not rated among the top 100 prospects in Georgia despite drawing the recruiting interest of UVa, Purdue, East Carolina and Georgia Tech. He runs 40 yards in 4.55 seconds and will finish his career with 12 letters - four each in football, basketball and baseball.
"We had a tailback who rushed for over 4,000 yards the last two years," Mays coach Kirby McDaniel, "but [Willis] runs the option and he can throw the football. I think he'll have a great college career. He's in the same mold as Shawn Moore."
Virginia continues to recruit one player, All-America offensive tackle Russell Babb from Wilson, N.C., who has narrowed his choices to UVa and North Carolina. Babb reportedly is waiting to learn if he will receive a Morehead Scholarship, a prestigious academic grant.
\ Eric Workman, the last uncommitted member of the Roanoke Times & World-News Top 25, signed a letter-of-intent with Wake Forest. Workman, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound offensive guard from Graham High in Bluefield, picked the Deacons over West Virginia. He is the seventh player from Virginia and third Top 25 selection to pick Wake Forest.
\ VMI may have set a school record for first-day commitments with 18. Seven are from Virginia and six are from Ohio, football coach Jim Shuck's home state. The Keydets are looking at a place-kicker and may offer one more scholarship.
\ James Madison announced nine football signees, but new coach Rip Scherer said the Dukes had received commitments from 18 players, including quarterback Gary Lyons from Ringgold High School, Joe Montana's alma mater in Monongahela, Pa.
Scherer said he expected to sign eight state players and "would like to do better than that in the future."
"The late start did hurt us. A lot of the Division I-AA kids were undecided, but there are so many alternatives in Virginia that we were behind."
The Dukes were 5-6 this past season and face a 1991 schedule that includes Virginia Tech, Appalachian State, William and Mary and Youngstown State on the road. Division I-AA champion Georgia Southern and rising power Central Florida come to Harrisonburg.
"The way I feel about it is, if you're looking for reasons not to win, you'll find 'em," said Scherer, the former offensive coordinator at Arizona. "I think that's too easy of a copout. It's a heckuva challenge, though. We'd better be ready."
\ Clemson senior Donnell Bruce, who scored 21 points in the entire 1989-90 basketball season, got a rare start Saturday night at South Carolina and scored 23 points in the Tigers' 58-53 loss to the Gamecocks. Bruce, averaging 2.4 points for the season, played the entire 40 minutes.
\ Sue Logsdon, a freshman at Virginia Tech, has made 55 of 61 free throws and ranks first in the Metro Conference and fifth in Division I in field-goal percentage (90.2). Logsdon, from Barberton, Ohio, set a school record earlier this year by making all 13 of her attempts against William and Mary.
by CNB