Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 21, 1991 TAG: 9103210115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Doug Doughty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"If there's any indication from a school he may not start, he's not going to go there," Alexander's mother, Bonita Wallace, said. "If they can't guarantee he's going to start, he can't guarantee he's going to come."
Alexander, the point guard for Oak Hill Academy, has announced he will hold a news conference April 20 in Waynesboro.
Alexander's original plan was to announce his decision April 10, the first day of the early signing period, but that was inconvenient. Alexander will play in the McDonald's All-America Game in Springfield, Mass., on April 6, and the Dapper Dan Classic in Pittsburgh on April 14.
Alexander has committed to holding the news conference at the YMCA in Waynesboro, which limits him to a weekend since he doesn't want to miss any more school than necessary. Oak Hill is a 3 1/2-hour drive from Waynesboro.
Alexander has said that he is favoring Virginia and Arizona, although he and his mother on Tuesday entertained coaches from Michigan and North Carolina State. James Madison remains a long shot.
Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said it appeared that Alexander was leaning toward UVa when he left for spring vacation March 7, but Smith did not expect to sit down with Alexander again until school resumes Monday.
\ Shortly after the news conference March 13 announcing his removal as Virginia Tech's head basketball coach, Frankie Allen drove to Hargrave Military Academy with assistant Tic Price to meet with early signee Jay Thompson.
A Hargrave assistant coach and Allen's other aide at Tech, Jim Baker, both said Allen and Price spoke favorably of Tech to Thompson, a 6-foot-8, 240-pounder.
Under NCAA rules, coaches cannot comment on prospective recruits; however, Tech reportedly is competing with South Carolina, Maryland and Wichita State for 6-8 John Smith of Columbia, S.C., and still is involved with 6-5 swingman Del Savage of Pottstown, Pa.
Gary Fulmer, coach at Lower Richlands High School in Columbia, S.C., said Tech had been pursuing point guard Tyrone Wilson, but Wilson dropped Tech from his list of choices before the coaching change.
\ Providence guard Eric Murdock, hospitalized in February 1990 for an irregular heartbeat, is the winner of the U.S. Basketball Association's Most Courageous Award. Murdock averaged more than 27 points this year and set the Division I record for career steals.
Murdock was six months old when his mother died after being hit by a car. He never knew his father and raised by his grandmother, who had 13 children of her own. Murdock had a stress fracture in one of his legs before learning of his heart condition, which requires medication.
Murdock was not selected to the preseason All-Big East team, but he has made several All-America teams and set a record for points (433) in conference play. He scored 48 points against Pittsburgh and 45 against Arizona.
\ Many people trace the emergence of Duke's basketball team to its 81-64 loss to Virginia in early January. Junior center Christian Laettner said the key factor was coach Mike Krzyzewski's decision to go with a smaller lineup featuring 6-8 slasher Grant Hill.
"Teams hadn't seen that for two years, but what it does is keep people out of the post and out of Grant Hill's way," said Laettner, who was paired early in the season with another 6-10 player, Crawford Palmer.
\ Laettner, whose foul language brought him a technical foul late in Duke's 96-74 loss to North Carolina in the ACC championship game, has not been hesitant to voice his disapproval when teammates don't follow the game plan.
"I can go to Christian and point out something positive or negative and Christian will react immediately," Krzyzewski said. "Sometimes Christian will do the same thing with teammates and they won't be as confident.
"The question is, `How do you control the incredible amount of competitiveness Christian has?' I'd rather have Christian talk, and, if there's a problem, we'll deal with it. But usually Christian's right on target."
\ Radford basketball coach Oliver Purnell reportedly is under consideration for the vacancy at East Carolina, where Mike Steele was relieved after four seasons. Purnell also has spoken with officials at Old Dominion about that opening.
\ Radford recruit Jamie Warren, instrumental in West Springfield's trip to the Group AAA state basketball semifinals, has been rated the No. 92 prospect in the country by recruiting analyst Dave Bones in the Cage Scope.
\ Former Martinsville High basketball player Travis Wells was voted most valuable player at the Navy Prep School. Wells, who averaged 22 points and four assists, plans to attend the Naval Academy in the fall.
\ William and Mary golfer Vickie Linkous, a sophomore from Roanoke, won medalist honors by one stroke over teammate Leslie Kask in the College of Charleston (S.C.) Tournament. Linkous had rounds of 87 and 82 at Wild Dunes in leading the Tribe to an 11-stroke victory.
by CNB