Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 9, 1993 TAG: 9305090037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Virginia Tech women's coach Carol Alfano says that, most importantly, the state should unify its playing dates.
As far as recruiting, Alfano says girls who play basketball in the fall are at a disadvantage if they wish to sign in November instead of waiting until the spring.
"It slows down the process for them, trying to be seen [by coaches] and getting their home visits in during the course of the season," Alfano said. "Then when the tournaments are starting [in early November], they haven't had the time to take their visits to the school."
Alfano cites the case of Martinsville's Cynthia Lee, who will be a sophomore at Tech this fall.
Two years ago, Lee was a very good regular-season player. In the tournaments, Lee became more aggressive. She nearly had a triple-double in rebounds, blocked shots and points as she helped the Bulldogs upset Salem in the Region III Tournament. From there, Martinsville finished second in the Group AA state tournament.
"We were able to visit Cynthia and tell her that we wanted her to come to Tech. In between, several other schools talked to her. Then it became a matter of how she could get all her visits in while playing basketball," said Alfano. "While people were trying to convince Lee to come to their school, she was trying to play twice a week. Then she would have had to decide which schools to visit [each player is allowed five official visits].
"Once you get into district tournaments, there aren't many weekends to make the visits. And she was trying to figure out how to get her visits in and get ready for a tournament."
Lee came to Tech for a day, not exactly the visit Alfano had in mind.
"She had to get back for practice," the coach said. "So what we said with Cynthia is `Don't sign early. It won't fit on your calendar. Finish your season. Go to the state tournament.'
"Cynthia had been so distraught. As soon as she decided not to make a decision [for early signing], she had a great tournament. In December, Cynthia took some unofficial visits. But everything had slowed down so she could think."
On a Division I recruiting level, most coaches know the players they want because they have seen them in summer camps or in AAU play.
Alfano adds that some fall girls' players are overlooked in Virginia by smaller out-of-state colleges, which don't have an extensive scouting system, because they aren't aware that Virginia plays fall basketball.
by CNB