Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 2, 1993 TAG: 9311020113
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
That's why Thorn, who helped Blacksburg to a 27-0 record and Group A girls' basketball championship in 1992, has decided to play college ball at East Carolina.
"The town and the college reminded me of Blacksburg and [Virginia] Tech," said Thorn, who visited East Carolina on Oct. 15-16 and visited Winthrop a week later. "It felt like I was at home, although it was tough convincing my dad [Danny] that five-and-a-half hours isn't that far away. He wanted me to stay close to home so he could watch me play."
Thorn, a senior point guard, canceled a visit to nearby Radford this weekend. Radford is expecting a commitment later this week from Wilma Walton, a highly touted guard from Wheeling, W.Va., and is reluctant to sign another backcourt player.
Thorn called East Carolina coach Rosie Thompson Friday night to inform the second-year coach of her decision.
East Carolina lost all five starters from last year's 16-12 squad that finished fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association. Thorn said she expects to be part of a young team again next year.
"I'm excited about the future there," she said.
Thorn is averaging 10.7 points and 6.4 assists per game for the Indians, who are 18-1 and ranked third in Timesland.
A four-year letter-winner, she averaged 11.1 points and 6.8 assists per game during the state championship season.
Although she's played the point for the past three years, her real talent is as a shooter. She's 35-of-73 (47.0 percent) on 3-point tries this year, 93-of-232 (40 percent) in her career.
"The way we do things here, she has sacrificed some individual recognition to help the team as a whole," said Blacksburg coach Mickey McGuigan. "On about any other team, she would have had better individual numbers."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***