Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 20, 1994                   TAG: 9403200119
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SACRAMENTO, CALIF.                                LENGTH: Medium

CORNEL PARKER SURE KNOWS WHO KHALID REEVES IS

Parker has drawn an opponent's top perimeter threat for most of his Virginia career, so there was little question he would guard Reeves if the Cavaliers faced second-seeded Arizona in the West Regional.

"Derrick Johnson [a former teammate] called me before we came out here and said Reeves was the best player he faced in high school," Parker said. "I don't know if he has a weakness."

It looked for a time Friday as if Parker wouldn't be facing Reeves - or anybody - before the seventh-seeded UVa rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to defeat New Mexico 57-54.

The Wildcats advanced easily with an 81-55 victory over Loyola (Md.) as Reeves led the way with 32 points. He has scored 30 points or more in seven games, with a high of 40 against Michigan.

"To be honest with you, it's one of my toughest tests," said Parker, touted as the best all-round defender in college basketball by television commentator Dick Vitale.

Reeves was confused Saturday when a reporter asked about his meeting with "Cornel," then he explained that he was aware of Parker but didn't know his first name.

"I'm just going to play my game and not worry about Parker," said Reeves, a second-team All-America selection. "If I get shut down, I get shut down."

Reeves, who is listed at 6 feet 2 1/2, said he has not been guarded by anybody taller than UCLA's 6-5 Shon Tarver, against whom he shot 5-for-15 and 8-for-21 in two games.

Parker has more than held his own against some of the top shooting guards in the country, including ACC standouts Grant Hill, Randolph Childress, Bob Sura and Donald Williams, as well as Minnesota's Voshon Lenard.

"I'd compare [Reeves] to Sura because of all the things he can do off the dribble," Parker said. "I've got to try to keep the ball out of his hands, but you're not going to deny anybody the ball for a whole game."

Parker was dissatisfied with his play against New Mexico, despite hitting a key late-game basket and shutting down Marlow White, the leading 3-point shooter in the Western Athletic Conference, who seemed gun-shy when Parker was in the game and went 1-for-9 on 3-point field-goal attempts.

"I think reputation does help sometimes," Parker said, "but I don't think reputation is going to make any difference [against Reeves]. He's got a reputation, too."