Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 2, 1994 TAG: 9402020125
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FOREST LENGTH: Medium
Poindexter, the Group AA state defensive player of the year from Jefferson Forest, said Tuesday he will sign a letter-of-intent today with UVa. His other visits were to North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.
"It was probably Sunday morning when I decided it was the place for me," said Poindexter, who played quarterback and safety for Jefferson Forest but will concentrate on defense when he goes to college. "A week ago I was leaning to North Carolina."
Poindexter was selected one of the top five prospects in Virginia by the Roanoke Times & World-News. Two other top five prospects remain uncommitted, All-Group AAA quarterback Tony Morrison from Indian River High in Chesapeake and quarterback Aaron Brooks from Ferguson High in Newport News.
Morrison, who may play defense in college, is expected to sign today with either Virginia Tech or Virginia. Brooks may wait until the weekend before choosing from among UVa, Maryland, Clemson and Missouri.
The other top five choices were running back Ken Oxendine from Thomas Dale High in Chester and quarterback Toney Coles from Huguenot High in Richmond. Coles committed to North Carolina in December; Oxendine announced for Virginia Tech on Monday.
Poindexter and Oxendine were the lone Virginia players selected to the SuperPrep All-America team and were ranked the Nos. 1 and 2 prospects in the state by that publication.
The addition of Poindexter brings to 17 the number of prospects who have committed to UVa, a list that includes 6-foot-5, 275-pound Fady Chamoun, a defensive lineman from Canfield, Ohio. At least three of those players - Shannon Taylor, Tony Agee and Tony Dingle - are not expected to sign until their test scores improve.
Tech has received oral commitments from 17 players, one of whom was believed wavering Tuesday. Running back Cordell Smith from DeMatha High in Hyattsville, Md., was thought to be considering North Carolina State, possibly as a result of the Oxendine commitment.
Oxendine, incidentally, did not receive a call from ex-Virginia running back Terry Kirby, as was reported Tuesday. That would have been an NCAA violation. Rather, it was Oxendine who placed calls to Kirby, as well as former Virginia Tech running backs Vaughn Hebron and Tony Paige.
Poindexter's announcement at a Tuesday news conference did not come as a great surprise because he apparently made his intentions known to the UVa staff during his visit this past weekend.
"I could see it in his face when he came down to breakfast Sunday morning," Poindexter's father, John, said. "I'll be honest with you, I thought he was going to North Carolina, but when I saw the expression on his face, I knew [Virginia] was the place.
"It's a secret he's holding in there somewhere. I hope he tells me one day what it was. I don't think he's telling it all."
The older Poindexter is an avid North Carolina fan, but Anthony and his older brother, John, have liked Virginia since three-time national player of the year Ralph Sampson played basketball for the Cavaliers.
"I liked all four schools [from the start]," Poindexter said, "Virginia was a little higher on my list. I always wanted to be there."
Poindexter was to have taken his first recruiting visit to UVa, but was forced to postpone the trip when Jefferson Forest kept winning. The Cavaliers have won back-to-back Division 3 state championships.
"I assured [UVa assistant] Danny [Wilmer] that Anthony would be there for his visit," Jefferson Forest coach Bob Christmas said. "I think it helped Virginia, in the final analysis, that it had the last visit."
Poindexter, who rushed for 1,039 yards in Jefferson Forest's wishbone attack, had five interceptions from his safety spot and was known for his hitting.
"No one's going to come up and lay a lick like Anthony," Christmas said. "He covers more ground than anybody I've ever coached and, when he gets there, he does a lot of damage. He's fearless.
"He is a certainly a good athlete, but that's not what makes him a great football player. He's a producer."
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.