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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 13, 1994                   TAG: 9404130021
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ALL QUIET ON SIGNING FRONT DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER

UVA'S RECRUITING is over, and Tech still has three scholarships to offer. The start of the spring recruiting period will be marked by inactivity in the state of Virginia today, at least in part because three of the 11 men's basketball programs are changing coaches.

VMI and Old Dominion are looking for coaches and Charlie Woollum only last week assumed the reins at his alma mater, William and Mary.

There were no announcements expected today at Virginia, Virginia Tech or Radford. In fact, UVa coach Jeff Jones indicated the Cavaliers were finished for the year after 6-7 LeRon Williams from Bradenton, Fla., said Tuesday he will sign with Florida.

Williams, named Mr. Basketball in Florida, picked the Gators over UVa and Purdue.

"We already had the guys in the program who will have the biggest impact next year," said Jones, who will have five scholarships at his disposal in 1994-1995 - six if Cory Alexander elects not to return for his final season of eligibility.

A more pressing concern is the future of Jones' staff. Less than one week after assistant Dennis Wolff was named head coach at Boston University, Jones confirmed Tuesday that his other full-time aide, Brian Ellerbe, is under consideration by Loyola of Baltimore.

Jones has been informed that he must advertise the Wolff vacancy for one month; however, he will petition the NCAA to send part-time assistant Tom Perrin on the road to recruit.

Virginia Tech entertained 6-8 Keefe Mathews from Jacksonville (Texas) College last weekend and this weekend will bring in 6-6 Shawn Browne from Montreal by way of Hargrave Military Academy. Scheduled visitor Matt Harpring from Atlanta has canceled his trip in anticipation that he will sign with Georgia Tech.

"We're only involved with a couple of players who have visited or will visit," coach Bill Foster said, "but you never stop recruiting. We're allowed on the road from this Friday until next Friday, then not again till July. So, we can't afford not to be out there."

The Hokies have three scholarships available, with one likely to go to David Jackson, a transfer from North Carolina-Asheville. Foster said Wednesday he would like to sign one more player, but the Hokies would take Mathews and Brown if both wanted to come.

At Radford, Ron Bradley has two scholarships available and is waiting to hear from 6-3 Danny Johnson, who scored 37 points for Morganton, N.C., in the Class 4A state championship game. Tennessee and Clemson are also involved.

"I'm not in a rush," Bradley said. "We need to get somebody who can score; we don't have a true small forward in the program."

by CNB