Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030077
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Virginia received its second commitment from a national top 25 basketball recruit when Darryl Presley of Adelphi, Md., said Wednesday he will sign with the Cavaliers.
Presley, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 14 points and eight rebounds last season for DeMatha High School, which won the D.C. Metro championship and was ranked 10th in the country by USA Today after finishing 28-4.
Presley said he picked the Cavaliers over Penn State and Minnesota. He also visited Maryland and Rice.
``The Maryland campus is five minutes from my home,'' said Presley, who is entering his third season at DeMatha in Hyattsville, Md. ``I wanted to go a little farther away from home.''
Presley was rated the No.21 prospect in his class by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons at the end of the 1993-94 season. Alexander was ranked 84th on Gibbons' early list, but has been ranked in the top 25 in two other publications.
He is the third player to announce plans to sign with Virginia during the early period, Nov.9-16. Presley joins 6-91/2 Scott Johnson from Marietta, Ga., and 6-5 Courtney Alexander from Durham, N.C.
Presley said Alexander's decision, announced in September, helped sway him. They were teammates last year on the U.S. team at the Albert Schweitzer Games in Germany.
Presley was Virginia's prime target at the small-forward spot, although the Cavaliers also pursued 6-51/2 Laron Profit, who committed to Maryland, and 6-7 Quincy Lewis, who committed to Delaware. Jeff Jones, UVa's coach, visited Presley on the first day of the fall contact period.
The Cavaliers hope to add a post player, although they appear to be fading with 6-9 Reggie Bassette from Highland Springs. Old Dominion and James Madison are back in the picture for Bassette, who has a special interest in music.
Virginia is continuing to pursue Presley's teammate, 6-10 Greg Cristell. Also, 6-10 Cal Bowdler from Rapahannock High School remains on the Cavaliers' list.
by CNB