Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Richmond, which did not have a single Virginia player from west of the Blue Ridge last year, has received an oral commitment from 6-foot-7, 314-pound Roth Townsend from Northside High School in Roanoke.
Townsend, rated one of the top 25 prospects in Virginia before the season, took an official visit to Wake Forest but was unclear of the Deacons' intentions and jumped at an offer from the Spiders, according to Northside coach Jim Hickam.
``I understand sometimes where they're [recruiters] coming from,'' Hickam said, ``but in Roth and Jeff Painter, I firmly believe we have two linemen who can play for anybody. I look on television and they can do what the college kids are doing.''
Painter, an offensive guard, has had recent contact with Vanderbilt, East Carolina and James Madison. A third Northside prospect, running back Karim Thompson, will visit Virginia Tech this weekend.
THE TOP 25: With less than two weeks remaining before the national signing date, only three of the state's top 25 football prospects remain uncommitted.
Tight end Erron Kinney from Patrick Henry High School in Ashland became the last Roanoke Times & World-News Top 5 choice to make a decision when he picked Florida on Tuesday.
The state's top uncommitted prospect is defensive back Sorie Kanu from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria. Kanu has narrowed his choices to Virginia, Duke and Michigan State and hopes to reach a decision this week.
Another Top 25 prospect, defensive back Tyron Edmond from Sussex Central, has narrowed his choices to Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and James Madison. Sussex Central coach Dwight Reagan said Tech was in the lead before the visits, but stressed that Edmond would take a serious look at Wake.
Running back Boo Sensabaugh from J.I. Burton in Norton, will visit West Virginia this weekend after going to North Carolina State last weekend. Sensabaugh, the final player on the top 25 list, also has a trip planned to Kentucky.
HOKIES' UPDATE: Of the top 75 football prospects in Florida, four have Virginia Tech among their final choices, according to The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville.
Tech remains involved with seven prospects from Florida, including 5-foot-11, 205-pound Khalid Abdullah from Fort Lauderdale, who is rated the No.1 fullback in the state.
Other Florida Super 75 players considering Tech are No.4 offensive lineman Corey Yarbrough from Baker County; No.2 strong safety Theon Rackley from Tallahassee; and No.4 all-purpose prospect Jason Bostic from Fort Lauderdale.
Tech, which has four oral commitments, plans to have 17 prospects on campus this weekend and 14 the following weekend, with a half dozen or so scheduled to visit during the week.
The Hokies are the team to beat for Tabb running back Chris Wright, who rushed for more than 1,400 yards this past season, and Nottoway linebacker Michael Hawkes, named sleeper of the year in Virginia by the Roanoke Times &World-News.
UVA'S DEAL: Sources close to Virginia's program say the Cavaliers have 23 commitments, including one from a Canadian player. UVa is still recruiting the nation's No.1-ranked tight end, Cuncho Brown from Winston-Salem, N.C., as well as Kanu and defensive end Joey Walters from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
There are indications that UVa has not stopped recruiting either Kinney or Group AAA player of the year Maurice Daniels from Annandale, who said earlier this week that he had eliminated the Cavaliers. Conversely, Florida is gaining force in its bid for Hallandale, Fla., lineman Johnny Shivers, who had committed to UVa.
DAVIS IN DEMAND: Pulaski County football coach Joel Hicks said Boston College is prepared to offer a scholarship to Cougars' running back Tim Davis, who led the Roanoke Valley District in scoring with 19 touchdowns.
Davis, who also played defensive back for Pulaski County, will visit Boston this weekend after taking an earlier recruiting visit to James Madison. Davis, who weighed less than 160 pounds as a junior, has filled out to 5 feet 10 and 175 pounds and was the fastest player on the team (4.5 seconds for 40 yards).
Boston College, which has commitments from six Virginia players, noticed Davis while evaluating film of more heralded teammate Eric Webb. Webb and Cougars' defensive end John Lilly are still attempting to meet NCAA eligibility standards.
COACHING SCUTTLEBUTT: George Chaump, fired by Navy at the end of the 1993 season, reportedly is under consideration for the vacancy at James Madison. Dukes' defensive coordinator Jim Pletcher is also a candidate to replace Rip Scherer, who went to Memphis.
SAY WHAT?: VMI athletic director Davis Babb was caught off guard by a report in the Nashville Tennessean that Vanderbilt was seeking a replacement for VMI on its 1995 football schedule.
``That's the first I've heard about that,'' Babb said Wednesday afternoon. ``I-AAs are being dropped on a fairly regular basis, but eight months isn't much time.''
WOMEN'S HOOPS: Virginia coach Debbie Ryan benched all five starters after a 69-62 loss to Virginia Tech, but the Cavaliers still have problems. In a 74-60 victory Wednesday at Florida State, UVa was 8-for-24 from the free-throw line.
LOCAL UPDATE: Nikki Hall, a sophomore from Glenvar, has been chosen Longwood College women's basketball player of the week for the second time this season after recording career highs of 24 points and 10 rebounds in a 96-95 overtime victory over Wofford.
by CNB