Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Keydets wrapped up their recruiting by signing Conley, who spent the past season at Fork Union Military Academy, and 5-foot-11 point guard Andre Quarles from Louisa High School.
Conley, a 6-7, 230-pounder, averaged 31.8 points and 11.5 rebounds two years ago at Fayetteville (W.Va.) High School. He was a two-time all-state selection.
``Brent is exactly the type of athlete and player we were looking for,'' VMI coach Bart Bellairs said. ``He has the ability to play inside and outside and that is very important in our system.''
Quarles, a three-year starter, was named second-team All-Group AA after averaging 19.1 points and 6.0 rebounds. He provides insurance in the absence of Darryl Faulkner, a 1993-94 starter who has not returned to school.
Two freshmen, little-used Greg Robison and redshirted Nate Shiflett, plan to transfer. Lester Johnson, who started 21 of 25 games at center, will graduate in December and doesn't plan to use his final season of eligibility.
ALEXANDER HISTORY: Virginia men's basketball coach Jeff Jones said Wednesday night in Roanoke that point guard Cory Alexander either has signed or will sign shortly with an agent and make himself ineligible to return to college.
Alexander, who had another season of college eligibility at his disposal, declared himself available for the NBA draft in papers signed this week. He would have 30 days to change his mind following the draft, but only if he did not sign with an agent or a trading-card company.
NEVER FEAR: North Carolina's top basketball recruit, 6-6 Vince Carter from Daytona Beach, Fla., has met NCAA eligibility standards and the Tar Heels have signed 6-8 Nigerian Ademola Okulaja, who has lived in Berlin for the past 17 years.
Carter and Okulaja give Carolina eight eligible scholarship players for next season. Early signee Antwan Jamison has not qualified academically, and neither has 6-10 Randell Jackson, a Carolina target from Roxbury, Mass.
nJackson, generally considered one of the top center prospects in the country, has eliminated Connecticut from his list and will choose from among three ACC teams - Carolina, Maryland and Florida State.
Maryland is expected to sign 6-foot point guard Terrell Stokes from Philadelphia, although Stokes postponed a news conference scheduled for Wednesday. The Terps are hoping that another Philadelphian, 6-9 Lari Ketner, will sign with them and qualify.
SOLEMN TASK: As much as it grieves him, Washington and Lee athletic director Mike Walsh has begun to turn his attention to the selection of a new football coach.
Walsh said he planned to sit down with school administrators, players and staff starting next week and come up with a plan to replace Gary Fallon. Fallon, the Generals' coach for the past 17 years, had displayed no signs of ill health before he suffered a heart attack and died April 29.
Walsh's options are to conduct a search for a permanent coach or to name an interim coach who would or would not be a candidate for the job on a full-time basis. In any case, he doesn't want wholesale changes for the fall.
``No question, Gary's memory is a presence,'' Walsh said Wednesday. ``We don't want to detract from that.''
HEALING BEGINS: Both Walsh and men's lacrosse coach Jim Stagnitta said the Generals' come-from-behind victory over VMI in the Lee-Jackson Classic gave W&L a momentary respite from its sadness.
One of the Generals' heroes, fittingly enough, was 5-8 freshman goalie Scott Jackson. Jackson, a starter only for the past two games, had a late save against the Keydets' Rusty Parrino that was ``the best we had all year,'' Stagnitta said.
FEELING LOW: Life goes on at Roanoke College, where men's lacrosse coach Bill Pilat is still trying to figure out the process by which the Maroons were left out of the NCAA Division III playoffs for the third year in a row.
``We're totally mystified,'' said Pilat, whose 12-3 Maroons set a school record for victories. ``I'm as down as I've ever been. I don't know what to tell the players. I don't know what to tell anybody.
``Last year they told me we didn't have enough wins. This year, we got the wins. And, it's not like our schedule's weak. We dropped UVa and picked up Washington College, a playoff team from the year before.''
HOLLINS CHAMPIONS: Hollins College had a pair of individual champions this past weekend at the National Intercollegiate Horse Show in Fort Collins, Colo.
Maria Bishop, a junior from Charlottesville, finished first in the Open Equitation over Fences division. Sophomore
Jenny Kischner from Ilwaco, Wash., was Intermediate Equitation over Fences champion.
LOCAL UPDATE: All-Pioneer District center Casey Mills from Glenvar High School has decided to continue his football career at Bridgewater. Mills also played defensive tackle for the Highlanders.
Marcel Michelli, who earned five letters in track and cross country at Patrick Henry High School, has signed a letter-of-intent with Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn.
Casey Underwood, a former All-Group AA punter at Radford High School, has walked on at Virginia Tech and was the Hokies' No.1 holder after the spring.
by CNB