Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 11, 1995 TAG: 9506120035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't hurt, because it's any schoolboy's dream to play in the McDonald's All-America Game,'' said Alexander, a 6-foot-5 guard from Jordan High School in Durham, N.C. ``I had wanted to play in that game so bad.
``I've thought about it, though, and I've heard people say Grant Hill or Michael Jordan isn't as good [as touted], so why should I be any different? I don't know how hard I work or how well I play; the McDonald's All-America team is all about politics.
``I was told so many times, `Don't worry about it.' It was a complete shock, but I will take it the right way.''
Alexander, who signed with Virginia in November, did not lack for postseason honors. He was named Gatorade player of the year in North Carolina and was a third-team Parade All-American.
``Let's put it this way: He's on a par with most of the McDonald's All-Americans and easily could have made the [25-member] team,'' said recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. ``I voted for him. He'll be in the top 25 in my final report.''
Gibbons' only theory - not that he disagreed with Alexander - was that Jordan High School's failure to make the state tournament in North Carolina kept Alexander from receiving much late-season recognition.
``I think the important thing for Courtney is that he proved last summer at the NIKE camp and at the AAU national tournament that he should be recruited at the highest level,'' Gibbons said.
Alexander committed to UVa without taking any official visits, although nearby Duke was one of the schools that was recruiting him seriously.
``Everybody and their mother told me I should go to Duke,'' said Alexander, who had moved to Durham from Windsor, Conn., before his junior year in high school. ``It's hard not to get caught up in that [Duke] hoopla. I got caught up in it, but I calmed down.
``The thing that stuck with me was how many guards [the Blue Devils] had. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see they had six guards - seven with me.''
Alexander is not joining a team in dire need of backcourt help. Harold Deane Jr. and Curtis Staples are considered one of the premier backcourt tandems in the country, but the UVa staff views Alexander as one of four players who will vie for three spots, including small forward.
``All my life I've played the point,'' Alexander said, ``but I consider myself a versatile player. My height and ball-handling allow me to play different positions. I don't concern myself with playing ahead of anybody.''
Alexander committed to Virginia after hearing that Cavaliers point guard Cory Alexander - no relation - would apply for the NBA draft following the 1994-95 season. However, that was before UVa's Alexander suffered a season-ending ankle injury for the second year in a row.
``When Cory went down, it hurt me a great deal, but not for the reasons people might think,'' Courtney Alexander said. ``I think Cory is one of the underrated players in America and this season was a chance to redeem himself, not that he needed to prove anything.
``I'm not going to tell you I didn't wonder if he might come back, but it wasn't because I thought it might take away from my playing time. I'd be selfish if I thought that way. I never thought to myself, `I don't want him to come back.' I just wanted what was best for him.''
Courtney Alexander, a scoring point guard in the Cory Alexander mold, is the centerpiece of a recruiting class that includes 6-6 Darryl Presley from Adelphi, Md.; 6-9 Scott Johnson from Marietta, Ga.; and 6-10 Melvin Whitaker from Garner, N.C., and Oak Hill Academy.
All but Johnson have been rated among the top 50 prospects in the country by at least one recruiting service, although there seems to be a difference of opinion on the class as a whole. Clark Francis, recruiting analyst for Basketball Times, rated the Cavaliers' signees 37th in the country.
``I'll take our four and play them against anybody else's four,'' said UVa assistant Anthony Solomon.
Gibbons said he would put UVa's recruiting class in his top 20, but is withholding final judgment until he hears whether Whitaker qualifies academically.
``Whenever I hear about our recruiting class, people are always asking how I think I'm going to do,'' Alexander said. ``These players coming in with me are underrated. I've played with Melvin and against Melvin and he's the final piece in the puzzle. I want Melvin. He's got to make it.''
by CNB