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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 8, 1995                   TAG: 9511080086
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: DOUG DOUGHTY                                LENGTH: Medium

UVA COUNTING ON WHITAKER

Melvin Whitaker is one of four basketball players from Hargrave Military Academy expected to sign letters of intent today at the start of the NCAA's fall period.

Whitaker, a 6-foot-10 center originally from Garner, N.C., will honor the commitment he made when he signed with Virginia in the spring.

Whitaker, who spent the 1994-95 season at Oak Hill Academy in Grayson County, did not have the standardized test scores required for a Division I scholarship.

``He's closer than he's ever been,'' Hargrave coach Scott Shepherd said after Whitaker took the test for the first time this fall.

Other Hargrave players who have made commitments this fall are 6-2 Kestutis Marciulionis with Delaware and 6-8 Isaac Hawkins with Pittsburgh. Hawkins, from Baton Rouge, La., signed with Pitt a year ago.

Shepherd said 6-2 Ryan Bailey will sign during the early period, which extends through Nov.15, with either Maryland or Nebraska. Bailey is the younger brother of UCLA swingman Toby Bailey.

At Oak Hill, coach Steve Smith said 6-7 returnee Ricardo Crumble, once thought to be headed to Arizona, will sign with DePaul. Teammate Steve Jackson, who transferred to Oak Hill this year from Port Arthur, Texas, will sign with Arizona.

There was nothing new on the Virginia Tech recruiting scene Tuesday. The Hokies, who had received a commitment from 5-10 Nathaniel Bailey of Johnson City, Tenn., were awaiting word on 6-4 Cornelius ``C.J.'' Jackson of Oak Hill, W.Va.

Oak Hill coach Ron Lewis said Tuesday that Jackson would not sign today and may wait until the spring. He said Tennessee has joined West Virginia and Tech in Jackson's final three and that Georgia also is involved.

by CNB