ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
Last month, Tony Stanley gave Virginia Tech his word. On Tuesday, he said he plans to give his signature to the University of Dayton.
Stanley, a high scoring shooting guard at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, announced in a swiftly organized news conference his intention to play basketball for former Radford University coach Oliver Purnell at Dayton.
``I think it was always a close race between Virginia Tech and Dayton,'' said Stanley's high school coach, Bobby Dobson. ``I think, looking at both situations, he was more comfortable at Dayton.''
On March 13, Stanley told The Roanoke Times he had made a verbal commitment to the Hokies and said, ``I'd say I'm at least 90 percent decided.'' He also said a few other schools, including Dayton, still were calling.
Dobson said Tuesday morning, ``He never gave Tech a verbal commitment. He's leaning toward Dayton. Probably if he had to make a decision now, he'd go to Dayton.''
By Tuesday afternoon, Stanley's mind was made up. At 2:45 p.m., he announced his decision to play for the Flyers in a news conference at the school.
``He felt they need a two-guard more,'' Dobson said. ``I think the better opportunity to play right away was a big part of it.''
Stanley, 6-4 and 190 pounds, averaged 26.8 points, nine rebounds and 2.3 steals this season. He has been selected to play in the Capital Classic. He has scored 840 on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and needs only to meet the required grade-point average to be eligible for a grant-in-aid as a freshman.
Dobson said if Stanley doesn't make it with his grades, prep school is a likely route, but added, ``We're not even going to talk about that, because that's not being very positive. He got a 3.3 [GPA] last semester. It looks like he's going to be fine.''
LENGTH: Short : 42 linesby CNB