ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605160147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
The news of Kris Hunter's decision arrived at Virginia's basketball office Wednesday only minutes before his actual letter of intent.
Hunter's deliberations gave the UVa staff a few nervous moments - and days and weeks - but no announcement could have been more welcome.
Hunter, one of the nation's premier unsigned big men, waited until the last day of the NCAA's spring signing period before holding a news conference to say he would attend UVa.
It was the best thing to happen to the Cavaliers in months.
Virginia, coming off a 12-15 season, had based most of its hopes for a revival on 6-foot-10 Melvin Whitaker. However, those plans had to be revised after Whitaker was arrested March 6 on a charge of malicious wounding, a crime punishable by five to 20 years in prison.
It was shortly thereafter that Virginia began its push for 6-10, 215-pound Hunter, who averaged 15.4 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.1 blocks this past season for Florida A&M High School in Tallahassee, Fla.
Hunter visited Virginia during the weekend of April 13-15 and was so interested his parents went to Charlottesville on their own two weeks later.
Many gave UVa the edge at that point, but Hunter subsequently took a trip to Georgia and received heavy pressure to stay in state from new South Florida coach Seth Greenberg and his staff. Hunter earlier had taken trips to Auburn and Nebraska.
At least twice in the past week, the UVa coaches thought they had a commitment from Hunter, the second time before he canceled a news conference scheduled for Tuesday.
``I thought it was done Monday night when we spoke to the family, but we knew how tenuous it was,'' said Jeff Jones, UVa's head coach. ``My thinking was, `You've just got to stay with it and take nothing for granted.' It was a little bit out of our control.''
Part of the hold-up could be attributed to academic issues, although Hunter and his family are confident he will meet NCAA standards for freshman eligibility.
Hunter has met the minimum required score on the American College Test (ACT), but he needs to lift his grade-point average to qualify under the NCAA ``sliding scale.''
``The first step is getting him to want to come,'' Jones said. ``Now we've got to do everything we can to enhance his ability to qualify. The irony is, last year he would have qualified easily.''
Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons has rated Hunter the No.36 prospect in the country and has compared him to national player of the year Marcus Camby in terms of playing style.
``I think he has a tremendous amount of potential,'' Jones said. ``He is very athletic for a big man. He runs the court extremely well, has the ability to finish around the basket and has excellent shot-blocking skills.''
Hunter joins a recruiting class that includes 6-5 Willie Dersch from Flushing, N.Y.; 6-9 Colin Ducharme from Richmond; and 6-6 transfer Monte Marcaccini from Pepperdine. Dersch is a McDonald's All-American and Ducharme made first-team All-Group AAA in Virginia.
Gibbons said he would rate UVa's recruiting class in the top 15 in the country - and maybe the top 10 - with the addition of 6-9, 240-pound Australian Craig McAndrew. The Cavaliers are not allowed to comment until his signed letter is in hand, although UVa is thought to be his choice.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 linesby CNB