ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605170047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
Virginia completed its spring revitalization program Thursday with word that 6-foot-9, 245-pound Craig McAndrew had signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Cavaliers.
Sources said McAndrew notified the UVa staff he had signed before the NCAA deadline Wednesday, although it may take weeks for the form to arrive from his native Australia.
McAndrew, a member of the Australian team that finished second at the World Junior Championships last summer in Greece, came to the Cavaliers' attention at the Nike Hoop Summit in Charlotte, N.C.
``He's pretty darn good,'' said recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons, who saw McAndrew's international team beat a squad of U.S. all-stars. ``He more than held his own on a bad ankle and pushed around Jermaine O'Neal.''
O'Neal, a 6-10 post player from Columbia, S.C., has been rated among the top five college prospects in the country and recently made himself available for the NBA draft. Gibbons said McAndrew is the equivalent of a top-100 player in the United States.
Until the letter arrives, UVa's staff is not allowed to comment on McAndrew, whose academic credentials have been approved by the NCAA clearinghouse.
What still needs to be resolved is whether McAndrew will lose any eligibility as a result of a brief appearance for the Perth Wildcats in Australia's professional league.
The NCAA has dealt with similar cases by reducing a player's eligibility by one year, although McAndrew hopes to have his case reviewed.
McAndrew's family lives in Queensland, on Australia's east coast, but he was invited to enroll in the Australian Institute of Sports and has lived for the past four years in Perth, on the western side of the country.
After he was selected for the Hoop Summit, McAndrew arranged to take recruiting visits to Clemson, Washington State and Gonzaga before returning home May 1. However, Virginia was able to persuade him to fly to Charlottesville from Spokane, Wash., after his visit to Gonzaga.
McAndrew, who turned 19 in December, canceled his visit to Clemson and ultimately picked the Cavaliers over Washington State.
He is one of two post players to commit to Virginia this week, joining 6-10 Kris Hunter from Tallahassee, Fla. Gibbons said Hunter and early UVa signee Willie Dersch will be ranked among the nation's top 40 prospects in his final report.
Gibbons said he would rate UVa's recruiting class, including first-team All-Group AAA selection Colin Ducharme from Richmond, among the top 15 in the country. A fifth newcomer, Monte Marcaccini, becomes eligible in November after transferring from Pepperdine.
``I just think it's very good to come out of the spring with two big guys after everything that's happened with Virginia,'' said Dersch, referring to the apparent loss of 6-10 early signee Melvin Whitaker, who was arrested in March and charged with malicious wounding.
Dersch played against McAndrew at the Hoop Summit.
``I thought he was really strong and real physically built,'' Dersch said. ``He rebounded and had a nice turnaround jump shot. He set a lot of good screens. I think he can play at this level.''
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB