ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996 TAG: 9606200013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
If they didn't learn their lesson last year, college recruiters would be well-advised not to neglect the coal regions of Virginia.
There might be as much recruiting traffic this year in Gate City as there was last year in Big Stone Gap, where Powell Valley High School produced three Division I signees.
Gate City, a Group AA school with fewer than 500 students, expects to have Division I signees in football and basketball. That is, if 6-foot-9, 220-pound Josh Shoemaker elects to play basketball instead of football.
Shoemaker has been Gate City's quarterback since his sophomore year and has led the Blue Devils to back-to-back playoff appearances, but he may have outgrown the position with a 4-inch spurt in the past year.
``He's a sight,'' said Nick Colobro, Gate City's football coach. ``He doesn't look fast, but he's been a guard [in basketball] his whole life, so he's pretty agile. He's also got a pretty good leg and I think he could punt for somebody. But that's ol' Nick, prejudiced as hell, talking.''
Gate City's top football prospect is Chad Beasley, a 6-5, 225-pound linebacker and offensive guard. Beasley could have his choice of college programs, if he remains uncommitted for any length of time.
Beasley's father, Tom, played at Virginia Tech from 1973-76 and has Super Bowl rings to show for his time with the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers. Older sister Kerri has completed her first year at Tech, where she is on volleyball scholarship.
``People have to know about the family connection,'' said Colobro, also a Hokies' alumnus. ``Lord knows how I feel about Virginia Tech. On the other hand, I don't want to slam any doors shut.''
Colobro said he has had inquiries about Beasley from Tech, Virginia, North Carolina State, Boston College and a number of Division I-AA programs. Tech and N.C. State already have offered him a scholarship.
``A bunch of people I've talked to think I'm going to end up at Tech,'' said Beasley, born in Upper St.Clair, Pa., while his father was with the Steelers. ``But I'm about as open as I can be at this point. I have no idea, really.''
Beasley plays basketball and was part of a Gate City frontline this year that included Shoemaker and 6-8, 300-pound Jason Haynes, who signed with Coastal Carolina.
And, that's not all. Colobro thinks offensive tackle Joey Reed (6-2, 245) is scholarship material this year and he likes the prospects for linebacker Jake Houseright, a rising junior. Houseright's father, Bill, was a Parade All-American for Gate City in the 1970s and played for Tech.
TOUCHING ALL BASES: The men's basketball staff at Virginia was heartened to learn that signee Kris Hunter took the Scholastic Assessment Test and American College Test in June, even when there were indications Hunter already had met NCAA eligibility standards.
Hunter can't be totally sure until he receives notification from the NCAA Clearinghouse, but he provides a contrast to 1995 recruit Melvin Whitaker. Whitaker went to the beach after signing with UVa last year, then failed to meet the minimum required test score.
IN THE A-10: Matt Curley, one of three brothers from Duxbury, Mass., who have played Division I basketball, has transferred from Duquesne to Boston University, where former Virginia assistant Dennis Wolff is building a mid-major power.
LOCAL UPDATE: Chris Huff, an All-Blue Ridge District fullback last year for Salem High School, has elected to play for Emory & Henry. Huff, who also played defensive end for Salem, rushed for 876 yards and 14 touchdowns in 1995 for the Spartans.
Marissa Michalski, who played a variety of sports at Lord Botetourt High School, has signed with Wheeling (W.Va.) Jesuit College for soccer. Michalski, a midfielder, joins a Wheeling Jesuit program that was ranked in the Top 20 in NCAA Division II last year.
Former Cave Spring baseball player Reid Herskovitz, a senior at Hampden-Sydney, was the honorable-mention third baseman on the College Division All-State baseball team picked by the sports information directors.
NON-REVENUE: The U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association has honored late Washington and Lee football coach Gary Fallon with the Frenchy Julien Service Award. Fallon, who suffered a fatal heart attack in April 1995, was a longtime lacrosse referee.
nBill Beroza, a standout goalie for Roanoke College in the 1970s, has been named to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Beroza had an illustrious club lacrosse career after college. ... One of Beroza's college teammates, All-America defenseman John Pirro, has been named to the Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
nAll-America attackman Ryan Kammerdin from John Jay High School in Katonah, N.Y., heads a Roanoke College men's lacrosse recruiting class that also includes one of the top players in Florida, defenseman Peter Coyle from St.Andrew's School in Boca Raton.
Also Roanoke-bound are All-Roanoke Valley selections David Woodring and Eric Walrond from Cave Spring. Woodring was most valuable offensive player and Northside goalie Chris Mercer was the defensive MVP at the second Virginia High School All-Star Game in Richmond.
CROOKENDEN RESIGNS: Ian Crookenden, a tennis professional in Roanoke in the 1970s, has resigned after 12 years as the men's tennis coach at Wake Forest. Crookenden, who represented New Zealand in the Davis Cup, had only modest success at Wake. The Deacons' best finish during his tenure was fourth in the ACC.
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