ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 1, 1996 TAG: 9608010046
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
BILLY BABER ALWAYS has been a Virginia fan. Now he'll play for the Cavaliers.
Multisport standout Billy Baber, who has grown up in the Charlottesville area and had season tickets to Virginia football games, has made an oral commitment to the Cavaliers.
``It was pretty clear-cut that this is what I was going to do as soon as I got the offer,'' said Baber, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end from Western Albemarle High School.
Baber also had offers from North Carolina State, West Virginia, East Carolina and Wake Forest. He presently qualifies for freshman eligibility with a 2.5 grade-point average and 950 on the Scholastic Assessment Test.
Baber, who has been timed in 4.7 seconds for 40 yards, had 10 receptions for 259 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. He averaged 16 points in basketball and batted .383 in baseball, with 10 home runs and 44 RBI in 18 games.
Baber said he earlier had been offered a baseball scholarship by UVa and planned to play both sports in college. He made first- or second-team all-region in football, basketball and baseball.
Baber is the second player to commit to UVa, joining quarterback-linebacker Dan Ellis from Downingtown, Pa. The Cavaliers also are recruiting one of Baber's teammates, 6-7, 240-pound lineman Jared Woodson.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB