ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 22, 1996 TAG: 9608220011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
A four-year VMI stay isn't the natural extension of a two-year Mormon mission, but Mark Grigsby, an all-state basketball player from West Virginia, admits there are a few similarities.
Grigsby, whose original intent was to not decide on a college until 1998, has accepted a grant-in-aid that will be waiting for him upon his return from Argentina.
``At first, I didn't think much about [VMI's] offer because of the military,'' said Grigsby, a 6-foot-21/2 point guard, ``but the more I thought about it, I could see that I would be ready for the daily routines and the high standards.''
Grigsby, who lives in Peterstown, W.Va., averaged 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists last season for James Monroe High School in Lindside. He was named All-Class AA and helped his team make the final four, where he was named all-tournament.
Grigsby said he received offers from Coastal Carolina, Army and Radford, with whom he talked during the fall, but larger programs were reluctant to get involved for fear of being committed to a player who would be away from the game for 22 months.
``Coastal thought he could start at point for them next year,'' said James Monroe's coach, Kelly Wilmore, a Wytheville native, ``but the schools that offered him all wanted him for next year. [VMI coach] Bart [Bellairs] did a good job of showing he was committed.''
Wilmore said Grigsby plans to sign a letter of intent with VMI next spring that will be binding until the following year.
``It's a great catch for them,'' Wilmore said. ``You're looking at a 20-year-old freshman point guard in two years who is physical - he bench presses 300 pounds - and he can do just about anything you want. Let me tell you, he can play.''
WHAT'S THE RUSH? Georgia Tech men's basketball coach Bobby Cremins, an assistant for the Dream Team that represented the United States in the Olympics, took the opportunity to do some lobbying with NBA officials.
Few college programs have been hit as hard as Georgia Tech by the premature departure of underclassmen to the NBA. This year, it was point guard Stephon Marbury who renounced his eligibility after leading the Yellow Jackets to the ACC regular-season championship as a freshman.
``I'm happy for Stephon,'' said Cremins, who lost underclassmen Dennis Scott and Kenny Anderson in back-to-back seasons, 1990-91. ``I knew there was a chance Stephon would come out, [but] I had no idea there would be 39 players coming out. I don't think anybody did.''
Cremins said he discussed the issue with NBA commissioner David Stern and deputy Russ Granik and sensed concern on their part. Cremins said the first step should be to eliminate the loophole that gives players 30 days in which to change their minds.
``You go, you're gone,'' Cremins said. ``That's what I would recommend. No more of this, `I'll look at it.' Unfortunately, it's going to take some failure. It's going to take some really sad cases to have this legislation come about.''
DELAYED ENTRY: Virginia Tech football signee Jeremy Kishbaugh, a promising fullback and linebacker from Berwick, Pa., continues to undergo rehabilitation after reconstructive knee surgery and will not enroll at Tech until the second semester.
It was reported earlier that defensive back Donald Harris from Washington, D.C., had undergone surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Harris will not join the Hokies until the second semester, which is the plan of lineman Stan Brown, a signee from Tallahassee, Fla., who has not met NCAA academic standards.
One signee who had given thought to enrolling late, defensive back Phillip Summers from Clewiston, Fla., was on hand for the start of drills. Players who enter in January are allowed to go through spring practice, but their eligibility ``clock'' does not begin until the fall.
nMike Mitchem, an All-Timesland offensive lineman from Cave Spring High School, decided after a week of workouts at Tech that he wanted to concentrate on academics. Mitchem, who was recruited as a walk-on, will remain in school but not play football.
MORE FROM THE CAMPS: Clemson running back Raymond Priester, arrested for charging calls to a phony credit card, has been placed in a pre-trial intervention program and will be allowed to play. Priester led the ACC in rushing last season.
It appears Priester's back-up will be freshman Sam Zanders, who spent a year in prep school after graduating from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington. Zanders was charged with marijuana possession this past spring, but will not be dismissed from the team, as were two Tigers charged with intent to distribute marijuana.
nWest Virginia has lost a possible starter in senior cornerback Kelly Siverand, who underwent reconstructive knee surgery after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in practice. Siverand has another season of eligibility. ... Early reports give redshirt freshman Amos Zeroue the inside track to start at tailback for WVU.
IN THE PROS: Ex-Virginia wide receiver Tyrone Davis, waived by the New York Jets last season, rejoined the team this summer as a tight end and had impressed the coaching staff before suffering a severely sprained ankle. He will be sidelined for up to six weeks.
LOCAL UPDATE: Tim Davis, a redshirt freshman from Pulaski County High School, was Boston College's No.1 left-side cornerback entering preseason practice and is in position to start for the Eagles when they entertain Virginia Tech on Sept.14.
nLouisburg (N.C.) College has signed a pair of girls' basketball recruits who scored 1,000 points for Timesland schools, Jackie Banks from Cave Spring and Tresita Holland from Martinsville. Banks is the younger sister of Virginia Tech senior Sherry Banks.
LENGTH: Long : 104 linesby CNB