ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
VIRGINIA TECH'S LATEST basketball commitment is from a Newport News player who has been impressive in recent AAU games.
Kenny Harrell's oral commitment to Virginia Tech couldn't have come soon enough to suit the Hokies.
Harrell first notified Tech of his intentions this past week - before scoring 20 points in the first half of an AAU game in Washington, D.C.
Harrell, a 6-foot-2 guard from Menchville High School in Newport News, said Wednesday he has been leaning toward Tech since July. His other finalists were St.Joseph's and James Madison, with Hampton University and Radford rounding out his final five.
``He's an excellent shooter, with tremendous range, especially from 3-point land,'' said Greg Henderson, Menchville's coach. ``He's very explosive on the baseline.
``He's one who made me lose a lot of hair last season.''
Harrell was a starter the past two seasons at Ferguson High School, one of Menchville's rivals. When Ferguson closed after the 1995-96 school year, he joined his former opponents.
Harrell, whose parents played college basketball, said he committed to Tech because of the comfort level he developed with Bobby Hussey, the Hokies' head coach in waiting, and assistant Chris Ferguson.
``I knew about the coaching change,'' said Harrell, aware current coach Bill Foster would be stepping down after this season. ``Other schools tried to make it a negative, but I had a pretty good idea who the coach or coaches would be.''
Harrell is one of four newcomers who will be joining the Tech program for the 1997-98 season. The others are 6-2 Jenis Grindstaff from Marion, N.C.; 6-6 Rolan Roberts from Dumfries; and 6-6 Jermaine Kilgore from Kannapolis, N.C.
Kilgore already is at Tech, but he is ineligible to play this season after spending the 1995-96 season at Hargrave Military Academy. Roberts is at Hargrave this year after graduating from Potomac High School.
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