ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 27, 1997 TAG: 9702270027
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
The Virginia Tech men's basketball staff likes what it has seen so far from 6-foot-7 David Whaley, who transferred to Tech after one semester at the Naval Academy Prep.
Whaley, from Gatlinburg, Tenn., is not on scholarship but has been practicing with the team and sits on the Tech bench for home games.
Whaley almost certainly will be on the roster next season and will have an opportunity to earn a scholarship. His shooting range is attractive to a team averaging four 3-point field goals per game entering action this week.
The Hokies have one scholarship available and are saving it for a big man. Tech is one of the schools involved with George and Phillip Von Brockman, 7-foot twins from South Africa who are playing at Western Nebraska Junior College in Scottsbluff, Neb.
The Hokies have been involved with a European big man since last summer who is still trying to determine what measures can be taken to satisfy the NCAA clearinghouse.
IN THE ACC: When all of his big men got in foul trouble, Maryland coach Gary Williams went with a lineup against Georgia Tech that included four guards and a 6-5 center in senior Keith Booth.
``I had a flashback to when I was coaching at American University,'' said Williams, referring to his first Division I head-coaching job from 1979-82. ``There, I always used four guards and a center who was Keith Booth's size. It always creates match-up problems for the other teams.''
* When he blocked three shots Saturday at Virginia, Wake Forest senior Tim Duncan broke the ACC record for blocks that was held by Ralph Sampson, who was in attendance. The NCAA did not recognize blocked shots as an official statistic until the mid-1980s; as a result, Duncan broke the NCAA record before he broke the ACC mark.
*Clemson coach Rick Barnes has been mentioned as a possible target if Ohio State decides not to retain Randy Ayers. Barnes, an assistant at Ohio State from 1986-87, also was mentioned as a possible UCLA target until the Bruins gave full-time status to interim coach Steve Lavin.
EARLY START: Spring football practice began Feb.17 at North Carolina, where All-ACC quarterback Chris Keldorf has not been cleared for contact work after suffering a fractured left ankle in the Tar Heels' final regular-season game. Defensive back Dre Bly, who led Division I-A in interceptions, will play football and baseball this spring.
ON THE COMMISSIONER FRONT: Virginia athletic director Terry Holland said earlier this week that he has neither approached anybody nor been approached about the ACC commissioner's job, from which Gene Corrigan will be retiring this summer.
If the ACC were interested in him, Holland would be willing to listen, but it is his impression that the search committee would prefer that Corrigan's successor come from outside the conference. Nevertheless, Holland and North Carolina athletic director John Swofford have been the subject of much speculation.
ACC RECOGNIZES BARBERS: Virginia defensive back Ronde Barber, sometimes overshadowed by his twin brother Tiki on the scholastic front, has finished his career as an ACC All-Academic selection for the first time.
The Barber brothers were among nine UVa selections. The Barbers, Florida State running back Warrick Dunn, Clemson offensive lineman Jim Bundren and Virginia linebacker Jamie Sharper were the only players to make first-team All-ACC and the all-academic squad.
RECRUITING: Additions to VMI's football recruiting list since signing day include Brad Catron, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound lineman from Mauldin (S.C.) High School and four in-state players, all of whom have experience in the secondary.
The ``skill'' players are Teray Frost from Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Jay Hunt from Thomas Dale in Chester, Travis Hunt from Loudoun County in Leesburg and Aaron Yarborough from Mt.Vernon. New coach Ted Cain has 15 commitments, with more possible by the end of the week.
* Two players not ranked among the state's top 100 football prospects by The Roanoke Times have signed letters of intent with Division I-A programs, running back Brian Taylor from Prince George High School with Vanderbilt and quarterback Jonathan Hall from Coeburn with Marshall.
SABELHAUS SURFACES: Bobby Sabelhaus, who two years ago was rated the No.3 quarterback prospect in the country, reportedly will enroll at West Virginia after he graduates from Pierce Junior College in Woodland Hills, Calif., where he did not play football.
After spending one season at Florida, where he was redshirted, Sabelhaus expressed interest in transferring to Virginia and Virginia Tech among others. He enrolled in junior college, but did not play, in order to save a year's eligibility. He will have three years at WVU.
* Although West Virginia will rip up the artificial turf at Mountaineer Field this spring, it will not do what many football programs have done and return to natural grass. WVU will install a $1.5-million synthetic-turf field that will combine a rubber surface and foam padding.
NON-REVENUE: Virginia Tech finished first in the North Carolina Intercollegiate Horse Show in Raleigh, N.C., and Hollins was among three teams tied for second. Ferrum took fifth, finishing ahead of North Carolina and N.C. State. Other area teams included Washington and Lee (seventh), Radford (11th) and Southern Virginia College (12th).
LENGTH: Medium: 95 linesby CNB