ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 1997 TAG: 9703250117
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOTES
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Virginia Tech senior forward Ace Custis has been chosen to play in the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Game at Indianapolis at 7 p.m. Friday.
Custis, a three-time all-conference selection, will play for the East squad at Market Square Arena, site of this weekend's NCAA Final Four. The four-year starter from Eastville was named All-Atlantic 10 the last two years after earning All-Metro Conference honors in 1994-95, the Hokies' last season in that league.
Custis led Tech in scoring (14.7 points per game), rebounding (9.0 rebounds per game), steals (53) and blocked shots (22). He finished his career with 1,706 points and 1,177 rebounds in joining Chris Smith and Bill Matthews as the only Tech players to reach the 1,000 mark in points and rebounds.
In other college basketball news:
Georgetown turns Page: Hoyas guard Victor Page has dropped out of school and will become the second sophomore in two years to leave the university early for the NBA draft. Page, the leading scorer in the Big East Conference this season, follows Allen Iverson, who was the first player selected in the 1996 NBA draft.
Page averaged 22.7 points and 2.4 steals this season, when the Hoyas finished 19-8 and first place in the Big East Seven at 11-7. He also shot 40 percent from 3-point range.
Kennedy seeks extension: Florida State coach Pat Kennedy, pointing to the late-season resurgence by the Seminoles (19-11) that has produced an NIT semifinal berth, wants his contract improved. Kennedy has three years remaining on his contract, which began as a five-year deal with an annual rollover provision. The provision was not exercised last year by athletic director Dave Hart following three consecutive losing seasons, although Kennedy's record at FSU is 201-130.
Abatemarco moving: One-time Virginia Tech assistant coach Tom Abatemarco, once forced to resign a coaching job because he verbally abused his players, will be the new head coach at Sacramento State.
Abatemarco, 47, replaces Don Newman, who resigned in February, Sacramento State athletic director Judith Davidson announced. An assistant to Rutgers coach Bob Wenzel for the past three years, Abatemarco served as head coach at Lamar from 1986 to 1988 and Drake from 1988 to 1990.
He resigned from the Drake position under pressure after players threatened a boycott because of the way they were treated by the coach. A Drake internal investigation found that Abatemarco had demeaned his players; the probe also found that an assistant coach had violated NCAA rules.
Barnes staying at Clemson: Rick Barnes, who guided the Tigers to a 23-10 record and a berth in the Sweet Sixteen, agreed to a contract extension through 2004 worth at least $668,000 a year. Barnes had been pursued by Tennessee and Ohio State after taking Clemson as high as No. 2 in the polls - the school's highest ranking ever.
LSU picks Samford coach: John Brady, head coach at Samford for the past six seasons, is the new coach at Louisiana State. Brady, 42, replaces Dale Brown, who retired after 25 seasons.
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