ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 18, 1997 TAG: 9704180060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOTES
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Former Salem High School and Virginia standout Richard Morgan continued his climb up the coaching ladder Thursday when he accepted a position at James Madison.
Morgan, who assisted his brother Charlie at Salem for four seasons, began his college coaching career this past season as an assistant at Hampton University.
Morgan joins the staff of new JMU coach and alumnus Sherman Dillard. The other new Dukes assistants are Chris Theobald and Herb Krusen.
Theobald coached under Dillard for the past three years at Indiana State. Krusen has been an assistant in the Colonial Athletic Association at East Carolina, George Mason and Old Dominion.
In other college basketball news:
Skinner leaves Rhode Island for BC: Al Skinner, who guided Rhode Island to 20-victory seasons the past two years, was hired as coach at Boston College.
The Eagles had been looking for a coach since Jim O'Brien left to take the Ohio State job two weeks ago. O'Brien's last BC team went 23-9, won the Big East Conference tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Thomas turning pro: Villanova freshman forward Tim Thomas announced he will give up his remaining college eligibility and enter the NBA draft.
The 6-foot-9 forward, expected to be among the first 10 players taken in the draft, was selected freshman of the year by The Sporting News, the U.S. Basketball Writers and the Big East Conference. He finished second among the Wildcats in scoring this season (16.9 points per game). He also averaged six rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals.
Custis to play in Phoenix: Virginia Tech's Ace Custis is among 41 college players who have visions of playing professionally competing in this week's Nike Desert Classic in Phoenix.
Custis joins such players as Keith Booth (Maryland), Reggie Freeman (Texas), Charles O'Bannon (UCLA), Scot Pollard (Kansas), Jacque Vaughn (Kansas) and Serge Zwikker (North Carolina) in the event that draws scouts from every NBA team. The best players in camp will face the Harlem Globetrotters and Magic Johnson in an exhibition game Saturday at America West Arena.
Hopefuls from UVa: Former Virginia players Tammi Reiss and Tora Suber are among the invitees to the WNBA pre-draft camp that runs Saturday through Tuesday in Orlando, Fla. Each WNBA team has four players on its roster and will make four selections in the league draft April 28. The new league begins play June 21.
Roanoke coach honored: Roanoke College women's coach Susan Dunagan has been named the 1997 Division III District 5 coach of the year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Dunagan guided the Maroons to a 25-3 record, an ODAC title and an eighth consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearance.
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