THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 9, 1994 TAG: 9406090662
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940609 LENGTH: Medium
The homebuying decision ends six weeks of wild speculation in the high school basketball community about which school would land Jason, who last year was labeled the best eighth-grade player in the nation by one publication.
{REST} ``Some guy told me `I'm in the pool; I've got Bayside,' '' Jeff Capel said. ``It's insane. There are a lot more important things going on than where a 14-year-old is going to high school.''
Jason Capel was a sometime starter last season on a 29-3 team at Greensboro Country Day School. Local AAU coach Boo Williams has said that Capel will be among the top 15 players in the nation by the time he is a senior.
Indian River coach Freddie Spellman said he had heard rumors that the Capels were house hunting in his district.
``But this is news to me,'' he said. ``A lot of people have asked me about him. I'll believe it when he's enrolled with something that says Indian River across his chest.''
Indian River was 21-5 and reached the region semifinals last season. But the Braves lost their four top scorers to graduation.
Jeff Capel said he hadn't talked with Spellman and didn't even know the coach's name.
``We found a house we liked,'' Capel said. ``Indian River is a good school and I did speak with the principal (James Frye), but we talked about academics.''
Frye also lives in Kemp Woods.
Jeff Capel said Jason also has been taken aback by the interest shown locally in him.
``He's gotten calls from kids saying we'd like you to come here and play with us,'' Jeff Capel said.
``Jason doesn't want the limelight and as his father I'd like to shelter him from that. I just want the transition for my son to be as normal and as simple as possible.''
by CNB