THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 1, 1994 TAG: 9411010431
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Old Dominion has added some young blood to its front line.
Skipper Youngblood, to be exact.
The 6-foot-8, 233-pound forward from Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, N.C., has verbally committed to the ODU basketball team.
Youngblood becomes the second ODU recruit of the fall period. He will join swing player Radee Benson of Elizabeth, N.J., in signing with the Monarhcs on Nov. 9, the first day players can sign a national letter of intent.
The Monarchs have two scholarships left, but it's unlikely both will be accounted for this fall. There are only two other uncommitted players ODU are still recruiting - 6-10 Cal Bowdler of Rappahannock, Va., and 6-9 Reggie Bassette of Highland Springs, Va.
Bassette said last week that he had narrowed his choices to Virginia and Minnesota, but he went to James Madison on an unofficial visit last weekend and still intends to take a scheduled visit to ODU this weekend.
Bowdler has visited U.Va., ODU and Richmond.
NCAA rules prohibit ODU coaches from commenting about a recruit until he has signed a letter of intent.
Interior players were a recruiting priority for the Monarchs this fall. All their frontcourt scholarship players this year are juniors or seniors. Transfer forward Joe Bunn will be a sophomore when he becomes eligible for 1995-96.
Youngblood is a strong power forward whom his high school coach describes as more advanced defensively than he is offensively. Ashbrook coach Joe Shepherd said Youngblood averaged 11.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5 blocked shots as a junior. But perhaps his most impressive stat is 300 pounds - his bench press.
``He's extremely strong and very athletic for his size,'' Shepherd said. ``He runs the court well, and he's a very good shot blocker, defensive player and rebounder.
``He needs some fine-tuning offensively, but he'll be able to score at the college level.''
Shepherd said ODU coach Jeff Capel was a major factor in Youngblood's selection of the Monarchs. Capel coached a former Ashbrook player at Fayetteville State, and Shepherd said Youngblood heard good reviews about Capel from that player.
Youngblood visited ODU the weekend of Oct. 22. His only other official visit was last weekend at East Carolina.
Youngblood could not be reached for comment. by CNB