THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 27, 1996 TAG: 9602270418
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: EASTVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Bryan Satchell's numbers leap out at you.
The Northampton High School senior averages 24 points and 14 rebounds. His coach says Satchell has a 44-inch vertical jump. And in a game last year, he grabbed 45 rebounds.
But . . .
``I'm the best kept secret in the state of Virginia,'' said Satchell, who helped the Yellow Jackets win the Shore District title and gain their first Group A region tournament berth since 1973. Northampton (17-4) hosts a Class A, Region A quarterfinal tonight against Middlesex at 7.
``We get very little attention over here on the Eastern Shore,'' Satchell said. ``There's only one basketball player at Northampton who made it and that's Ace Custis.''
Custis, now a star for No. 16 Virginia Tech, says Satchell can make it, too. The two often play pick-up games in the summer.
``I have been dunked on so many times that it doesn't even bother me anymore,'' said Custis, who graduated Northampton in 1992. ``But Bryan can get very high. He's explosive. I have played against some of the top players in the Atlantic 10 and I have never seen anyone jump as high as him. If he gets a step on you he'll dunk. And because he jumps so high defenders can't alter his shot.''
Satchell does not lack for confidence.
``I can play with the best the state has to offer,'' he said. ``When I played against Kenny Inge and Damon Thorton of Atlantic Shores, I did real well. I mean I dogged Inge.''
Satchell had a modest 17 points and 11 rebounds when Northampton lost to Atlantic Shores earlier this season, but when the teams met last year, he put on a show. Satchell ended with 22 points and four dunks - including one spectacular, two-handed slam over the 6-foot-8 Inge.
Although he is only 6-3, Satchell plays power forward - aided considerably by his alleged 44-inch vertical jump. Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan had ``only'' a 43-inch vertical when he entered the NBA.
As one visitor found out, Satchell can soar. After having his 44-inch jump questioned, Satchell walked underneath the basket, bent his knees slightly, leaped and touched the top of the backboard.
``Do it again,'' the bystander said.
And Satchell did - twice more.
Because of Satchell's athletic ability and the high school connection, he has been compared to Custis.
``I agree with the comparison,'' said Custis. ``It has been a long time since somebody has stood out at Northampton. But Bryan is head and shoulders above a lot of people. His potential is unlimited.''
On Jan. 27 against Nandua, Satchell became the third Yellow Jacket to score 1,000 career points - joining Custis (1992) and Charles Fisher (1979).
A year ago, Satchell did something Custis and Fisher never dreamed of: grabbing 45 rebounds against Nandua.
``He was everywhere that game,'' Northampton basketball coach Dennis Seman said. ``He just about grabbed all of the defensive rebounds. And he scored most of his 27 points off of missed shots.''
So which ACC and Big East schools are recruiting him?
``None,'' Seman said.
Instead of North Carolina and Syracuse, Satchell receives letters from Hampton, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Longwood, Catawba and Salisbury State.
``A lot of big-time Division I programs will not recruit him because of his grades,'' Seman said.
Satchell says his grade-point average is 2.1, and that he's close to reaching the mandatory 820 on his SAT to be eligible to play as a freshman.
During his freshman and sophomore years at Northampton, he struggled with a 1.5 GPA. Seman said a lot of major schools don't think he'll stay eligible in college.
``That frustrates me that they think that way,'' Satchell said. ``I always wanted to get a scholarship to a major university. I have brought my grades up the last two years. But to them that is still not good enough.''
But Satchell refuses to give up his dream. He is interested in attending Fork Union Military Academy next year. If he does, he'll have an additional year to work on his grades before college. And unlike a junior college, at a prep school he still will have four years of college eligibility.
``I can't wait to go to college,'' he said. ``I'm going to show people what they are missing.
"Everybody's going to know about Bryan Satchell.'' ILLUSTRATION: VICKI CRONIS
The Virginian-Pilot
Northampton's Bryan Satchell once pulled down 45 rebounds in one
game.
VICKI CRONIS
The Virginian-Pilot
Northampton's Bryan Satchell, left, shows off his 44-inch vertical
jump ability against Atlantic Shores.
by CNB