THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604280204
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
North Carolina received a signed commitment Saturday from 6-foot-10 Vassil Evtimov, one of the nation's top high school prospects, but reports indicated the Tar Heels could lose another undergrad to the NBA.
Jeff McInnis, a rising senior guard, told The News and Observer of Raleigh that coach Dean Smith was talking to NBA team officials on his behalf.
McInnis was part of North Carolina's blue-chip recruiting class of three years ago. The other two members of the class, Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace, left for the NBA after last season.
``I think a lot of NBA teams need a big point guard, and coach is telling me people are interested in me,'' the 6-foot-4 McInnis said.
However, the NBA's scouting director Marty Blake told the newspaper that McInnis would be making a ``terrible mistake'' if he left school early.
The newspaper quoted an unidentified NBA general manager as saying McInnis needed to stay in school and mature.
``He is playing for a great coach and he's been a problem,'' the general manager said.
McInnis reportedly was a source of irritation for coaches and players last season, and Smith might not be unhappy to see him leave.
The Tar Heels would miss McInnis' experience, but they signed one of the top high school point guards, Ed Cota of Oakdale, Conn., during the fall recruiting period.
Evtimov, a native of Bulgaria who played at Long Island (N.Y.) Lutheran High School, said he picked North Carolina over Indiana State, where his idol, Larry Bird, played.
Like Bird, Evtimov is considered an excellent passer and a good 3-point shooter. He said he plans to play small forward at UNC.
He averaged 27.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists during his senior season.
The Tar Heels also have signed 6-foot-6 Michael Booker of Sandersville, Ga., and 6-foot-3 Terrence Newby of Siler City, N.C. by CNB