THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605050220
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Old Dominion guard E.J. Sherod worked on his jump shot in the gym Thursday under the tutelage of Monarchs assistant Milan Brown.
That would have been a no-no in past years. Basketball coaches could not conduct drills with their players once the season ended until the beginning of practice the next October. But occasionally the NCAA passes a rule that makes sense.
While school is in session after the season and again in the fall before practice begins, Division I coaches are now allowed to conduct limited workouts with players. The sessions are optional and can last up to two hours a week per player, with no more than three players at a time working with the coach.
``It's been a really good spring,'' ODU coach Jeff Capel said. ``It's the first time spring workouts have really been organized.
``I think it helps, not only in terms of their basketball skills, but also to maintain the relationships you develop during the season. I really like it.''
Capel said everyone with eligibility remaining has participated and that the Monarchs have developed their games after the season.
``It's been good to see kids come in and know what their weaknesses are and say `Coach, I want to work on this,' '' Capel said. ``I think they all have worked really hard.''
ON GUARD: Capel on Chris Haskin, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College, who signed with ODU last month:
``He's got a great body and really competes,'' Capel said. ``He's a big guard who can defend and is strong and can shoot the basketball. And he knows how to play. He's got 60 college basketball games under his belt.''
Haskin averaged 17.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and shot 38 percent from 3-point range his sophomore season at Pensacola. He signed a football scholarship to play quarterback at Jackson State coming out of high school in Gulfport, Miss., but decided instead to play college basketball.
ODU signed two guards in November who can play either point or shooting guard. Freddie Bryant, 6-3, averaged 27 points, five rebounds and four assists for Live Oak High School in Watson, La. Michael Williams, 6-1, averaged 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists for Thomas County Central High in Thomasville, Ga. ODU also awarded a scholarship to 6-4 walk-on guard/forward Brandon Jones.
JURISPRUDENCE: Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller will appear in Montgomery County General District Court Thursday for a preliminary hearing on charges of malicious wounding. Druckenmiller was charged last month following a police investigation of an early-morning fight that took place outside of the Top of the Stairs bar March 21. Former Hokie George DelRicco was also arrested following the incident, which police said left one man with a broken nose and two black eyes and another with a fracture around his eye.
Virginia Commonwealth basketball center George Byrd was arrested last week and charged with assault and battery after allegedly hitting another VCU student during a pick-up basketball game in the school gym. The student said he was punched in the eye and had to be transported to a hospital, where he was treated and released. Byrd has a May 15 court date.
Virginia Tech has self-reported violations to the NCAA involving its men's basketball program. Coach Bill Foster termed them ``minor,'' and the NCAA has classified them a secondary offense, which means it is unlikely any penalties will be levied. The Roanoke Times & World News quoted anonymous sources saying the violations were rooted in illegal travel provided for basketball players.
MISCELLANY: Edmund Tan, a walk-on from Virginia Beach's Kellam High School, was named the top newcomer on offense this spring at Virginia Tech. The junior emerged from spring drills as the third-team flanker. . . . Virginia Tech's Sept. 14 football game with Boston College will be shown by ESPN, while games with Syracuse (Sept. 28) and Virginia (Nov. 29) are pegged for CBS regional telecasts. Games with Rutgers and Pittsburgh are scheduled for the Big East network, and East Carolina, Miami and West Virginia are potential TV dates. by CNB