THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 4, 1996 TAG: 9606040462
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 25 lines
With eyes set on the school's impending move to Division I, Norfolk State University men's basketball coach Mike Bernard has recruited a starting five he feels will be the backbone of the Spartans' future.
``Our thought was that since we're going Division I (in 1997), we needed to build and do it right,'' Bernard said in announcing the recruiting class. ``So Mel (Coleman, assistant coach) and I worked hard to get five position players who we'll have for four years.''
The backcourt: 6-foot-2 Dion Woods, who averaged 22 points per game at Sexton High in Lansing, Mich., and 6-5 Curtis Williams, who averaged 17 points for Mullins (S.C.) High.
The frontcourt: 6-6 1/2 Greg Jones, who averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds for Dunbar High of Lexington, Ky., 6-6 1/2, 220-pound Michael Beckles, who averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds for Monsignor McClancy (New York), and Windsor High's 6-8 1/2 Corey Liggins.
All but Liggins, who has the necessary college board score but is awaiting his final grades, have qualified for freshman eligibility, according to Bernard. by CNB