THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, August 1, 1996              TAG: 9608010319
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C12  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   25 lines

FORMER KECOUGHTAN STAR SAYS HE'LL ENROLL AT ODU

Hagerstown (Md.) Junior College guard Brett Harper will enroll at Old Dominion this fall.

The 1995 Peninsula District Player of the Year from Hampton's Kecoughtan High, who was accepted by the school Tuesday, will not be eligible to play this season.

Because of NCAA guidelines, Harper will have to sit out the 1996-97 season since he did not complete two years at Hagerstown. He will then be eligible to receive a scholarship or play as a walk on.

By leaving junior college a year early, Harper will have three years of eligibility at ODU.

``I really like their style of play and it's an up-and-coming program,'' said Harper, whom ODU recruited in high school. ``I rather go there instead of going to another school and not being able to play.''

Harper averaged 13 points and five assists a game for the Hawks.

Harper played AAU basketball with Monarchs Reggie Bassette and Cal Bowdler in addition to playing pickup games with Odell Hodge and Joe Bunn.

``I'm just really good friends with the guys on the team,'' Harper said. by CNB