DATE: Wednesday, May 7, 1997                TAG: 9705070737

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM,STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   41 lines

``ROOKIE'' BASKETBALL TEAM PLANNED FOR NORFOLK NATIONAL ROOKIE LEAGUE WOULD BE FOR PLAYERS UNDER 24 WHO BYPASS COLLEGE.

An investment group headed by Norfolk Tides business manager David Hall hopes to put a National Rookie League basketball team in Scope for the league's inaugural season in 1998-99.

The league, still in the planning stages, would be for players under age 24 who want to bypass college. It would draft 24 players each year out of high school.

``A good percentage of our players will be those who don't have the grades to go to a Division I school,'' said Bruce Stern, a Washington attorney who is founding the league. He is not related to NBA commissioner David Stern.

The league plans franchises in eight markets, including Norfolk, Stern said. Other franchises: Washington, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Greensboro, and Jacksonville, Fla.

Hall said he and local accountant Michael Comer, are seeking ``core investors'' for the franchise. If successful, they would sell stock to the general public.

``Obviously, we're only in the very early stages of this,'' said Hall, who added that he will try to gauge local interest in the league before moving ahead.

Working out a lease with Scope will be a major hurdle. William Luther, Norfolk's director of civic facilities, said most of Scope's weekend dates are already taken by Old Dominion University basketball and the Hampton Roads Admirals hockey team.

``Our first obligation is to Old Dominion University. Then we take care of our hockey club,'' said Luther, who added that two other minor basketball leagues have contacted him. ``That would leave very few weekends available.''

Hall said he is aware of the problem.

``If we play all of our games on Tuesday nights, we're not going to last long,'' he said.

Each team would have 12 players, each paid about $50,000 apiece, including an educational trust fund, with the league paying salaries. Ticket prices would be about $15 to $5, Hall said.

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