DATE: Thursday, September 11, 1997          TAG: 9709110470

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   96 lines

SHORING UP THEIR FUTURES 4 PLAYERS FROM VARIED BACKGROUNDS HAVE COME FROM NEAR AND FAR TO EMERGE AS DIV. I PROSPECTS AT ATLANTIC SHORES.

They come from California and Kempsville, New York and Norview.

Two had behavioral problems. Two had never played football before this season.

But in the melting pot/halfway house that is Atlantic Shores Christian School athletics, Trey Freeman, Demetrius Doss, Chris Connor and Channing Robertson have developed into Division I-A football prospects.

When Atlantic Shores (2-0) meets Norfolk Academy (1-0) and its star running back Claude Diggs on Friday it could mark the greatest convergence of private school talent on one field in South Hampton Roads history.

Should all four Seahawks land scholarships it would be an unprecedented haul. The last area private school player to sign with a I-A program was Nansemond-Suffolk's Glenn Rountree, with Clemson, in 1993.

Atlantic Shores football coach Scott Williams cites several factors for the Seahawks' sudden bounty, including a central location near the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake border, affordable tuition of $3,200 a year and the success of former basketball stars Damon Thornton and Kenny Inge.

``I truly believe if you lay the right seed, you can reap,'' Williams says.

Williams understands that some people will be suspicious of how that seed is sown. The Seahawks' basketball program raised the ire of area coaches three years ago for allegedly recruiting players from public schools.

``The administration here is trying to repair that image, but you can't fix a reputation overnight,'' Williams says. ``We've backed away from that, but it's like in the movie `Field of Dreams,' if you build it, they will come.''

What exactly has Atlantic Shores built? The football facility is humble, even by area private school standards.

Williams touts the school's small classes - enrollment in grades 9-12 is only 190; its Christian affiliation which promotes acceptance and forgiveness; and the chance to be recruited by colleges.

The school also offers a work-study program whereby students can earn credit toward their tuition payments. Two of the four senior prospects are taking advantage of that.

All of that appealed to Freeman, a 6-3, 300-pound tackle and the most-highly sought of this year's seniors. Freeman was born in Norfolk, moved to San Diego and transferred to Atlantic Shores last fall when his father became director of planning for the City of Norfolk.

He attended private school in California and was directed to Atlantic Shores by an employee in his father's office.

``Private schools get more respect (in football) in California,'' he says. ``But I've loved it here.''

Freeman is weighing scholarship offers from Wake Forest and Duke. North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Stanford also are recruiting him.

``I like Wake,'' he says. ``It has strong academics and the football program is on the rise.''

Connor (6-5, 255) grew up in New York and moved to Virginia in 1993. Strong-willed and disrespectful, he had trouble fitting in it at Rock Academy, which doesn't field a football team.

Connor transferred to Atlantic Shores three years ago, but his troubles followed him. Williams dismissed Connor from the team last fall and it wasn't until spring practice that coach and player reached a rapprochement.

Connor plays tackle for the Seahawks but is projected as a defensive end in college. N.C. State, Virginia, South Carolina and Clemson have shown recruiting interest, but his future lies in how well he plays this season and whether he qualifies academically.

``My mother is single and holds three jobs so I can come here,'' he says. ``If I go anywhere it's because of her.''

Robertson (6-6, 210) and Doss (6-3, 195) share the unusual distinction of never having played high school football before this season. They viewed themselves as basketball players until Williams convinced them to participate in a recruiting combine last spring.

Doss was timed at 4.6 seconds and Robertson at 4.71 in the 40-yard dash and both leaped over 9 feet in the standing broad jump. Though recruiters weren't allowed to talk to the athletes, Williams says one head coach told Doss he'd be crazy if he didn't play football.

Doss was expelled from Kempsville, where he didn't play sports. But in two games this season he has caught touchdown passes of 63, 55 and 24 yards. The University of Pittsburgh has shown the most interest and Williams expects the list to grow when other schools receive film of Doss.

The same goes for Robertson, who transferred last year from Norview because Atlantic Shores could offer him a fifth-year of high school eligibility, he says.

When Robertson, also a wideout, was growing up in Norfolk friends told him he was too big to play football. The combine changed that.

``Right after that I began getting letters from Miami, Clemson, Wake Forest, Maryland,'' he says.

History suggests that all four players won't get Division I scholarships. But having come this far one can excuse the players for believing that anything is possible.

``I go with what the Lord provides me in athletes,'' Williams says ``Hopefully I can make a difference and get them in college.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

From left, Channing Robertson, Trey Freeman, Chris Connor and

Demetrius Doss are trying to become the first private-school players

to get Division I scholarships since 1993.

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