DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9711020303

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   32 lines

6-3 FORWARD FROM MD. SAYS SHE WILL JOIN LADY MONARCHS

The Old Dominion women's basketball team has received a verbal commitment from Tiffany Thompson, recognized as one of the top 20 high school players in the nation.

Thompson is a senior at St. John's at Prospect Hall in Frederick, Md. The 6-foot-3 forward plans to sign a national letter-of-intent on Nov. 12, the first day of the early signing period. St. John's is the prep school that former Indian River standout Jason Capel attends.

Thompson averged 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists last season as St. John's finished 31-3. Street & Smith lists Thompson as a third-team All-American this year.

``She has tremendous range and is a fantastic passer,'' said Vikings coach Greg Vernoy. ``This year, Tiffany's assists will go up because there will not be a point scored or a play ran without her touching the ball.''

Thompson, a native of Clinton, Md., said she visited ODU during Midnight Madness and immediately liked what she saw.

``I saw the relationship between players and coaches, and that stood out,'' she said. ``I said, `I have to go there.' Plus, being by the beach doesn't hurt, either.''

Thompson said she was also being recruited by Virginia, Purdue, West Virginia and Fordham. But she has had her eye on Old Dominion since ninth grade. ODU was the only school she visited.

``Old Dominion was recruiting me pretty hard, and I like someone who shows interest,'' she said. ``There can't be a better situation for me.''

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