DATE: Wednesday, November 12, 1997          TAG: 9711120679

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

CROWDED ROSTER AT DUKE KEEPS VERBAL COMMITMENTS TO NOTHING WAKE FOREST LEADS ACC WITH THREE TOP-50 PROSPECTS SAYING YES.

When the early signing period for college baskeball prospects began last year Duke had already lined up the best recruiting class in the nation.

The Blue Devils may have to pay for that success this season.

Duke was among four ACC schools without a verbal commitment when the early signing period began today. The period runs through next Wednesday.

The Blue Devils seemed close to hearing commitments from two top prospects before they apparently decided the floor already was too crowded in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Guard Dane Fife, who also had considered North Carolina, said he would attend Indiana and Danny Miller, a 6-foot-7 wing forward, said he would sign with Maryland.

Duke, though, may not be shut out in the early period.

The Blue Devils still are in the running for 6-6 Corey Maggette, a wing forward from Oak Park, Ill., one of the nation's top 10 prospects. Maggette is also considering Illinois and Stanford.

Meanwhile, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest seem headed for productive recruiting seasons.

Wake Forest led the ACC in verbal commitments with three players who have top-50 credentials.

The trio includes 6-5 Craig Dawson, a sharp-shooting guard from Kinston, N.C.; 6-1 Broderick Hicks, a point guard from Houston, Texas; and 6-8 Antwan Scott, a power forward from Kinston, N.C., now playing at Oak Hill Academy.

Dawson, a cousin of former UNC star Jerry Stackhouse, picked the Deacons after North Carolina said it did not have a scholarship for him.

The Tar Heels are certain of having only two scholarships and those are reserved for 6-8 Jason Capel and 6-10 Kris Lang, two of the nation's premier players.

There are possibilities of other scholarships opening up and the Heels would like to add a point guard to back up Ed Cota.

N.C. State has promises from a pair of top-30 prospects: 6-5 wing guard Adam Harrington of Northfield, Me., and 6-9 forward Keith Bean of Fontana, Calif. The Wolfpack is still pursuing 6-8 forward Al Harrington, who some analysts consider the top prospect in the nation.

Maryland is expecting one of its best early signing classes with commitments from Miller, of Mt. Holly, N.J., and 6-8 power forward Lonnie Baxter, of Washington, D.C. Maryland coach Gary Wiliams was disappointed when 6-1 Erick Barkley, a top-10 point guard, said he would sign with St. John's instead of the Terps.

Clemson coach Rick Barnes also was disappointed when highly ranked point guard Brandon Dean of Monroe, La., withdrew a verbal commitment to the Tigers only a day after making it.

Clemson is expecting a signed commitment this week from 6-9, 230-pound Chuckie Gilmore of Fayetteville, N.C. He picked the Tigers over Wake Forest and Virginia.

Virginia, Florida State and Georgia Tech did not have any verbal commitments.

Hampton's Ronald Curry, one of the top point guard prospects, said he would attend Virginia on a football scholarship and wanted to play both sports.

Prospects who do not sign this week can do so during the late signing period from April 8 to May 15. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

North Carolina is certain of having only two scholarships available,

with one already reserved for Jason Capel.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu