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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 5, 1992                   TAG: 9202050043
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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LAST TOP 5 PICK COMMITS

Defensive back Sean Hamlet of Hampton, rated one of the top five football prospects in the state by the Roanoke Times & World-News, will sign a letter-of-intent today with Florida State.

Hamlet, a first-team All-Group AAA selection, picked the Seminoles over Virginia Tech and was the last Top 5 pick to commit.

Only two members of the Roanoke Times & World-News Top 25 remained uncommitted Tuesday. Players may sign binding letters-of-intent starting today.

Defensive back Antonio Banks of Warwick High in Hampton said he will choose between Tech and Maryland. Fellow Top 25 choice Anthony Smith, a defensive back from Green Run High in Virginia Beach, is down to UCLA and Hampton University.

Officials at Fork Union Military Academy reported that defensive end Duane Ashman, originally from Paint Branch High School in Silver Spring, Md., has committed to Virginia.

Ashman (6 feet 4, 240 pounds) made a tentative commitment to UVa last week but visited Maryland this past weekend and was thought to be leaning toward the Terps.

Ashman, who is awaiting results of the Scholastic Aptitude Test to learn if he has qualified for a grant-in-aid, is the 25th player to commit to UVa. If all qualify, the Cavaliers will be at the Division I-A limit.

All-Roanoke Valley District running back Tim Witcher of Franklin County has made an oral commitment to William and Mary.

Witcher (6-0, 200) carried 125 times for 786 yards as a senior, including a 214-yard effort against Laurel Park. He will be attending the alma mater of his coach at Franklin County, Melvin Martin.

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