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

DATE: MONDAY, March 2, 1992                   TAG: 9203020043
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

STITH WOULD LIKE TO BE THE ONE CHOOSING ALL-ACC TEAM

"I'd make sure I was on it," Stith said. "I'd love to make that decision."

Nevertheless, Stith realizes that he is not a sure bet to make first team for the third year in a row. The competition includes Christian Laettner of Duke, Walt Williams of Maryland, Tom Gugliotta of North Carolina State, Rodney Rogers of Wake Forest and Hubert Davis of North Carolina.

Moreover, there is certain to be some sentiment for two other players for No. 1-ranked Duke: Bobby Hurley and Grant Hill. Hurley missed four games with a broken foot, and Hill sprained an ankle in practice this week.

Stith, sixth in the ACC in scoring with 20.4 points per game, has scored nearly 30 percent of UVa's points - a percentage second only to Williams in the conference.

"Of course it makes a difference to me," Stith said. "I'd love to end my career as one of two Virginia players [with Ralph Sampson] to make it three times."

Stith became the leading scorer in UVa history this week and has moved into fourth place on the all-time ACC list with 2,334. However, it is unlikely he will play in enough games to challenge Rodney Monroe of N.C. State, who is third at 2,551.

Stith broke the UVa scoring record in his 122nd game. Previous record-holder Jeff Lamp played in 123 games between 1977-81, although he did not have the benefit of the 3-point shot. Stith has hit 107 3-pointers in his career.

\ When Stith failed to shoot any free throws in games against Duke and Clemson, it marked the first time in his career that he has not gone to the line in back-to-back games. Stith's streak of 43 consecutive double-figure scoring efforts is the longest in the ACC. He has scored at least 10 points in 63 of the past 64 games and 88 of 90 dating to his freshman season.

\ Fan absenteeism again is getting to be a problem at Virginia, where there were more than 500 empty seats for a sold-out game against Georgia Tech three days after an 86-73 upset of No. 4 North Carolina.

"The people who were here tried; they helped us at times and gave the team a lift," said coach Jeff Jones after the Cavaliers' 52-49 loss to the Yellow Jackets. "As far as the people who had tickets who didn't show up, my parents always said, `If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.' "

\ The Cavaliers, who averaged 15.8 turnovers over their first 16 games, have had an average of 9.2 in the past nine games, with no more than 12 in a single game. Cornel Parker, since his return from a personal leave of absence, has 14 assists and two turnovers in six games. Freshman forward Junior Burrough has three turnovers in the past 191 minutes.

| It appears Virginia will get a visit from 6-foot-5 Cleveland Jackson, who has been rated one of the top five junior-college players in the country. Jackson, from Los Angeles and Butler County (Kan.) Community College, is likely to visit Georgia, Kentucky, Seton Hall and UVa. Georgia is considered the favorite.

\ Jones said UVa will lodge a hardship appeal on behalf of freshman center Chris Alexander, who has not played since the second game of the season. "I don't want anything phony or fake," said Jones, who says Alexander was set back by ankle problems, although he has dressed for every game.

\ SHORTS: Jones said the Cavaliers have dropped out of the Sun Belt Tournament at the end of December and will play 15 home games in 1992-93, up from 12 this year. . . . Virginia football recruit Percy Ellsworth, who wants to play basketball at UVa, recently scored 45 and 47 points in consecutive games for Southampton High School. . . . Virginia is 5-0 when freshman point guard Cory Alexander shoots 50 percent or better. . . . UVa's 31 field goals Wednesday night in a 76-67 loss to Duke represented UVa's high since the second game of the season. The Cavaliers' shooting percentage from the field, 48.4, was their high in a losing effort. . . . UVa ranks last in the ACC in scoring, field-goal percentage, 3-pointers made, 3-point percentage, blocked shots and steals. . . . For the second time in three years, junior center Ted Jeffries has more rebounds (164) than points (126). . . . Since playing 13 minutes in a 69-60 loss to Wake Forest, freshman Jason Williford has played a total of four minutes in five games.