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

DATE: MONDAY, April 4, 1994                   TAG: 9404040131
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

LOPEZ LEADS EAST; STAPLES SCORES 10

Felipe Lopez, the nation's top-rated high school player, scored 24 points Sunday to lead the East to a 112-110 victory over the West in the McDonald's All-America basketball game.

Roanoke native Curtis Staples, a standout this season at Oak Hill Academy in Grayson County, added 10 points - including two 3-pointers. Staples, a 6-foot-2 guard, has signed a letter of intent with Virginia.

Forward Norman Nolan of Baltimore, another UVa signee, scored two points for the East.

Lopez, a guard from New York who has committed to St. John's, was 7-for-13 from the floor and was named the most valuable player in the nationally televised game, which featured 22 of the country's top prep players.

The game was played before a capacity crowd of 6,008 at Alumni Hall, where Lopez is expected to star for St. John's.

Zendon Hamilton, who will join Lopez at St. John's next season, added 15 points and nine rebounds for the East, which led 60-56 at halftime. The East also was backed by Antoine Walker with 18 points and six rebounds, and LaMaar Greer with 13 points.

Jerod Ward led the West with 23 points and nine rebounds. Andrae Patterson, who will attend Indiana next season, added nine points and seven rebounds.

by CNB