Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9408180044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Doug Doughty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Thomas, also a quarterback at DeMatha in Hyattsville, Md., threw three touchdown passes and was named most valuable player for the Maryland All-Stars in a 20-16 victory over Northern Virginia in the second Chesapeake Classic.
``We've been aware of his athletic ability,'' said Tech assistant and DeMatha graduate Billy Hite, who recruited Thomas. ``But our most immediate need is for John to come in and compete with Ryan Williams for the kicking job.''
That suits Thomas. The Reston resident transferred from South Lakes High School after his junior season with the understanding DeMatha had a high school All-America quarterback in Tim Strachan and that Thomas would be the kicker.
``I knew that my future was in kicking and that DeMatha would give me the exposure I needed,'' said Thomas, whose experience as a part-time quarterback at South Lakes proved invaluable when Strachan suffered a broken neck in a freak bodysurfing accident.
Thomas passed for 1,500 yards in leading DeMatha to the Washington city championship and also had an outstanding season as a punter and kicker. He had kicking duties in the Chesapeake Classic and completed seven of 13 passes for 196 yards.
``Gary [Tranquill] wondered if we shouldn't take a look at him,'' said Hite, referring to Tech's offensive coordinator. ``We might put him at quarterback for a couple of days when the freshmen come in early.''
Tech will be looking for a quarterback in the spring, once Maurice DeShazo completes his eligibility, but Thomas might be occupied. He intends to try out for the Hokies' baseball team after going 7-1 in the spring, with a 1.90 earned run average and 58 strikeouts in 50 innings.
RECRUIT IN PERIL: Virginia football signee Tyrone McGill, the Class 4A player of the year in South Carolina, apparently will not be joining the Cavaliers after the program's latest conflict with the UVa admissions office.
McGill, who ranked in the top 10 percent of his graduating class, met NCAA guidelines and was accepted to school, provided he completed UVa's summer Transition Program. When McGill became homesick and returned to Gaffney, S.C., he was told he could not return.
nThe only Virginia Tech and Virginia football signees who did not qualify were Fork Union Military Academy teammates Shelly Ellison (Tech) and Maurice Anderson (UVa). Both players plan to attend community colleges in the fall, not play football and retake the Scholastic Assessment Test in hopes of becoming eligible for 1995.
SEMINOLE SUSPENSIONS: Reporters who cover Florida State say as many as five players could be suspended for the Seminoles' opening game Sept.3 with Virginia, including All-America linebacker Derrick Brooks.
The ACC canceled a Monday seminar at which Brooks and North Carolina quarterback Jason Stanicek were to have addressed the media, prompting speculation Brooks could join as many as three offensive linemen on the endangered list for the first game.
POWELL LEAVING?: Virginia is listing Mike Powell among players who will not be returning in the preseason literature it is sending to basketball magazines. Coach Jeff Jones said Wednesday that Powell may be having second thoughts but would redshirt if he stays.
Joe Bunn, who averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds as a freshman at North Carolina A&T, has decided to transfer and follow coach Jeff Capel to Old Dominion. Bunn, a 6-6 forward, was rookie of the year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Reserve forward Tony Moore has enrolled for the second session of summer school at Duke and probably will not transfer, as once appeared likely. ... Seldom used Wake Forest 7-footer Marc Schoone from the Netherlands has transferred to St.Bonaventure.
BASKETBALL RECRUITING: Matt Matheny of Cave Spring played for Prince William County in the AAU boys 17-and-under national championship in Winston-Salem, N.C., where he caught the eye of recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. Gibbons said Matheny is a Division I prospect at the Big South level and possibly higher.
DAVIS TO UNC-G: Cave Spring baseball player Kevin Davis, an All-Group AAA selection, will play at North Carolina-Greensboro. Davis batted .493 for the Knights, with Timesland highs of eight home runs and 36 RBI.
HOKIE CONNECTIONS: Jack Williams, the new Longwood College athletic director, was an assistant basketball coach at Virginia Tech from 1980-83. Williams, who has a master's degree from Tech, was head basketball coach at Newberry (S.C.) College for seven years before serving as athletic director for the past four years.
Ron Carr, a Blacksburg native and member of the Tech men's basketball staff in the late 1980s, has been named male coach of the year at Longwood for the second year in a row. The Lancers set a school record with 20 victories and were ranked 19th in the final Division II poll.
IN COACHING: One-time Roanoke College basketball player Adam Preyer, out of a job when Russ Bergmann resigned under pressure at Coastal Carolina, has joined the staff at South Carolina State.
Virginia Tech alumnus Billy Haun is the new football coach at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet. Haun previously was an assistant at Richlands, before going to Caroline County for two years as head coach.
by CNB