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

DATE: FRIDAY, November 3, 1995                   TAG: 9511030085
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DERSCH TO PLAY FOR CAVALIERS

Virginia received its most noteworthy basketball commitment of the fall when 6-foot-5 Willie Dersch from Flushing, N.Y., announced Thursday he will sign with the Cavaliers.

Dersch, who had told UVa coach Jeff Jones of his decision Wednesday, picked the Cavaliers over North Carolina and Duke. He canceled a visit to Villanova.

Dersch averaged 21.5 points as a junior for Holy Cross High School, where he shot 50 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free-throw line. He hit 44 percent of his 3-point attempts.

One ACC coach compared Dersch to Rick Carlisle, a Virginia standout in the mid-1980s, ``only Willie is quicker. He could probably be a little stronger, but he has outstanding [shooting] range.''

Dersch, rated the No. 18 prospect in the country by basketball analyst Bob Gibbons, was at a family function Thursday night and could not be reached for comment.

by CNB