ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MOUTH OF WILSON
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Oak Hill Academy's William Avery, rated the No. 5 high school basketball prospect in the country by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons, has made an oral commitment to Duke.
Avery, a guard who averaged 26 points and six assists last season for Westside High School in Augusta, Ga., picked the Blue Devils over Kentucky. He also visited Georgia, Syracuse and Virginia.
``At one time, 10 days ago, I thought he was leaning to Kentucky,'' said Oak Hill coach Steve Smith. ``But, as it came closer to his visit to Duke, that was all he was talking about.''
Virginia essentially took itself out of the running for Avery when it signed point guard Chezley Watson, a teammate of Avery on the Georgia Stars AAU team. Smith said the Cavaliers inquired about their standing with Avery before pushing Watson for a commitment.
``Will, to me, is comparable to Cory Alexander and Jeff McInnis,'' said Smith, who coached Alexander and McInnis before they signed with Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. ``I think he could become one of the best guards in the ACC.''
LENGTH: Short : 31 linesby CNB