THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190404
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF, WIRE REPORTS
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Jason Capel, the versatile sophomore who led Indian River to the brink of a state championship, is the Associated Press' Group AAA boys Player of the Year in Virginia.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder, the youngest son of Old Dominion basketball coach Jeff Capel, averaged 21.1 points, 12.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Braves, who won 14 straight games at one point and closed the regular season with an 18-3 record.
``That's wonderful. I felt like I deserved it,'' Capel said. ``I feel like I'm one of the better players in the area and the state, and I helped my team get to the state semifinals two years in a row.''
``That's great,'' Indian River coach Freddie Spellman added. ``I'm a little surprised, with him being only a sophomore. There are a couple of seniors out there and you don't know what people are looking for (in the Player of the Year balloting), but I think Jason deserves it for all the things he does.''
Capel had 31 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in the Braves' 82-75 semifinal loss to eventual state champion George Washington-Danville on Friday.
Harry Johnson, who ended 19 seasons at G.W.-Danville by coaching the Eagles to a 27-0 record and their first state title since 1933, was chosen coach of the year.
``Only God in his wisdom would allow me to go out like this,'' Johnson said after the Eagles beat Hopewell 73-71 for the title Saturday night. Johnson compiled a career record of 292-146.
Joining Capel on the first team are seniors Bobby Wimbush of G.W.-Danville, Marseilles Brown of Kecoughtan, James Stokes of William Fleming and Colin Ducharme of Douglas Freeman.
Wimbush, a 6-6 center, scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds in the championship game and averaged nearly 21 points and 11 rebounds during the season.
Brown, at 5-10, averaged more than 31 points for Kecoughtan. He scored at least 18 in every game.
The 6-5 Stokes averaged 18.4 points and 11.5 rebounds. He did best in big games, scoring 21 and 20 points in games against G.W.-Danville.
The 6-9 Ducharme averaged about 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks per game for Douglas Freeman.
Ike Richardson, a senior guard from Maury, is the only South Hampton Roads player on the second team, chosen by sports writers and broadcasters. Joining him are Tony Stanley of Washington-Lee; Rolan Roberts of Potomac; Tyrone Robertson of G.W.-Danville; and Harold Wrotten of Annandale. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Jason Capel was the only underclassman named to the first-team
All-State squad by The Associated Press.
by CNB