West Virginia has taken a commitment from 5-foot-11, 170-pound Brandon Hogan, named first-team All-Group AAA quarterback last year by the Virginia High School Coaches' Association. Hogan accounted for 3,183 yards and 36 touchdowns in leading Osbourn High School to a 10-2 record in 2005.

Hogan, rated the No. 24 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times, was recruited for the Mountaineers by quarterbacks coach and ex-VMI head coach Billy Stewart. Stewart earlier had gotten a commitment from the 15th-rated prospect on The Roanoke Times list, All-Group AA quarterback Bradley Starks from Orange.

Of the two, Starks, who is close to 6-4, probably will get a longer look at quarterback. West Virginia is loaded at that spot, where it has sophomore Patrick White, who recently was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the nation's top player. Also back is junior Adam Bednarik, WVU's starting quarterback early in the 2005 season.

Osbourn coach Steve Schultze said Hogan had offers from Tennessee, Maryland, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Marshall.

n A prominent basketball recruit who surprisingly fell under the radar was Lance Thomas, a 6-9, 220-pound forward from St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J., who picked Duke over Rutgers.

Thomas, a McDonald's All-American and second-team Parade All-American, was rated the No. 26 prospect by Prep Stars in its final report and gives the Blue Devils' four players from the top 30 on that list.

Stokes housecleaning

Only four men's basketball players will return next year to East Carolina, where head coach Ricky Stokes has advised eight players with remaining eligibility that their services no longer will be needed.

Stokes, who was 8-20 this past season in his first year as Pirates' head coach, previously had served as the head coach at Virginia Tech for four seasons (1999-2003).

None of the departing players averaged more than 5.9 points per game, although junior forward Tyronne Beale and junior guard Japhet McNeil started 19 and 15 games, respectively. McNeil, who averaged 4.3 points, subsequently made himself available for the NBA Draft.

Among the players advised not to return was 6-4 sophomore Tom Hammonds, son of the former Georgia Tech and NBA forward of the same name. Since letters-of-intent are viewed by the NCAA as a one-year, renewable agreement, Stokes was within his rights to make the moves. The Pirates signed seven new players for 2006-2007.

Tat update

Virginia's second summer-school began Tuesday without men's basketball recruit Solomon Tat, but head coach Dave Leitao and his staff are cautiously optimistic that Tat will be able to play for the Cavaliers in 2006-2007.

Tat, a 6-foot-5 wing player from Community Christian School in Stockbridge, Ga., committed to Virginia last fall but never signed with the Cavaliers.

In order to play for Virginia, Tat, a native Nigerian, must have his visa extended. The UVa staff is under the impression that Tat has met academic guidelines for freshman eligibility, but he still needs to be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

While many of Virginia's athletic recruits are enrolled in summer school, Tat is on a different timetable. UVa will require him to attend its Summer Transition Program, which begins in early July, which gives him approximately 2¹₂ weeks to get his issues resolved.

Looking to future

Two-time All-River Ridge District outfielder Andrew Feldenzer from Cave Spring was a Division III recruiting target before attending Louisburg (N.C.) College, a two-year program where he hopes to establish his pitching credentials and gain a Division I scholarship. Feldenzer had more than one strikeout per inning this year, with an ERA under 3.00.

Louisburg has made nine trips to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series and finished 40-18 this season.

Timesland ties

Ex-Martinsville High School quarterback Shawn Moore, the ACC player of the year as a UVa senior in 1990, has resigned his position at USA Football to become a coach and administrator at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., where he also will work with a support program for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

Nonrevenue

The swim program at George Mason has taken an oral commitment from Kristen Escobar, the top swimmer at William Byrd and a product of the Gators' year-around program. Escobar was 10th in the 100-yard butterfly and 15th in the 100 backstroke at the Group AA meet in February.