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By The Associated PressOne of Kentucky’s premiere high school guards and three forwards — one measuring 7-foot-1 — have become the first to sign national letters-of-intent with the University ofKentucky.Kentucky Coach Joe Hall started the signing process early Wednesday, signing Lexington Lafayette guard Dirk Minniefield at 8 a.m. He then flew to Lebanon, Pa., to sign 7-1 Sam Bowie.Hall then flew to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to sign 6-6 Derrick Hord of Bristol, Tenn., who was vacationing during spring break.Meanwhile, Kentucky assistant Dick Parsons flew to Houston to sign Shelby County’s 6-6 forward CharlesHurt, who was participating in an all-star game.A fifth recruit, 6-8 Tom Heitz of Hamilton, Ind., was in Germany for the Albert Schweitzer Games and was expected to sign when he returned April 23.Hall still is in the running for 7-foot-3 Ralph Sampson, of Harrisonburg, Va., who also is considering North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech, according to his coach, Roger Bergey.“We’re in excellent shape with Sampson, as good as anyone,” Hall said. “But it’s a wait-and-see situation. I don’t think he’ll sign with anybody for the next two or three weeks. Last week, Sampson visited Virginia Tech and I understand he’s still got a visitcoming to Virginia.It has been rumored that Sampson may be offered a lucrative professional contract is he decides to bypasscollege.“I see the pros as a real threat,” Hall said. “I think it would definitely turn his head if they offered Sampson enough money.”Minniefield, a 6-3 guard who led Lafayette to the Kentucky prep championship, was the first recruit to publicly commit himself to Kentucky.He was heavily recruited by Michigan and Purdue, but rival coaches conceded early there was little chance of his leaving home.“The things he (Minniefield) brings that are most important are his greatTom Watson Golfer To Beat In Masters ChampionshipBy EDSHEARERAP Sports WriterAUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -Defending champion Gary Player was pleased with his preparation entering today’s opening round of the 43rd Masters Golf Championship, but he also is realistic.strange situation — that of not being favored.The tournament was scheduled for a 9 a.m. EST start, with veteran Gene Littler and Leonard Thompson forming the first of 36 twosomes.Mnct nf thp nnpninp roundWatson and veteran Rod Funseth.There will be considerable sentiment, as always, for fourtime champion Arnold Palmer, who hasn’t won at Augusta since 1964 nor anywhere else since 1973.strength at guard, hisleadership, his understanding of the game and hiswillingness to give 110percent,” Hall said.Hall’s flight to Lebanon passed over the nuclear power plant that was the scene of a near disaster last week near Harrisburg, Pa.Hall said Bowie’s signing was “the biggest thing to happen in Lebanon since the settling of the atomic reactor.“Having a player of his size and ability gives Kentucky’s program a new dimension,” he said. “Sam has obvious talent. We’re happy to have signed him.”Bowie fashioned the affair around his younger sister, Shelly, herself a sophmore star on the Lebanon High School girls’ basketball team. Instead of signing before an assembly of his classmates, Bowie, 17, chose to formally announce his plans at the Good Samaritan Hospital where Shelly, 16, is recovering from an appendectomy.“As you can see I’m very happy,” Bowie read from a statement after the brief signing ceremony.“I want to thank my parents and sister Shelly for being able to share this moment with me. It has been our love for each other that really makes this one of the happiestmoments of my life.”Flanking Bowie at a table set up in a hospital classroom were his parents, his sister, his grandfather and local school officials.After signing three copies of the letter, Bowie sat and posed for pictures beside his sister, who was seated in a wheelchair.Overcome by emotion, Shelly burst into tears and was wheeled back to her room.“My education is very important to me and my family, and I feel the University of Kentucky is not only concerned about me as a basketball player, but they also share my interest in receiving the best education I possibly can.”He also said he is looking forward to playing for the Wildcats and helping them reach the NCAA finals.“I am very pleased andhappy Coach Hall and theUniversity of Kentucky, with its outstanding baskteball traditiion, will be giving me an opportunity to become part of a championship program,”Bowie said.Bowie, sought by more than 400 colleges, has spent the last year fending off coaches and reporters. He averaged 28 points and 18 rebounds a game for Lebanon, earning status as a local celeberity.
Newspaper Details
Corbin Times Tribune
Corbin, Kentucky, US
Thu, Apr 12, 1979
Page 3
Full Page
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USA 21 May 2020
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