University of Virginia Library

SI—McMillen Unsure

By Winston Wood
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The number one question
among college basketball recruiters
nowadays is fast becoming where
will Tom McMillen play freshman
ball next winter? Contrary to
popular opinion and rampant
rumor the 6-11 youngster from
Mansfield, Pennsylvania has not
made a decision as yet, and is now
asking himself that very question.

Previewing an article in this
week's upcoming Sports Illustrated
it was revealed in an interview with
Senior Editor Andrew Crichton
that the high school sensation was
still considering the offers of eight
schools. On the list are Harvard,
Princeton, North Carolina, Duke,
and Virginia.

The names of UCLA and Illinois
were mentioned in conversation
between Mr Crichton and McMillen,
but he discounted any interest in
either of them. What seems to be
motivating his selection was his
interest in medicine. All eight of
the colleges on his list have either
good medical schools or fin
psychology departments, and editor
Crichton felt sure from talking to
him that if it were not for the
reputation of the University's Med
School, Virginia would not even be
in the running.

With five brothers and sisters,
three of them in college already,
scholarships will be all important in
the decision, and it seemed that
North Carolina had the inside track
on everyone else.

The pressure on the boy has
been tremendous, not only by his
brothers (one of whom played ball
at Maryland, the other one is in
grad school at Duke), but also by
eager coaches. At a game played
last week in Mansfield, no less than
seven major college coaches were in
the stands to watch the boy who
has been heralded as the best thing
to come along to college basketball
since sneakers and Lew Aindor,
Among the throng were Maryland's
Lefty Driesell, Illinois' Harv
Schmidt, and the Baron himself,
Adolph Rupp.

Not only a standout on the
hardwood, McMillen ranks third in
his class academically. A first team
selection on the All-American high
school team, it would be just as
easy for him to get into any of
these schools had he never learned
to play the game. Nevertheless, the
decision will not be made until
April, which should keep a lot of
people guessing. Some people's jobs
depend on it.