The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 22, 1992- Page 9 Hoops can still recruit 'M' still draws top men's basketball prospects by Ken Davidoff Daily Basketball Writer Bobby Crawford, a six-foot-three high school senior from Houston Eisenhower High School who has announced his intention to join next year's Michigan men's basketball team, means more to the program than depth at the point guard position. His commitment informs the college basketball world that when it comes to recruiting, Michigan, despite its abundance of young, talented players, still has plenty of clout. Basketball coach Steve Fisher, along with certain recruiting gurus, had expressed concern that Michigan's Fab Five - the 1991 recruiting class of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King and Juwan Howard - would hinder rather than aid the recruiting process., "If you were being recruited by me," Fisher said, "and you were sitting with your mom and dad you'd be wondering, 'Am I going to play with Jimmy King and Jalen Rose there? And now you've got Dugan Fife and I'm a guard, where am I going to play here?' Some of them voice it and some them don't but we have to deal with that in every home and it's been more of an impact than I thought it would be. It's been more. of an impact than it should be." Notwithstanding Fisher's worries, the Wolverines are in the hunt for some of the nation's top players. Even though the recruits may not receive a plethora of playing time their first year, the overall quality of the university overcomes this anxiety. Sylvester Ford, a six-foot-six guard from Memphis, visited Michigan the weekend of October 2- 4. He enjoyed his visit far more than he expected. "It's a really nice campus," Ford said. "At first I thought it was too far from home, but now I wouldn't mind going far away. I liked the college atmosphere, and the people were polite." Ford is one of the top prospects considering Michigan. Also on Fisher's wish list are six-foot-six small forward Charles O'Bannon and six-foot-10 power forward Avondre Jones of Artesia High School in Lakewood, Calif, and six- foot-seven small forward Jerry Stackhouse of Oak Hill, Va. O'Bannon and Jones visited the campus the weekend of October 9- 11, and Stackhouse will arrive this coming weekend. In order for Fisher's fears to come to life, the Fab Five must stay until they graduate, thus taking away time from less experienced players. But this very well may not be the case. Both Webber and Rose are considered good enough to be selected among the first 11 players if they were to declare themselves eligible for the 1993 NBA draft. "(The belief that recruits will shy away from U-M) is not true because virtually everyone is assuming that Webber and Rose will leave after this year and Juwan Howard the next year," Brick Oettinger, recruiting columnist for The Poop Sheet, said. "They are an asset rather than a liability; their high profile helps rather than hurts." Even if the entire quintet were to stay, the Wolverines would still have playing time to offer. Center Eric Riley, forward James Voskuil and guards Rob Pelinka and Michael Talley will all complete their eligibility after this season. "They (recruits) don't look beyond their nose and say, 'Man, they're only going to have eight players when I'm a freshman, at most,"' Fisher said. "No other program, if you go through every roster in America, I don't think there are two others in the country that will only have eight returning players on their team next year." Of course, Crawford's announce- ment holds more tangible ram- ifications than the boosting of Michigan's reputation. In a crop full of outstanding point guards, the Wolverines have been eliminated from competition for the other highly-regarded playmakers. Six- foot Jacque Vaughn of Pasadena chose Kansas shortly after Crawford reached his decision, and six-foot- four Jeff McInnis of Oak Hill, Va. dropped Michigan from his list. "If I could get three players, hand pick three players I'd be really happy," Fisher said. "That would give us 11 ... I'd like to have 12 players on scholarship if I could get it. But I think I need three and I don't think I can get three in the early signing period." The early signing period runs from November 11-18. Until then, Fisher and his staff cannot comment on any specific players. Michigan forward Chris Webber is so highly regarded that most experts feel he would be a very high pick in next year's NBA draft. There has been much speculation that Webber will turn professional after this year. Crew to find tough foes in the East I + e by Seth King For the Michigan women's crew team, this weekend is a beginning and an ending of sorts. The ending occurs as the squad competes in its final two fall regattas - at the Head of the Schuylkill Invitational in Philadelphia Saturday and at the Princeton Chase in Princeton, N.J. the following day. The beginning is the unveiling of their new $13,000 Vespoli boat. At Saturday's competition, the team faces a test against many of the East Coast's top crew programs, in- cluding Virginia, all the Ivy League schools, and several club teams. Michigan is the only squad from the Midwest rowing in either regatta, Despite the challenge, the Wolver- ines, believe they will be com- *petitive, especially with the power their new boat will provide. In terms of equipment, the new Vespoli will draw Michigan even with Wiscon- sin, one of the nation's top rowing programs.. *"There should be about forty crews at Philadelphia," junior Nikki Dobija said. "Last year, we finished 21st out of 45. This year, we have a e, better boat. We are hoping to * do better- we want a medal (top three).", At the Princeton Chase, Michigan again rows against the Ivy League crews. In preparation for the back- to-back regattas, the team has been tapering its workouts. "It's a long weekend," Dobija said. "Instead of continuing to build and build, we taper down. Since the two races are within 24 hours of each other, Friday's a taper day." This is the team's last official competition for the fall season. However, the Wolverines may row in dual meets against regional foes. "This is our last major regatta," Michigan head coach WVark Roth- stein said. "We hope to race against Ohio State or Michigan State a little closer to home." Meanwhile, the team will con- tinue to practice at 6 a.m. on the Huron River through Thanksgiving. After that, the squad moves its workouts inside and focuses on run- ning, weightlifting, and of course, rowing machines. 7ha# A to wina7 it etifiCatfromn tVate~ O$ Kansa's atery rand P y -1.A,09b. 2. ~ Oh otr atmiian SA1. lamsn at N.raln a Srt 7.lrete Mis Isspit?:Alab0am . Souh:arlin at :ndebil 8tKnm a .:::.::........ ....Ar..t ak F~r Ik The U-M Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Center is pleased to present: The Eighth Annual Sexual Assault Awareness Week October 25-October 30, 1992 SEXUAL ASSAULT: THE GREEK PERSPECTIVE An opportunity for women and men to explore the unique issues surrounding sexual assault and the Greek system. 10/25/92 3-5pm Ballroom, Michigan Union *ADULT MALES SEXUALLY ABUSED AS CHILDREN This program will address the issues that male survivors of sexual abuse face. It will be co-facilitated by a therapist and a survivor. 10/25/92 7pm Pendleton Room, Michigan Union *INCLUDING GENDER IN HATE VIOLENCE A talk by Loretta Ross examining hate violence as it relates to women, including what the government and activists are doing about this issue. Ms. Ross is the director of the Center For Democratic Renewal in Atlanta. 10/26/92 7:30pm Anderson Rooms, Michigan Union *6TH ANNUAL SPEAKOUT ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE This annual event is a celebration of the power and strength of survivors of sexual violence and is a time for them to break the silence so often imposed. Both public and anonymous speaking are available; all are welcome to attend. 10/28/92 7:30pm Ballroom, Michigan Union *TUNING IN AND GETTING ORGANIZED A talk by Dr. America Bracho about using the media as a community organizing tool. Dr. Bracho is former director of AIDS Services for Latino Family Services in Detroit and currently hosts a daily radio talk show on the only all Spanish speaking talk radio in California. 10/29/92 7pm Anderson Rooms, Michigan Union FRIENDSHIPS HELPING FRIENDS: A WORKSHOP FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY This program presented by SAPAC counselor Kata for those close to survivors to learn more about thei OF SURVIVORS Issari, will be a time recovery process I I'