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St. John's gets Cuffe to commit

High school power forward Kyle Cuffe has chosen St. John's over Virginia and two other schools, several recruiting sources reported yesterday.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound senior from Rice High School in New York City was considering Florida State and Villanova in addition to the Red Storm and the Cavaliers.

"Apparently it happened" yesterday, said Brick Oettinger of Prep Stars Recruiting Handbook.

"He decided to commit to St. John's after his visit there last weekend."

Virginia apparently could not overcome St. John's home court advantage.

"When your family and friends want to watch you play, it takes something out of the ordinary to bring in a kid," Oettinger said. "U.Va. may not have had that special tie."

The Cavs have two additional power forwards on their wish list: J.C. Mathis of Kennedy High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Abdou Diame of Oak Hall Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. Two weeks ago, Milwaukee-area power forward Terry Sanders, another player on Virginia's wish list, chose Marquette.

Cavalier Coach Pete Gillen and his staff already have sewn up an oral commitment from Maurice Young, a 6-5 wing guard from Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md.

The NCAA handed down sanctions to the Cavalier program Oct. 6 after discovering secondary recruiting violations. As part of those sanctions, Virginia will lose one scholarship, a penalty the Cavs will take either this season or during the 2000-01 campaign. This year, the Cavaliers only can recruit those players who they offered a scholarship to before the sanction was issued.

Cuffe's commitment limits the Virginia options to Mathis or Diame. If neither accepts the lone remaining Cavalier scholarship, the NCAA will take it away.

Warrick still under wraps

Florida State wideout Peter Warrick's return to the field Saturday is not yet assured. The Heisman Trophy candidate, who was suspended from the team Oct. 7 following his arrest on a felony grand theft charge, had a plea agreement hearing scheduled yesterday in which Warrick would return to the Seminoles, and serve 30 days in jail early next year.

The plea bargain was postponed, however, after FSU President Sandy D'Alemberte expressed misgivings about the deal.

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