IN BRIEF : Kirby, Most Sought Football Recruit in Nation, Chooses Univ. of Virginia

Terry Kirby of Tabb High School, the nation’s most sought-after football recruit and also a top basketball prospect, announced today that he will attend the University of Virginia.

Kirby said he wanted to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference because he has followed teams in that conference since his childhood.

Kirby, who plans to major in math, added that staying close to home will allow family and friends to watch him play.

The other schools he had been considering were Clemson, Penn State, Georgia and Alabama. He said he made his decision late last week and called coaches from his final five schools today.

Kirby had said he would base his decision primarily on the school’s football program, although he plans to play football and basketball.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound tailback was named Parade magazine’s top national player for the 1988 season. He also has been the Associated Press Group AA player of the year in Virginia for the past two years.

Kirby ran for 7,428 yards and 103 touchdowns in his prep career.