Ehrmann, 6 feet 4 and 205 pounds, had offers from Duke, Syracuse and Iowa.

He seems a perfect fit for the Wake Forest system.

The Deacs' recruiting classes usually are ranked among the bottom in the ACC, but the past two years, Wake Forest has fielded one of the league's best teams.

Ehrmann's father is featured in "Season of Life," a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Jeffrey Marx about the Gilman football team and its coaches' determination to teach character. The senior Ehrmann is now a nationally known speaker who stresses that a life is best lived by serving others.

WAKEFIELD GIRLS BASKETBALL: Two of the players who have led the Wakefield girls basketball team to back-to-back 26-2 seasons made verbal commitments last week.

Kristen Hanzer, a 5-10 swing player, opted for UNC-Wilmington. Teammate Kaila'Shea Menendez, a 5-7 swing player, chose Western Carolina.

"They've been a big part of our success the last couple of years," said Wakefield coach Danielle Blackburn. "They are both outstanding, but play very different roles."

Hanzer, Blackburn said, is a slasher from the perimeter and is capable of playing any position.

"We can put her defensively wherever we want her," Blackburn said.

Menendez is more of a perimeter shooter.

"I think both of them will do well in college," Blackburn said.

Wakefield should again have one of the top teams in the state. The Wolverines return four starters. Point guard Sheronda McLean graduated and is playing at UNC-Wilmington.

"We'll just have to see how this team comes together," Blackburn said.

ATHENS GIRLS BASKETBALL: Athens Drive girls basketball players Charya Smith and Tyonna Willingham plan to sign national letters of intent this week.

Smith is a 6-foot wing who averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists during the 2006-2007 season. She is expected to sign with East Carolina.

Willingham, who is expected to sign with Fordham, is a 5-9 guard who averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Athens Drive finished 28-3 in 2006-2007.

ROCKY MOUNT BASEBALL: Rocky Mount High junior baseball center fielder Brian Goodwin committed to North Carolina last week.

Goodwin hit .356 as a sophomore during the 2007 season and lead the 20-5 Gryphons in runs scored (29), doubles (7), triples (4) and home runs (13).

Goodwin, 6 feet and 175 pounds, also starts as a defensive back on Rocky Mount's football team.

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