Aliquippa basketball star Herb Pope might not return to the school for his junior year.

Pope, a 6-foot-8 forward who is ranked among the top 10 juniors in the country, is considering a transfer to a private school in Florida. He visited Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville this week and was scheduled to return to Aliquippa last night.

Also, Pope's AAU coach said Pope has opened up his recruitment and is no longer verbally committed to Pitt. Pope committed to the Panthers as a sophomore.

"He wants to explore all his options, including high school and college," said J.O. Stright, who coaches Pope on the Pittsburgh JOTS.

Stright, who speaks with Pope regularly, said Pope has not made a decision where he will attend high school.

"My recommendation is that he needs to go to a private school with a good academic program," Stright said. "He needs academic help. He thinks he's good enough to make the NBA someday. But he has to go to college for a year to do that. He could really benefit from a private school."

Aliquippa coach Marvin Emerson said he talked to Pope on the telephone last night, and Pope told Emerson he was coming back to Aliquippa. A spokesperson at Arlington Country Day said yesterday it could not be determined if Pope was officially enrolled.

DiMaria eligible sooner

Anthony DiMaria will play basketball for Bishop Canevin a little earlier than the WPIAL wanted.

DiMaria, a 6-6 forward and one of the top seniors in the WPIAL this season, transferred from Sewickley Academy to Bishop Canevin in late December last year. The WPIAL claimed DiMaria transferred for athletic intent and ruled him ineligible to play this season until Jan. 3.

DiMaria appealed the decision to the PIAA, and the PIAA ruled yesterday DiMaria can begin playing with Bishop Canevin Dec. 22.

"No one could prove athletic intent, but it was just the timing of the transfer that seemed unusual," said DiMaria's father, Tony.

"We're happy [with the PIAA's decision]. At least this way, he'll only miss four or five games."