Virginia Commonwealth head coach Mack McCarthy (right) will have another weapon as his Rams enter the frey in the inaugural season of the new 10-team Colonial Athletic Association.

Antonio Hargrove, a 6-5, 205 pound swingman from Alberta, VA, will be eligible for the 2001-02 season, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Thursday. His eligibility was clarified following the CAA's publication on Wednesday of its preseason picks which included Hargrove as a vote-getter on the All-CAA preseason team.

Hargrove, who played his final two seasons for Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, NC, signed with VCU last year but didn't get a qualifying SAT score. The Times-Dispatch reported that Hargrove has been taking classes at VCU this summer. He also has been playing in the Greater Richmond Pro-Am League.

Hargrove told reporter John Packett, "I had a lot of schools recruiting me (including LSU), but I think I made the right choice to come to VCU. Staying close to home was big. Plus, I knew a couple of the coaches."

Hargrove will join four other newcomers for McCarthy:

The CAA will look very different this year as seven teams have changed places. The conference added four teams from the America East conference this season (Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra and Towson) after losing three teams to other leagues (American U. - Patriot League, East Carolina - Conference USA, Richmond - Atlantic 10).